Prince Academy and Nursery is part of SEEAT (South East Essex Academy Trust) which also includes Hadleigh Primary School, Holt Farm Junior School, Rochford Primary and Nursery School, The Deanes School, Westborough Primary School and Westcliff High School for Girls and Heycroft Primary School. Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery has its own Local Governing Body which needs people who have a variety of skills for it to carry out its responsibilities effectively. You do not need to be a professional as you may have skills developed as a parent such as problem solving or negotiating. However, you may have more specific skills which you have used in your career such as an accountant, nurse, legal secretary or small business owner. What you do need is a commitment to the role and a desire to make the education available at Prince Avenue Academy the best possible. School Governors have a most important and varied role helping the school to run effectively and successfully by:

• Contributing to the planning of the strategic direction of the school (determining the vision and ethos of the school; the priorities and targets for the school; access of all students to a broad and balanced and relevant curriculum; the school’s budget and expenditure including the Pupil Premium: the staffing structure)
• Holding the Leaders to account by monitoring the school’s performance (by agreeing the outcomes from the school’s self-evaluation and ensuring they are used to inform priorities in the school development plan; considering all relevant data provided by school leaders and external sources on all aspects of school performance; asking challenging questions of school leaders; ensuring required audits have been carried out and to receive the results of such; ensuring the required policies and procedures have been developed and that these are being adhered to within the school; acting as a Link Governor on a specific issue or subject , making relevant enquiries and reporting to the Board; listening to and reporting to the school’s stakeholders: the pupils, staff, parents as well as the wider community, including local employers
• Ensuring staff have the resources and support they need to do their jobs effectively, including the necessary expertise on business management; external advice where necessary; effective appraisal and CPD (Continuing Professional Development} schemes and that their use has a positive impact
• When necessary serve on panels to appoint the Headteacher and other senior leaders; appraise the Headteacher; agree the pay recommendations for staff; hear the second stage of staff or parent grievances and disciplinary matters; hear appeals about pupil exclusions

Governors are expected to attend two meetings of the Local Governing Body per term, to carry out at least one monitoring visit as a Link Governor per term and attend school events such as assemblies and concerts as possible throughout the year. The term of office is 4 years.

This is the role: the rewards are numerous!