Our School Governors

The Governing Body at Polegate is committed to doing all that it can to ensure that the children here get the very best experiences and education.

We are responsible for providing confident and strategic leadership, and creating robust accountability, oversight and assurance for the school’s educational and financial performance. We are involved in recruiting staff when the need arises. We also keep an eye on the school budget, the state of the building, the curriculum, outcomes, attendance and safeguarding. We work together as a team throughout the year, in small committees or working groups, together with school staff during our visits into school and then also at our regular Full Governing Body meetings.

The Governing Board carries out its role by setting the vision for the school and then ensuring the school works effectively towards achieving its vision. It does this by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging school leaders and by ensuring accountability and compliance. Governors are often referred to as “critical friends”, because of our role in offering support but also challenge.

Governing Bodies represent all parts of the community: Parents, School Staff and the local Community. Co-Opted Governors may represent local organisations and businesses for example. We are all volunteers, but it is very satisfying to know that we are doing something worthwhile for the children.

Governors usually remain in post for four years, after which their term may be extended or a replacement may need to be found. When new governors are needed, this is advertised to the appropriate groups. Parent governors are elected by the parent/carer community, Staff governors are elected by school staff and Co-opted governors are elected by the governing board. We also have a Local Authority governor who may be nominated by us but the decision to appoint is made by the Local Authority.

Contacting the Chair of Governors

The chair of governors can be contacted by Email:

Elizabeth Latter -  e.latter@polegate.e-sussex.sch.uk

Rachel Baker - clerk.g@polegate.e-sussex.sch.uk

Our Governor Aims

‘They provide excellent levels of challenge alongside their strong support for the school, and share the clear vision for continuing the improvements to make the school even better. They ensure that safeguarding arrangements meet requirements.’ Ofsted 2014

We share the school’s vision and want to continue the rapid improvement this school has made.

The Governors’ focus areas for 2024-25

• To ensure effective governance that achieves our core functions and enabled there to be effective support and challenge for school leaders
• To carefully monitor and support leaders with efficient budget management and planning
• To support and challenge school leaders to drive school improvement; ensuring standards are maintained, all pupil groups make progress and there are effective procedures and provision in place for pupil welfare

Ofsted

‘Governors have accurate views about the performance of the school, the quality of teaching and the issues that need to be tackled. They are given plenty of information by the headteacher and they verify this through their own activities, observing learning and talking to pupils, and parents and carers.’
Ofsted 2014

Governor Details 2024-2025

Click here to view the full Governor Details 2024-2025.

Number of employees whose gross annual salary is £100,000 or more = 0 members of staff