St John’s Governing Body is committed to ensuring every child realises their potential, and to living our school vision: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’.

There are 14 governors, made up of eight Foundation Governors and six others. Foundation Governors are appointed by the external bodies who have an interest in the school. We have two appointed by the LDBS (London Diocesan Board for Schools), two by the Deanery Synod (an advisory body of the local Church of England), one congregant from each of our three feeder churches (Christ Church, St Thomas and St Augustine), and the final post is filled by the vicar of Christ Church. In addition, the Headteacher is a governor, there is an elected staff governor, a governor designated by Islington Borough Council, one co-opted governor and two elected parent governors.

We can also appoint Associate Governors. They are asked to join one of our committees as advisors, but they cannot vote at the full governors’ board.

What do school governors actually do?

The governors’ role is to offer strategic guidance and support the school, its staff and its mission. We entrust the day to day running of the school to the Headteacher and staff, but we are “critical friends”, challenging existing processes to drive school improvement.

The Governing Body has legal duties, powers and responsibilities, which it must carry out. This involves:

• Working with other board members to plan the school’s strategic direction.
• Overseeing the school’s financial performance, ensuring money is well-spent.
• Holding the headteacher or school leadership to account.

We are also responsible for ensuring the school develops and maintains a Christian Ethos.

Because we are what’s called a ‘voluntary aided’ school, the governors are responsible for running the admissions process, something which we do in close conjunction with Islington Council.

The full Governing Body meets four times a year, but the bulk of our work is delegated to four committees – Admissions, Resources, Curriculum and Achievement and Children, Families and Community. Each is made up of at least three governors, and they meet as often as they need to, but at least once a term. You can find more details of what each does on our Committees page.

The governors can be contacted through the school or you can email the Chair of Governors, Sarah Hinton, at the address below.

shinton@stjhv.islington.sch.uk