Statement of Governance
This academic year, the Governing Body will aim to meet in person, however, if restrictions are put in place for Covid-19, we will via Zoom. Please see below our statement:
The purpose of this page is to provide an overview of the role and structure of the Calverley C of E Primary School Governing Body and what is expected of governors in performing their role. This document is specific to the school and should be read in addition to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework published by the Department for Education.
The Constitution of the Governing Body
The constitution of the governing body is:
1 x Local Authority (LA) governor, recommended by the LA and approved by the governing board
2 x parent governors, formally elected by a ballot of parents unless the election is uncontested
7 x foundation governors, appointed by the foundation ( Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales)
1 x staff governor, formally elected by the staff employed at the school
We currently have one vacancy for Foundation Governor
We have two associate Governors with no voting rights
The Composition of the Governing Body:
The current Governing Body:
Chair: Mrs Rachel Rudman (Foundation Governor) [email protected] (Term began 5/2/18, ends 4/2./2)
Vice Chair: Mrs Rachel Westwood (Foundation Governor) [email protected] (Term began 21/9/20, ends 1/12/24)
Mr R Curran (Headteacher) (ex officio)
Mr Lee Holmes (Parent Governor) (Term began 29/09/21)
Mrs Victoria Wainwright (Foundation Governor) (Term began 31/5/19, ends 30/5/23)
Mr Andrew Upton (Foundation Governor) (Term began 7/9/20, ends 8/9/24)
Mrs Lesley Hastings (LA Governor) (Term began 2/5/18, ends 1/5/22)
Mrs Izzy Ward (Parent Governor) (Term began 3/11/20, ends 2/11/24)
Mrs Mal Barnes (Foundation Governor) (Term began 1/5/18 ends 30/4/22)
Rev Rob Denton (Foundation Governor) (Term began 29/09/21)
Mrs Nicola Lightfoot (Foundation Governor) (Term began....)
Mr Chris Minett (Staff Governor) (Term began 15/9/15, ends 15/9/23)
Miss D O'Hara (Associate Governor)
Mrs J Surtees (Associate Governor)
None of our Governors hold governance roles in other educational establishments.
There are no material interests between Governors nor between Governors and staff
For attendance records, please see Minutes of Governing Body meetings below.
The Role of the Governing Body
The governing body has three core strategic functions:
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
Governing body powers
The governing body is recognised in law as a corporate body, which means it has a legal identity separate from that of its governors. It also means that individual governors have no power or right to act on behalf of the governing body except where the whole governing body has delegated a specific duty to that individual. The governing body can also decide to delegate certain responsibilities to committees that it has established. Governors will, therefore, take collective responsibility for the decisions reached by the governing body to publicly support decisions.
The purpose of governance is to provide a confident, strategic leadership and to ensure that there is robust accountability, oversight and assurance for the educational and financial performance for the school.
Effective governance is based on six key features:
Strategic leadership that sets and champions vision, ethos and strategy.
Accountability that drives up educational standards and financial performance.
People with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity.
Structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Compliance with statutory and contractual requirements.
Evaluation to monitor and improve the quality and impact of governance.
The first two features are the core pillars of the board's role and purpose. The second two are about the way in which governance is organised, and the last two are about ensuring and improving the quality of governance.
Structure of the Calverley CE Primary School Governing Body
The Governing Body of Calverley Church of England Primary School meets once or twice a term in a full governing body.
In addition, each governor will be allocated to a sub-committee and/or a Specialist Governor Role to support delivery against the school improvement plan and to oversee specific areas of learning or focus.
Outputs from sub-committee and Specialist Governor meetings should be shared with the Governing Body at least 1 week prior to the next full governing body meeting.
Committees operated by the Governing Body
Teaching and Learning and Pupil Support Committee (TLPS)
This committee is responsible for teaching and learning matters including target setting, standards and achievement, SEN( including an annual report on the success of the SEN policy, monitoring teaching and learning and curriculum provision, ensuring that the governing body is represented at school improvement discussions. It is also responsible for the behaviour, safeguarding, attendance, children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, children, parent and staff voice, extra-curricular activities, cluster and other partnerships
The TLPS will meet 5 times a year in school. Each meeting will focus on a subject area and then on the SAT'S results. In addition, at every meeting, there will be a review of the progress of Disadvantaged (Pupil Premium) children and the More and Most Able children.
After each meeting, some members of TLPS may take part in a visit to school to do an evidence walk. This should take place within 4 weeks of the original meeting.
Output from the meetings will be fed back to the main governing body, where most of the teaching and learning policies will be reviewed.
Responsible for staffing including the role of SENCO, equality and diversity, finance, property management, health and safety and nutritional standards. Members of resources committee are also responsible for pay review.
Resources meet once or twice termly normally before governing body meetings. It will be the resources committee's responsibility to review all policies relating to the above at their meetings, as well as review the budget.
The Strategy Committee
This meets as required and is comprised of the Chairs of the Teaching and Learning and Resources committees, the SEND governor, the Chair and Vice Chair. It looks at the overall strategy of the school to meet its long-term goals.
The Admissions Committee
As a Voluntary Aided School, the school is responsible for its own admissions. The committee is there to:
Implement any changes that may be required to the admissions policy
To review the admissions criterion of each child who applies for a place in Reception class. The rankings of applicants are independently checked at least 3 times to ensure accuracy.
The Performance Management Committee
This committee is responsible for target setting and evaluating the performance of the Head teacher on achieving those targets. This is done with the help of the School Improvement Advisor, who reviews evidence provided and helps evaluate the success of the HT. Members of the PMC committee meet with the HT on a rolling termly cycle to review progress and address any issues.
A member of the Performance Management Committee will meet with the Head teacher termly to discuss progress and issues arising in relation to the targets set.
