2.1 Explain the role held by: • governors • senior management team • other statutory roles, eg SENCO • teachers/tutors • support staff roles

This guide will help you answer 2.1 Explain the role held by: • governors • senior management team • other statutory roles, eg SENCO • teachers/tutors • support staff roles.

What is the Role of Governors?

School governors help run schools and make sure they provide a good education for pupils. Governors are volunteers who work as part of a governing board. They do not manage the school day-to-day, but they set the direction the school should follow.

Governors work with the headteacher to:

• Set the school’s vision and values
• Approve policies
• Decide priorities for improvement
• Monitor standards
• Oversee finances

They meet regularly to discuss progress and challenges. Governors check the school meets legal requirements, including safeguarding. They look at data about pupil progress and compare it to national expectations. If results are low, they question leaders about what will be done to improve.

Governors split into committees to focus on certain areas such as finance, premises, or curriculum. Many governors take part in school visits to see lessons and talk to staff and pupils. They make sure money is used well and that the school keeps within its budget. They also have a role in appointing the headteacher and senior leaders.

Effective governors bring different skills from work or community life. They are trained on key issues like special educational needs, safeguarding, and equality. By holding leaders to account, governors help maintain high standards and promote the interests of all pupils.

What is the Role of the Senior Management Team?

The senior management team, often called SMT or SLT, leads and manages the school. In most schools, this includes the headteacher, deputy headteachers, assistant headteachers, and sometimes business managers or curriculum leaders.

The SMT’s main role is to turn the vision and policies set by governors into daily practice. They:

• Lead teaching and learning
• Manage staff teams
• Set targets
• Monitor performance
• Deal with serious behaviour issues
• Organise training for staff

The headteacher has overall responsibility for the school’s performance and safety. The deputy and assistant heads often take on specific areas such as curriculum planning, assessment, pastoral care, or safeguarding.

The SMT meets regularly to plan changes, review data, and respond to issues. They support staff to develop their skills and make sure pupils get the best possible learning experience. They also organise budgets and resources with the school business manager.

Strong SMT leadership helps create a positive school culture. They lead by example and expect high standards across the school. They also respond to inspections, such as Ofsted visits, and prepare reports for governors.

Other Statutory Roles – SENCO

Some roles in schools are set in law. The Special Educational Needs Coordinator, or SENCO, is one example. Every school must have a qualified SENCO. They lead the school’s work with pupils who have special educational needs (SEN).

The SENCO’s duties include:

• Identifying pupils with SEN
• Making sure they get the right support
• Working with teachers to adapt lessons
• Communicating with parents and carers
• Coordinating with outside professionals such as speech therapists, educational psychologists, or health workers

They keep records of pupils with SEN and review progress with staff and parents. They help create individual education plans (IEPs) or use other planning tools to set targets. They also make sure the school follows the SEND Code of Practice.

Many SENCOs provide training to staff on needs such as autism, dyslexia, or speech and language conditions. They monitor the impact of support and make changes if needed. They work closely with safeguarding leads to protect the welfare of vulnerable pupils.

Statutory roles may also include the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This person has overall responsibility for keeping children safe in school. They train staff, handle safeguarding concerns, and liaise with social care if there are child protection issues. In many schools, the DSL is a member of the SMT, but in some cases the SENCO may also be the DSL.

What is the Role of Teachers and Tutors?

Teachers and tutors plan and deliver learning to pupils. They follow the national curriculum or other frameworks depending on the setting. Their role includes:

• Planning lessons with clear learning objectives
• Delivering teaching that meets different learning needs
• Assessing work and giving feedback
• Managing behaviour in the classroom
• Keeping records of pupil progress
• Setting homework or extra tasks
• Liaising with parents and carers about progress or concerns

Teachers differentiate work so that pupils at different levels can learn and make progress. They use a range of teaching methods, from group work to practical activities, to keep pupils engaged. They also track data to see if pupils are meeting age-related expectations.

Pastoral care is another key part of the teacher’s role. They watch for signs that pupils may be struggling with well-being and pass concerns to relevant staff. They also promote British values, equality, and inclusive practices.

Tutors often support older pupils or those in colleges. They may deliver small group teaching, one-to-one support, or specialist subject coaching. They guide young people through careers advice, exam preparation, or vocational skills.

Teachers report to the SMT and work with governors through curriculum reports and parent meetings. They attend training sessions to stay up to date and improve their practice.

What is the Role of Support Staff?

Support staff cover a wide range of roles in schools. They help teachers, pupils, and the wider school community. Support staff work in many areas, from classrooms to offices.

Teaching Assistants (TAs)

Teaching assistants work alongside teachers in the classroom. They:

• Support pupils with learning activities
• Work one-to-one with pupils needing extra help
• Prepare resources
• Lead small group work
• Support pupils with SEN under guidance of the SENCO and teacher
• Help manage behaviour

TAs give feedback to teachers about pupil progress. They often provide emotional support to pupils, especially those with confidence or social skills needs.

Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs)

HLTAs carry out similar work to TAs but take on more responsibility. They may cover classes if the teacher is absent, plan parts of lessons, or deliver interventions.

Administrative and Office Staff

These staff handle pupil records, admissions, attendance systems, and communication with parents. They keep the school running smoothly behind the scenes. They manage correspondence, arrange meetings, and deal with enquiries.

Site Managers and Caretakers

They keep buildings and grounds safe, clean, and maintained. Tasks include repairs, security checks, and monitoring health and safety standards.

Lunchtime Supervisors

They look after pupils during lunch breaks, help in the dining hall, and supervise playground activities. They promote positive behaviour and resolve minor disputes.

Learning Mentors and Pastoral Staff

They work with pupils who have barriers to learning such as poor attendance, social issues, or low confidence. They set targets and track progress in behaviour and engagement.

Technicians

In secondary schools, technicians support science, ICT, or art departments. They prepare materials, maintain equipment, and help with practical lessons.

Support staff are an important link between pupils, teachers, and parents. Many build strong relationships with children, which supports learning and well-being.

How the Roles Work Together

All these roles work as a team to create a safe and effective learning environment. Governors set the direction, SMT leads, teachers deliver lessons, SENCO coordinates support for special needs, and support staff give practical and emotional help.

Communication between roles is critical. This happens through meetings, emails, reports, and informal conversations. Each role brings different expertise and responsibilities. By working in partnership, they help every pupil to have the best chance at success.

For example, if a pupil is falling behind in reading:

• The teacher will spot this through assessments and flag it up
• The SENCO will investigate if the pupil has a special need
• Support staff may run targeted reading support sessions
• Governors will check through reports that pupils with gaps are getting help
• SMT will allocate resources or staff to support improvement

This shared responsibility makes sure pupils do not get left behind.

Final Thoughts

In schools, every role has its own set of tasks, but all focus on helping children learn and thrive. Governors look at the big picture and hold leaders to account. The senior management team leads and manages daily operations and long-term planning. Statutory roles like the SENCO have legal duties to meet the needs of certain pupils. Teachers and tutors plan and deliver learning, while support staff provide extra help and keep the school running smoothly.

When these roles work together, the school is stronger. Communication, mutual respect, and clear responsibilities make it easier to give pupils the right support at the right time. Each person’s contribution has value, and a successful school depends on the teamwork of all these roles.