Our Governing Body

Like all schools, a Board of Governors oversees life at Gaer Infant School.  The Governing Body has wide-ranging powers and responsibilities; it acts as a corporate team deciding, with the Headteacher, how the school should develop in order to maintain and improve its standards of education.

The role of governing bodies in Newport, in line with the role of governing bodies throughout Wales, is summarised on the Newport city council web site as follows:

Each Governing Body sets its own pattern of meetings. They are legally required to meet at least once in each school term, but may meet as often as required in excess of that and to hold an annual meeting to discuss the annual report of the governing body.

In addition to this, governing bodies will establish sub-committees to perform specific tasks, which meet as and when required. The main role of the governing body is to work with the school in raising standards and performance; this will include supporting the head teacher and staff as well as sometimes challenging them, sometimes known as the role of "critical friend". It will make important decisions on how the school will be run and will have to be answerable to the parents and the wider community for their actions.

Governors work together with the head and staff to:

• Agree the aims and values of the school
• Make decisions on the school's budget, expenditure and staffing levels
• Appoint and dismiss staff (including the head teacher) and set standards for their behaviour, taking disciplinary action where necessary to ensure the national curriculum is taught
• Ensure individual pupils' needs are met, including special needs, monitor and review the school's progress and approve school development plans
• Produce an action plan following a school inspection
• Produce an annual report on the work of the governing body
• Give information about the school
• Establish and maintain positive links with the local community

The Governing Body is made up as follows: