Governance : Role of the Governing Body

By law, every further education College is required to have a Governing Body, sometimes referred to as a “Corporation”.  The main purpose of the Governors is to decide the overall strategic direction, mission and educational character of the organisation.

More specifically, the Governors are responsible for:

• Approving an annual College budget
• Appointing and overseeing the work of the College’s Senior Management Team comprising the Principal, Deputy Principal and Director of Finance & Corporate Services
• Setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff
• Ensuring that public money is spent appropriately and the College continues to be financially solvent
• Determining the educational character and mission of the College and for the oversight of its activities

There is a clear difference between Governance and the day-to-day management of the College’s operations.  This is the responsibility of the Principal and his management team, working within the broad framework of policies and priorities decided by the Governing Body.

The Principal, however, is clearly, and directly, accountable to the Governors for the performance of the College, in terms of both academic and financial matters.