Who’s who in school management
You can find contact details for your child’s school through our school search.
Below is a guide to who is responsible for different areas of your child’s education.
Class teacher and form tutor
If you have any questions about your child’s progress or problems they are having, speak first to the class teacher (at primary school) or form tutor (at secondary school).
If you have seen the class teacher or form tutor and you are still not satisfied with the response or outcome of that discussion, you should make an appointment to see the headteacher.
Headteacher
The headteacher plays a central role in the running of a school. Supported by the Governing body and school management their responsibilities include:
- day to day management of the school
- managing teaching staff
- advising the Governing body on school policies and procedures
- managing the school budget
- implementing a school performance management policy
- excluding problem pupils
- maintaining a safe and healthy school.
Governing body
Every maintained school in England and Wales has a governing body. These bodies are responsible for ensuring that schools provide quality education and that school improvement targets are set. They are not involved in the day-to-day management of the school. Governing bodies are made up of a range of people:
- parents
- staff governors (eg teachers, headteacher governors)
- Local Authority representatives (LA)
- community governors who are appointed by the rest of the governing body and often include representatives from local businesses
- foundation governors.
Governing bodies are responsible for appointing the school’s headteacher and work closely with them on the following areas:
- behaviour management
- targets for pupil achievement
- health and safety
- curriculum policy
- budget
- performance management policy
- special educational needs provisions.
Find out more about becoming a governor.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)
The Special EducationalNeeds Co-ordinator (SENCO) is the teacher in school who has responsibility for co-ordinating help for children with special educational needs. This person is involved in assessing special educational needs and also planning, monitoring and reviewing programmes of learning.
