Foundation governor responsibilities
The responsibilities of a foundation governor are the same of those of other governors, but the Board of Education additionally describes the role of the Foundation Governor as a form of ministry. We believe that those who serve in this way are called by God to do so, and as such, their Christian faith is fundamental to their exercise of their role. The key function of foundation governors is to ‘explore, with their partners on the Governing Body, ways in which the Church’s role in the school may be more fully and positively implemented’. So what does this mean? As representatives of the church’s role in the school, foundation governors must:
• Fully support, cherish, preserve and develop the distinctive Anglican and Christian ethos of the school, ensuring that the school has a distinctive Anglican and Christian vision and values which lead to effective practice and outcomes.
• Preserve and strengthen the links between church, school and Diocese. Increasingly, governors are finding ways to do this through Community Hubs.
• Take an active role in the school’s self-evaluations of progress against the
‘Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools’ (SIAMS) schedule.
• Ensure that collective worship and religious education at the school follow the appropriate guidelines and/or syllabus.
• Ensure that collective worship at the school is in accordance with the tenets and practices of the Church of England.
• Encourage, support and challenge the school towards aspirations that are transformational.
• Ensure that collective worship and religious education at the school are appropriately monitored.
• Ensure that the distinctive Anglican and Christian ethos of the school is encouraged and supported throughout its local community and is reflected in its policies and protocols, its curriculum and activities.
• Ensure that their own attitudes and behaviour in relation to the school reflect its distinctive Anglican and Christian ethos.
• Make sure that the School Improvement Plan includes strategy for the development of areas reflected in the school’s SIAMS self-evaluation document.
• Inform the SDBE when the Headteacher post becomes vacant and, in partnership with the Chair of Governors, invite a representative of the Diocesan Director of Education to advise and attend throughout the appointment procedure.
• Support and challenge the leadership within the school in their links with the wider parish(es) and community and to promote support for school activities and initiatives relating to its Christian distinctiveness and effectiveness.
