We have a very active team of governors who play a hugely important part in the success of our school. Governors are drawn from different parts of the community including parents and staff, and currently there are no vacancies. Coming from a wide range of employment backgrounds, our governors offer a valuable range of skills that help support the strategic direction of the school.

Our Chair of Governors is Mrs Sarah Asher.  She can be contacted through by email at chair@walton-on-the-hill.surrey.sch.uk

The Full Governing Body meets at least twice a term to review the performance of the school.  During the 2024/25 academic year, governors have met/will meet on 6 occasions, in line with Department for Education guidance.

The Department for Education describes the three core strategic functions of the governing body as:

• ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction, holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• performance management of staff
• overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

When focusing on welfare and quality of educational provision, governors consider quantifiable data alongside reports on any social or emotional aspects of children's development.  A key priority is ensuring the school delivers the highest standards of teaching and learning for all our children.  

A small team of governors meet at least once a term to guide, monitor and evaluate the delivery of the curriculum and standards of teaching and learning. They check teaching quality is monitored, staff development is implemented and evaluate strategies being used to improve attainment.  

Governors are also responsible for ensuring the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) aspects of the curriculum and wider school life are being well delivered.

The governing body operates as a flat structure of 1 main committee which has three other important responsibilities:

The financial management of the school

The financial management role is an important part of governors’ overall brief to ensure children in the school receive the best education possible.  In seeking to improve the experience of children within the school, governors need to consider how to get the best value from resources purchased.

Maintenance of the school premises

All at Walton on the Hill Primary School work hard to ensure the school site promotes learning in a safe and effective learning environment. Governors work with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure maintenance is carried out, safety audits and learning environment inspections have been completed and physical resources are being developed.

Looking after issues concerning the school’s staff, both teaching and non-teaching

It is up to the governing body to ensure we have excellent and well-motivated teaching and non-teaching staff looking after our children. To do that, governors take an active role in the appointment of members of the Senior Leadership Team and ensure all staff develop their skills through training and their performance is regularly reviewed.

Please click here for the DfE Governance Handbook and Competency Framework.