What Governors Do (From www.cornwall.gov.uk)
Governing bodies are expected to play three key roles - they provide a strategic overview, they act as a critical friend to the school and they ensure accountability.

By working strategically, the governing body helps to provide the best possible education for the pupils of the school. Through working as a corporate body with a clearly defined division of responsibilities between the headteacher and the governors, the governing body:

•    Helps to set standards and targets for performance for the school.
•    Has an overview of the curriculum.
•    Helps to set policies for itself and the school.
•    Delivers effective planning including planning the delivery of financial, personnel and post-inspection duties. 

By being a critical friend, the governing body establishes an effective working relationship with the headteacher through having clear division of duties delivered through effective meetings. This will help the governing body to:

•    Know the school.
•    Have an effective scheme of delegation between the governing body and the headteacher and the governing body and its committees.
•    Monitor and evaluate attainment, achievement and the delivery of policies and plans. 

To ensure accountability, the governing body will receive regular reports from the headteacher and will provide information to the LA and the parents on a regular basis by:

•    Publishing a school profile
•    Publishing a school prospectus.
•    Producing a post-inspection action plan.