The governing body must:

• Decide on an admissions policy that doesn’t go against the National Constitution
• Decide on the language policy of the school
• Decide on what religious practices will be followed at the school (attending any religious practices must be free and voluntary for learners and staff)
• Adopt a code of conduct for learners after consulting with learners, parents and educators

A governing body must:

• Promote the best interests of the school and encourage its development by providing quality education for all learners
• Adopt a constitution
• Adopt the mission statement of the school (this sets out the values and beliefs of the school)
• Decide the times of the school day
• Administer the school property, buildings and grounds
• Encourage parents, learners, educators and other staff to offer voluntary services
• Recommend to provincial heads of departments on the appointment of educators at the school
• Allow school facilities to be used by the provincial education department
• The governing body can allow the community to use its facilities for community, social and school fund-raising purposes.

In addition, a governing body can be given any of these functions:

• Maintaining and improving the school’s property, buildings and grounds
• Deciding on the extramural curriculum and the choice of subject options according to provincial curriculum policy
• Buying textbooks, educational material or equipment for the school
• Paying for services to the school