South Norwood Primary School

The Governing Body at South Norwood Primary School was judged to be “inadequate” by Ofsted in March 2007. In June 2008,Ofsted stated:

“Governance is good. Governors have significantly improved their strategic role…they monitor the school effectively and promote a strong partnership with parents.”

So how did this happen in such a short space of time? The key to a successful Governing Body is to ensure governors are given the opportunity, and subsequent encouragement to use and apply their existing skills in appropriate roles. I am hugely impressed with the commitment that all members of the GB show to the school and the depth of their knowledge and understanding of all aspects of whole-school improvement. By empowering individuals to work collaboratively as a team, I am very proud to say that our GB is now quite exemplary.

My Chair of Governors has been asked to support governor training within the local authority and with her impressive leadership, management and monitoring skills, she has been key to all aspects of the rapid improvements. Training is seen as integral to the role and all governors participate enthusiastically.

We are very grateful to SGOSS for helping us to recruit two governors to ensure we have a full complement. I am also impressed by their commitment to supporting schools, many of whom do struggle to fill every seat around the table.

Being a governor is so much more than attending meetings. Our governors attend class assemblies, make informal visits to the school, monitor achievement and attainment, liaise with subject leaders and play a very visible and proactive role within the school: quite exemplary!