One of the key roles of the governing body is to help determine the school's strategy for improvement so that its pupils learn more effectively and achieve the highest standards. The governing body should help to set, and keep under review, the broad framework within which the headteacher and staff should run the school. It is through this strategic role that the governing body influence the tone of the school and its direction.

The most important way in which the governing body can carry out its strategy-setting role is through the School Development Planning process. Its role is to provide overall direction and constructive criticism, and to review and plan regularly. The main thrust of the governing body's involvement in this process should be in the identification of what needs to be done and satisfying itself that arrangements are in place. The finance and planning committee have an important role in helping to draw up the School Development Plan and ensuring the Development Plan and Budget Plan are linked.

The budget planning process itself is one in which the finance and planning committee play a vital part. The committee members have a "strategic overview" and are involved in the decision-making process which enables the Headteacher to manage the budget on a day to day basis. In conjunction with the headteacher they help set the annual "operational budget" and also monitor the areas of underspend/overspend throughout the year.

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