Information about the Whole Governing Body

The Role of the Governing Body

The governing body of Bentley Church of England and Copdock Community Primary Schools share a vision for the children of our schools… to become confident individuals, successful learners and responsible citizens.

Ofsted consider the role of the governing body to be an important aspect of the leadership of a school, and as such will be included as part of the regular inspections. In our federation we believe that an effective governing body is at the heart of every successful school.

To be an effective governing body, we endeavour to provide strategic leadership, to ensure accountability through monitoring and self-evaluation, maintaining financial probity by setting and monitoring the budget and by supporting the whole school community to help all children in our schools to become confident individuals, successful learners and responsible citizens. The governing body aims to be reflective and to identify ways in which it can improve.


In our federation, we recognise that the role of a governor is a voluntary one and that all governors’ family and work commitments must take priority. However, we also recognise that the role of a governor is important and that all governors are valued. Our committee structure is designed to both share responsibilities throughout the whole governing body and to allow individual governors to develop expertise in different aspects of governance.

Apart from chairs, governors would not normally be expected to be a member of more than one standing committee. All governors are assigned to one class enabling them to build a relationship with those children and staff. Chairs of committees meet to co-ordinate and share business each half term and committees report to the whole governing body at each meeting. All meetings are minuted and all agendas, minutes and any relevant documents are available from the school offices. 

Our governing body is reflective and each year aims to inform monitoring through the use of questionnaires, interviews or open meetings with parents, involving children, staff and governors in self-evaluation. All governors recognise the importance of confidentiality but strive to be honest and open in all discussions amongst ourselves. We agree to abide by our Governor Code of Conduct and review this annually.

Within our partnership, the Governing Body aim to develop and enhance our provision by:

Identifying the strength and characteristics of our schools, sharing and developing good practice from which we may all learn and looking to support further developments and opportunities for those within our school communities.

Please see the attached files below for further information about our Governing Body structure, committee terms of reference and other statutory information about how we ensure effective governance of our schools.

Files to Download

Bentley School's Christian Ethos

"Know that I am with you always," Matthew 28:20 We encourage the spiritual, social, moral and cultural development of the school family by embedding Christian values into everyday life. Our vision is for all children to be confident individuals, successful learners and responsible citizens who are well equipped for future life, knowing that God is with them always.

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