Dear Parents,

On behalf of the staff, children and governors it gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your family to our school. We are delighted that you have chosen our school as the foundation stone for your child’s educational journey and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing Wimborne St Giles Church of England First School and Nursery.

You, as the parent, have a vital role to play in the education of your child and we look forward to working alongside you to realise our school's vision:

'Together We Grow: Together We Give'

We are very fortunate at Wimborne St Giles to have an enthusiastic staff, who are committed to the highest standards of education and of behaviour. We have a wonderful family atmosphere that gives all of our children a happy and secure environment in which to learn. 

We feel it is important that you have all the information that will give you an overview of what to expect from your child’s school by way of their needs, developmental and academic, as well as learning about our school day. We will shortly be inviting you to an informal chat with us and to meet other reception parents at the beginning of the Autumn term. Even if you have other children at school already, we would encourage you to join us, meet other new parents and catch up on recent developments in early years teaching.

We look forward to welcoming you into our school family and if you have any questions in the meantime please feel free to contact me via the school office on tel. no: 01725 517347 or email:   office@wimbornestgiles.dsat.org.uk

Yours sincerely

Charles Gordon – Chair of Governors

The Governing Body

The Governing Body (Local Governing Body) is part of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust (DSAT) governance structure and operates under the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation.

The Trust Board retains overall legal responsibility for all academies within the Trust. Certain responsibilities are delegated to Local Governing Bodies, which operate as committees of the Trust Board and provide local governance, oversight and support.

Governors work in partnership with the Headteacher, Trust leaders, the Diocese, parents, staff and the wider community to support the school and ensure that all pupils receive a high-quality education within a strong Christian ethos.

The Governing Body is constituted in accordance with statutory requirements and includes representatives from parents, staff, the community and the Diocese.

Strategic Role

In line with the Scheme of Delegation, the Governing Body focuses on strategic leadership rather than day-to-day management. Its role is to:

• Support and uphold the Trust’s vision, values and ethos at a local level
• Contribute to and monitor the school’s strategic priorities and improvement plans
• Monitor educational performance, including pupil outcomes and quality of education
• Ensure that safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusion are prioritised

The Governing Body does not manage the school operationally; this responsibility sits with the Headteacher and Trust executive leaders.

Monitoring, Support and Challenge

The Governing Body provides effective support and appropriate challenge to school leaders. This includes:

• Monitoring progress against the school development priorities
• Reviewing pupil performance and achievement
• Ensuring statutory policies are in place and implemented
• Evaluating the impact of actions taken to improve outcomes

Governors undertake monitoring through meetings, reports and structured visits. They act as a “critical friend”, offering both support and constructive challenge in line with Trust expectations.

Accountability

The Governing Body is accountable to the Trust Board and operates within its governance framework. [lsp.org.uk]

It also contributes to accountability to parents, the Diocese and the wider community by:

• Supporting transparency in school performance
• Ensuring clarity about strengths and priorities for improvement
• Upholding the school’s Christian distinctiveness and ethos

Delegated Responsibilities

Under the Scheme of Delegation, the Governing Body contributes to oversight in key areas, while recognising that final accountability rests with the Trust. These include:

Quality of Education

• Monitoring curriculum provision to ensure it is broad, balanced and inclusive
• Reviewing outcomes and progress for all pupils, including those with additional needs

Safeguarding and Welfare

• Ensuring safeguarding arrangements are effective and compliant
• Monitoring pupil wellbeing, behaviour and attendance

Leadership and Staffing

• Supporting the Headteacher and holding leaders to account for performance
• Contributing to leadership appointments where appropriate (in line with Trust procedures)

Finance

• Monitoring the use of resources and aligning spending with school priorities
• Providing feedback to the Trust on financial planning and impact

Premises and Health & Safety

• Monitoring that the school environment is safe, secure and fit for purpose

In all these areas, the Governing Body’s role is oversight and assurance, not direct management.

Engagement and Visibility

Governors are actively involved in the life of the school. They:

• Undertake monitoring visits, including learning walks
• Engage with pupils and staff to understand the school’s provision
• Attend full governing body meetings at least twice per term

This engagement supports informed strategic decision-making and strengthens accountability.

Conclusion

The Governing Body is committed to working collaboratively with the Trust, school leaders and the wider community to support continuous improvement.

Governors welcome engagement from parents and stakeholders and will ensure that any queries are addressed appropriately within the Trust’s governance framework.