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Governing body

The board responsible for the strategic leadership of a maintained school, holding the headteacher to account and overseeing finances.

Also called
GB
Used in
England, Wales, Northern Ireland
Topic
Governance

Being checked against official sources. This definition is written in our own words; always check the official guidance for your country.

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Governor England Wales Northern Ireland
A volunteer member of a school's governing body who helps set strategy, holds leaders to account and oversees finances.
Local governing body (LGB) England
A committee of the trust board in a multi-academy trust that oversees an individual academy, with powers set by the scheme of delegation.
Board of governors Northern Ireland
The name used in Northern Ireland (and by many schools elsewhere) for a school's governing body.

More terms: Governance

Chair of governors · Clerk to governors · Funding agreement · Member (academy) · Multi-academy trust · Parent governor

More terms starting with G · Education glossary A–Z · Get a TIP for your class

Definitions are written by Classfern in our own words for teachers in the UK and the US. They are short explanations, not legal or official definitions: always check the official guidance for your country, nation or state. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government department, inspectorate or exam board named here.