Who are the Governors and what do they do?
The Structure and Remit of the Governing Body and Committees
The role of the governing body is to set the school’s strategic framework and ensure that all statutory duties are met. The governing body is responsible for the conduct of the school and must promote high standards of educational achievement and robust safeguarding measures.
The core functions are:
- To ensure clarity of vision and ethos for the school and to set the strategic direction.
- To hold the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and also the performance management of staff.
- To oversee the financial performance of the school and ensure that money is well spent.
The key documents that the governing body use to do this are:
- The Strategic Development Plan
- The Access Plan
- The Safeguarding Audit
- The School Budget
The Full Governing Body meets once every half term to perform its duties. There are currently 8 serving members as detailed below. Governors serve a term of four years.
Further details of the full range of governing body responsibilities is detailed in the Governance Handbook which can be found on the school website in the Governors Section.
Finance, Personnel and Pay Committee
The Governing Body has overall responsibility for managing the finances of the school but has delegated some of its responsibilities to the Finance, Personnel and Pay Committee. The committee meet once each half term and operates at a more detailed level. Key areas of responsibility include:
- Setting a budget within available resources.
- Ensuring spending is kept within budget.
- Ensuring funds are spent for the educational purposes of the school i.e. for the benefit of the pupils.
- Ensuring value for money is secured.
- Ensuring that the school adheres to all LA financial rules and regulations.
- Establishing sound financial controls to ensure the reliability and accuracy of its financial transactions.
- Providing financial information to parents, e.g. pupil premium, which must be published on the school’s website
- Setting a charging policy for lettings of the school’s premises.
- Monitoring and approving the school’s staffing structure and pay scales.
- Monitoring staff absence
- Reviewing and approving all staffing policies covering issues related to pay, staffing adjustments, recruitment and selection, equal opportunities, employee relations, conduct and capability, grievance and dismissal.
- To ensure the school adheres to the DfE Schools Financial Value Standard with particular reference to the governance arrangements and financial management roles and responsibilities.
FULL GOVERNING BODY
June Newnham (Chair)
Charles Cook (Vice Chair)
Karen Saywood (Head Teacher)
Sihdia Aziz
Phil Bailey
Ian Brizell
Leanne Hickenbottom-Marriott
Andrea Huhle
Monica Lewis
Egle Mackeliunaite
Michael Price
Nighat Shaheen
FINANCE, PERSONNEL AND PAY COMMITTEE
June Newnham (Chair)
Charles Cook (Vice Chair)
Karen Saywood (Head Teacher)
Phil Bailey
Leanne Hickenbottom-Marriott
Monica Lewis
Michael Price