Annual Statement for the Governing Body of Stanhope Primary School
The Governing body of Stanhope Primary School works with the Head Teacher to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement. This annual statement outlines how the Governing Body has fulfilled its responsibilities and how it has met the core strategic functions of the school's Governing Body set out by the Government and The Department for Education.
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Adapt the relationships between our capacity to meet our education objectives in the increasingly complex world of education and the challenges we face.
As a whole school team we are skilled in our ability to make choices in response to whatever is happening in our operating environment and we are increasing this ability on an ongoing: emergent basis.
Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
This is how we anticipate and manage change for the benefit of the school and all of our stakeholders.
Key Issues faced by the Governing Body during 2019-2020
As in previous years the Governing Board supported the Head Teacher, Senior Leadership Team and the staff to advance the School Improvement Plan. As a reference point, the School Improvement Plan is predicted on the priorities identified from school data and school self-evaluation. Stanhope Primary School's School Improvement Plan is set out with clear aims, targets and key tasks, which will be completed in order to achieve the identified areas so the school can move forward.
The School Improvement Plan is a working document and reviewed on a regular basis. The areas identified this academic year were:
Maintain the high standards of Reading in school
Maintain the high standards of Writing in school
Continue to raise and maintain the outcomes for Mathematics across the school
Continue to support the development of children in the EYFS
Develop further the role of the middle leaders and governors, so they contribute more to the school's effectiveness.
In addition to these main areas – other on going areas were:
Teaching is constantly good and outstanding
Monitor the budget effectively
Ensure pupils are able to transfer their writing skills across the curriculum
Ensure and maintain maximum progress for all groups of children, especially those who are identified for Pupil Premium Funding
Maintain the effective tracking, assessment and moderation system in school
Covid19 Coronavirus Crisis
On March 20th schools across England were closed due to the Covid19 crisis. Stanhope Primary remained open to provide Free School Meal collections for our families in receipt of Free School Meals. In addition to this, the school also cared for the children of Key Worker children. The school partially reopened on Monday 15th June for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils. Risk assessments were completed and approved by the Governing Body.
The Governing Body at Stanhope Primary School continually seek improvement for the provision of education at our school. We are outward looking and take a holistic approach when considering the development of all our pupils. Working closely with the Head Teacher, Senior Leadership Team and all members of staff, we are constantly striving to improve and develop the school in all areas.
The relationship between the Governing Body, the Senior Leadership Team and all the staff is based on trust, respect and support. The results of which are a good education with many aspects of the school being outstanding. This continues to serve as a highly successful model with continued improvement in pupil progress, pupil attainment and pupil well-being.
Target interventions for all pupils, but especially those identified as Pupil Premium ensure all pupil achieve well and make good progress.
The Government announced that schools would close due to Covid19 Coronavirus crisis and national testing would not be carried out. With reference to national guidance statutory assessment information would not be published this school year but the predictions at the time of lockdown were as follows.
At the end of this academic year 2019- 2020 our pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 were teacher assessed and outcomes would represent above average standards with good improvements at greater depth.
Assessment of the impact of the Governing Body 2019-2020 has been that:
The attainment in KS1 was broadly average standards with improvements in all areas at greater depth.
The attainment in KS2 was ABOVE the national average at expected level in reading, writing and maths. The combined percentage of pupil attaining the expected level in reading, writing and maths at KS2 was 86% and 21% at Greater Depth
At KS2 those pupils identified as pupil premium was above national averages and they performed as well as all other children, demonstrating the school's use of pupil premium funding it utilised well.
The curriculum is monitored on a regular basis to ensure a seamless transition between year groups and key stages but also to ensure the curriculum is adapted to the needs of the children and is relevant for them. Furthermore the Head Teacher, Senior Leadership Team and staff ensure the curriculum provides all children with what they need to know for the future, it's ambitious and what the children learn is inspirational and exciting. This year the school has purchased resources and equipment to support the enhancement of the curriculum.
The school ensures the well-being of all students and therefore the curriculum supports their development, it also supports and develops their confidence and stamina and prepares them for the next stages in their education.
The Governors' Resources Committee specialises in school finances and meets with the Head Teacher to ensure best value. The Governors are committed to ensuring that the school budget is spent wisely and for the benefit of the pupils. Governors are responsible for the monitoring and the impact and the use of the Pupil Premium Grant. Detailed information regarding the use of this funding is available on the school website. The impact of the Sports Grant is also monitored by the Governors and in conjunction with the Deputy Head Teacher. A full report on spending and impact is also available on the school website. The school has achieved the Gold Award for P.E and sports provision, in addition to this the school's provision for Sports and P.E is outstanding and the Governors are extremely proud of the children's participation and achievements in sport from September 2019 to March 2020.
Governors are committed to ensuring the effectiveness of school safeguarding. The Chair of Governors and Safeguarding Link Governor meet with the Head Teacher to ensure all protocols and procedures are robust to ensure safety for all pupils, staff and visitors of the school. This is the second year the school has utilised CPOMS and this continues to enable the staff and school to further improve their management of child protection and incidents and ensure the school's system runs even more efficiently.
We are a multi skilled dynamic Governing Body, with a wide range of experience in all walks of life and the business environment. We utilise these skills to enable us to meet and overcome any and challenges we have faced and those which will no doubt come our way in these unprecedented times ahead.
We look forward to a productive year ahead and will continue to work with the Head Teacher and all the staff for the benefit of all the pupils, staff and the school community of Stanhope Primary School.
Cllr Anne Hetherington
Chair of Governors