Specialist Governor Roles
SEND Governor
Oversees the provision throughout school for children identified as having addition educational needs, both physically and academically. This Governor has to undertake relevant training and be able to familiarise themselves with the SEN provision in school. Ensure that the website is fully up to date and compliant. Termly meetings with the teacher with SEN responsibilities to discuss progress and impact. Ensure that there is a report to Governing Body annually summarising the above.
Safeguarding Governor
Oversees the safeguarding provision in the school. Undertake mandatory training every 3
years and ensure that the staff training procedures are rigorous and compliant. Ensures
that all governors have undertaken basic Safeguarding and PREVENT training. They will also check the website and make sure we are compliant. Liaise with the Safeguarding Lead in school and ensure that any cases that arise are dealt with appropriately and effectively.
School Council Governor
Attends the school council meetings half termly at the 3pm and feedbacks to the governing body at each meeting.
Collective Worship Governor
The Collective Worship Governor oversees the delivery of the school's religious education. As Calverley C of E is a Voluntary Aided Church school it is assessed on the quality of this provision. The governor should attend a number of assemblies annually and also liaise with the RE curriculum leader.
It must be understood that the position of Governor is one of confidentiality and all Governors are required to sign a Code of Conduct to confirm they understand this.
A Declaration of Interest must be signed annually.
Each Governor at Calverley C of E would ideally be required to:
Undertake Induction training within 6 months of being appointed.
Attend meetings which are planned yearly in advance. If 2 consecutive meetings are missed the Governing Body may decide not to accept apologies and the Chair should have a meeting with that Governor to discuss their continued membership of the Governing Body.
Read all relevant documents prior to the meeting to ensure that robust conversations can take place regarding the information provided to the Governing Body.
Understand the School Improvement Plan.
Join a committee and attend regular committee meetings.
Visit school during school hours, know the staff and be interested.
The remit for the governing body and its committees:
Our Improvement Priorities
The following plan encompasses a range of improvement planning. However, our main foci for overall school improvement this academic year are:
Ensure QFT, appropriate interventions and tutoring programmes maximize the progress made by all children in Maths
Ensure QFT, appropriate interventions and tutoring programmes maximize the progress made by all children in Phonics, Reading & Writing
Refine and develop our wider curriculum, including the development of subject leadership and the implementation of the new EYFS curriculum, to ensure we provide a vibrant and balance curriculum
To ensure our vulnerable children including those with SEND, those who are CLA & Recently Adopted, those who qualify for the Pupil Premium, children who achieve in the lowest 20% of their class and those displaying any mental health concerns have all their barriers to learning minimized
To ensure school continues to provide opportunities for spiritual development & meets areas for development from SIAMs Inspection (2019)
The Governing Body's vision for July 2022
School has remained as safe as possible for all children and staff. Children and staff have any mental health and welfare needs addressed or signposted effectively
By July 2022 our children, parents and staff are happy at school and with school and would continue always recommend Calverley CE Primary to others.
Through the delivery of Quality First Teaching and appropriate interventions, our school exceeds national figures for attainment and progress, any gaps from loss of schooling during the pandemic are minimised for all, closed for many.
By following the teachings of Christ and by focussing upon our core Gospel values and vision statement, all members of our community will be cared for and respect others
We are a school which is continuing on its journey to becoming Outstanding
We have high ambitions for our children and the school and a shared determination to realise this vision of excellence for Calverley children, including those who are disadvantaged in any way, including those experiencing mental health issues or those recognised as having SEND
V Wainwright (Chair), Head Teacher, R. Rudman, J Surtees (Clerk), A. Upton, L Holmes
Pay Committee
Head teacher, A Upton, V Wainwright, N Lightfoot, J Surtees (Clerk)
Pay Appeals Committee
R Rudman, R Westwood, M Barnes
Teaching Learning and Pupil Support Committee (TLPS)
R. Westwood (Chair), R. Rudman, Head teacher, M. Barnes, L. Hastings, R Denton, I Ward, C. Minett with D. O'Hara.
Strategy Committee
R Rudman (Chair), Head teacher, V Wainwright, R Westwood (Clerk)
Head Teacher's Performance Management
L. Hastings (Chair), R. Rudman, R.Westwood
R Westwood (Chair), N Lightfoot, V Wainwright, A Upton
Admissions Appeals
A Upton, L Hastings, M Barnes
GOVERNORS WITH SPECIFIC MONITORING DUTIES
The specific monitoring roles were reviewed and allocated.
Resolved: that governors' specific monitoring roles be allocated
as below:
Complaints: R Westwood, R Rudman
Safeguarding & CLA: L. Hastings
SEND/Pupil Support: R. Rudman/M. Barnes
School Council: I Ward
Health and Safety: L Holmes
Collective Worship: R Denton
Sport's Premium and PE: A Upton
Early Years: I Ward
Training: V Wainwright
Subject Link Governors
Maths and English - TLPS Committee
PSHE - L Hastings
MFL - R Westwood
Science - V Wainwright
History - M Barnes
Geography - I Ward
Music - N Lightfoot
Art/DT - L Holmes
PE - A Upton
RE - R Denton
Computing - R Rudman
Full Governing Body Meeting September: R Rudman, R Westwood, M Barnes, R Denton, N Lightfoot, A Upton, V Wainwright, I Ward. Also in attendance: D O'Hara, J Surtees.
Full Governing Body Meeting November: R Rudman, R Westwood, M Barnes, R Denton, N Lightfoot, A Upton, V Wainwright, I Ward, L Holmes, L Hastings. Also in attendance: D O'Hara.
Governors Meeting Minutes
The Governing Body meets up an a regular basis and is required to keep minutes of the planned agenda and anything else ...