Governing Body

Responsibilities

The role of the governing body is strategic. The Department for Education’s Governance Handbook identifies three core functions for governing bodies:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

   

Members of the governing body are appointed based on their skills in order to contribute to effective governance and the success of the school.

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School links

Governors take part in learning walks around school and visit classes. They act as a critical friend, they challenge and question. All governors at Kingsway take part in whole school training as well as Local Authority governor training.

Meetings

Meetings of the full Board of Governors are held once a term. Committee meetings are arranged each half term or as and when required. All members of the Board declare their business interests at the beginning of each academic year and records are kept. Every governor at Kingsway acts within the governor code of conduct which is agreed at the start of each school year and is attached below.

Governor Roles- Curriculum Links

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Governance

Our approach to governance

Kingsway Primary and Nursery School is part of Inspiring Learners Multi‑Academy Trust. Governance arrangements are designed to ensure strong strategic leadership, accountability and effective oversight, whilst retaining a clear understanding of the local community we serve.

Governance at Kingsway operates at three interconnected levels:

1. Members
2. The Trust Board of Trustees
3. The Local Governing Body (LGB)

These arrangements ensure the school is well‑led, financially responsible and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for pupils.

Trust Governance

Inspiring Learners Trust Governance

Inspiring Learners Multi‑Academy Trust

Members

Members play a limited but critical role in academy trust governance. They:

• ensure the trust’s governance structure is effective
• safeguard the trust’s charitable objectives
• appoint and hold the Trust Board to account where necessary

The Members of Inspiring Learners Multi‑Academy Trust provide assurance that governance is robust and that statutory and charitable responsibilities are met.

Trust Governance

Inspiring Learners Multi‑Academy Trust

Members

Members play a limited but critical role in academy trust governance. They:

• ensure the trust’s governance structure is effective
• safeguard the trust’s charitable objectives
• appoint and hold the Trust Board to account where necessary

The Members of Inspiring Learners Multi‑Academy Trust provide assurance that governance is robust and that statutory and charitable responsibilities are met.

Trust Board of Trustees

The Trust Board holds overall responsibility and accountability for all academies within the trust, including Kingsway Primary and Nursery School.

The Trust Board’s core functions are to:

• ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• hold executive leaders to account for educational performance and staff management
• oversee financial performance and ensure public money is well spent

As charity trustees, board members also ensure compliance with charity law and academy regulations

Trust Governance

Inspiring Learners Trust Governance

Local Governing Body (LGB)

The Trust Board delegates specific responsibilities to a Local Governing Body, recognising the importance of strong local governance that understands the school’s unique context and community.

The Local Governing Body:

• provides support and challenge to the Headteacher
• monitors standards, safeguarding and inclusion
• ensures trust policies and expectations are implemented effectively at school level
• acts as a link between the school, families and the wider trust

While some functions are delegated locally, accountability remains with the Trust Board.

Trust Governance

Core responsibilities of the Local Governing Body

The Local Governing Body at Kingsway:

• supports and challenges school leaders to drive improvement
• monitors the quality of education and outcomes for pupils
• ensures safeguarding arrangements are robust and effective
• oversees aspects of pupil wellbeing, SEND, equality and inclusion
• reviews school performance, self‑evaluation and improvement priorities

Governors act collectively, not individually, and provide a balance of professional challenge and support.

Trust Governance

Delegation and accountability

Governance responsibilities are clearly defined within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation, which is reviewed annually by the Trust Board in line with ESFA requirements.

This ensures:

• transparency in decision‑making
• clarity of roles and responsibilities
• appropriate balance between trust‑wide consistency and local flexibility

Trust Governance

Governor information and transparency

In line with statutory guidance, information relating to:

• Local Governing Body membership
• terms of office
• attendance
• declarations of interest

is published and updated regularly.

These details ensure transparency and accountability and are available upon request or via the governance section of the school website.

Governor training and development

Governors across Inspiring Learners Multi‑Academy Trust:

• receive regular training appropriate to their role
• are supported to understand safeguarding, SEND, curriculum and finance
• engage in trust‑wide development opportunities

This ensures governors have the knowledge and expertise required to provide effective oversight and challenge.

Working in partnership

Governance at Kingsway is underpinned by strong partnership working between:

• the Local Governing Body
• school leadership
• the Trust Board
• Inspiring Learners trust leaders

This collaborative approach ensures that:

• expectations are high and consistent
• decisions are informed by both local knowledge and trust‑wide expertise
• pupils’ best interests remain central to all governance activity