Effective governance is vital to any successful school, and the Department for Education Governance Handbook identifies three core functions for governing bodies:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

 St Edward's First Governing Body

The School Governors are volunteers who give their time and expertise free of charge to ensure that the school is run well, within budget and putting the needs and well-being of pupils and staff at the forefront. They come from varied backgrounds and represent different groups within the community. Their brief is to assist the school’s Leadership Team with the management of the school and to ensure that the distinctive Catholic nature of the school is maintained. The governing body works in close partnership with the leadership team, staff, and the Diocese. Whilst the leadership team is, of course, responsible for the day-to-day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings, finance, and admissions. In addition to attending local governing body meetings, governors are also expected to join at least one committee. There are four main committees at St Edward's First:

• Steering
• Admission.
• Resources – including three sub committees – Pay; Personnel; Performance Management.
• Standards.

The Chair of St Edward's First Governing Body: Mrs S Blows-Cole, and she can be contacted at St. Edward's Catholic First School, Parsonage Lane, Windsor, SL4 5EN.

The Clerk of St Edward's First Governing Body: Mrs C Veasey, and she can be contacted at St. Edward's Catholic First School, Parsonage Lane, Windsor, SL4 5EN. Alternatively, you can contact her via clerk@secfs.org.uk