Chair of School Governors at small, successful Primary School

St Faith’s Church of England (CoE) Primary School seeks a dynamic, strategic, and dedicated Chair of Governors to lead our school governing body and shape the future of our small school, located in the heart of St Cross, Winchester. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced leader to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our pupils, working with a full board of skilled and passionate governors to contribute to a thriving learning environment.

Overview of Chair of Governors Role

An effective chair of governors:

1. Works with the headteacher to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement;
2. Ensures that the governing body sets a clear vision, ethos, and strategic direction for the school;
3. Works with the governing body to hold the headteacher accountable for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, as well as for staff performance management;
4. Ensures oversight of the school’s financial performance and the effective use of resources.

Governing body leadership is crucial to the success of a school. St Faith’s is one of the top three performing primary schools in Hampshire for Year 6 academic results and was recently rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, with several outstanding features (February 2024). As a school, we are excited about our future journey to improve the curriculum and expand opportunities for our pupils, giving them the best chance to succeed in secondary school and beyond.

What Skills Are We Looking For?

We seek a strategic leader with experience in leading an organization at a senior level. Prior experience as a school governor and/or working with children or in educational settings is preferred. You will receive relevant training on the role of a school Chair of Governors and the primary education system. Your experience and leadership skills, working alongside dedicated governors and staff, can help shape the future of the school, support its vision, and enhance the well-being and education of our students. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to improve local education and see the tangible impact of your decisions.

Time Commitment

Full governing body meetings are held on Wednesday evenings (6-8 pm) once per half term at the school. The Chair will also meet with the Head Teacher and sub-committee chairs between meetings to discuss strategic actions.