What do we do?

All schools are overseen by a volunteer Governing Body who, alongside the Headteacher, set the vision for the school. Together they ensure that the school works effectively and efficiently to achieve its vision by:
 

• Building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community;

• Supporting and constructively challenging the school;

• Ensuring accountability - judging the school's performance openly; and,

• Compliance - ensuring the school meets all its legal obligations, for example safeguarding children and managing finances.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the local authority. In practice, the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school. However, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. They ensure the school functions well and set the direction and policies for the school, to provide ongoing support and advice and to monitor the outcome.

The Governing Body meets six times each year. Much of the work of the Governing Body is done by committees which meet at least every term (three times in the year). At Walford, we have the following committees:

Standards, Teaching and Curriculum: The main purpose is to discuss and monitor all aspects of the school’s work around pupil attainment and progress, and ensuring that the school’s curriculum is broad and balanced and meets statutory requirements.

Pupils, Personnel and Community: The main purpose of the committee is to discuss and monitor all aspects of the school’s pastoral work which includes areas such as attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, health and spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) provision.

An important role of the committee is to ensure all Child Protection policies are fully understood and correctly implemented by all staff and to monitor how the government PE grant is being spent to improve provision.

School Business Committee: This committee’s main purpose is to ensure that the school spending remains within budget and that all funds are spent wisely to best meet the needs of the pupils.

Who are the Governors?

Walford Nursery & Primary School’s Governing Body consists of:

• the headteacher

• one elected staff governor

• one appointed local authority governor

• four co-opted governors

• two parent governors

• three associate governors

The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The chair and vice-chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.

For further information on the Governing Board at Walford, please apply to the Clerk to the Governors, through the School Office.

The Governing Body of Walford is currently:

How is the Board of Governors Organised?

The Board of Governors normally meet termly, and is chaired by the Chair of Governors and the Governors have also set up three main Committees: · Pupils, Personnel & Community Committee chaired by Paul Deneen OBE JP DL.· The School Business Committee chaired by Charles Lawson.· The Standards, Teaching & Learning Committee chaired by Emma Parkes. What do we discuss at our meetings?

Details of the Agendas for the Full Governing Body meeting/main Committees can be found on the Governors website. Each Governor is a member of at least one of the main Committees. A list of membership of the Committees can be found on the website.

At each of our meetings, we make recommendations/decisions and these are recorded along with our discussions and what we have supported and what we have challenged. Part of our role as Governors is to act as a 'Critical Friend' to the school. Working in Partnership Walford School has inspirational leadership in Louise George as Headteacher. She has an excellent team of teachers and support staff and I take this opportunity of thanking them for their marvellous contribution to the school. We also have an excellent WOW Team, a fundraising and entrepreneurial team led by the pupils who are superb in their efforts to raise money for the benefit of the pupils at Walford. The Governors hugely values it links with the local Walford community. We have a strong partnership with Walford Church and many local businesses and charities. As Chair of Governors, I regularly visit the school and my most recent focus was as a guest visiting the School Council - and I was greatly impressed with their meeting. Fellow Governors also visit the school as part of a programme of organised visits.

The school has a wonderful story to tell. The pupils are excellent ambassadors and are a great credit to you as parents / guardians.

There is a vibrant and hugely positive atmosphere at Walford! The Governors are most grateful to you for your continued support - which is greatly appreciated.

Should anyone require any information about the Governing Body and its work, please would they contact the School office.

Tel: 01989 562209

Email: admin@walford.hereford.sch.uk

Very best wishes,

Paul Deneen OBE JP DLChair of the Board of Governors

WALFORD NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOL

Committees and Panels 2025 / 2026

Grievance (Staff), Discipline (Staff/Pupils) and Redundancy:

Complaints:

• Walford Nursery & Primary School Financial Benchmarking