Governors Information

The purpose of governance is to provide confident and strong strategic leadership which leads to robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance.

Our Governing Board has three core functions:

•      Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

•      Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and

•      Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure it’s money is well spent.

(DfE Governance Handbook October 2020)

 

Our School

Our School is a vibrant school, where all are encouraged to be expressive, creative and enjoy their learning in a positive atmosphere. Demonstrating an understanding of integrity and promoting this in everything we do.

Our School is a loving school, where all are valued and thrive in a safe, caring and supportive environment. We welcome everyone to our community and encourage friendly and mutually respectful relationships. We love to learn, we love to achieve, we love to champion everyone in our school family.

Our school is a proud school, where all aspire and persevere to be successful in whatever they do. We strive to enable all to be lifelong learners, equipped to fulfil our dreams

 

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

We are ambitious for all children and drive continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes for all the children.

The governing body meets this by creating a vision and shared values for all staff and partners based on our mission statement.

This vision is for all pupils to make excellent progress academically and in their personal growth so they have a are fully prepared for the next stage of their education and life.

With the headteacher and school leaders and in consultation with all our partners, the governing body drives strategic change.

Plans and priorities are monitored for impact and reviewed as necessary. Targets for pupils are highly ambitious and the school has recently been successful in meeting and exceeding  national targets.

Evidence

• Mission Statement
• Core Values
• Data Analysis
• SEF (School Self Evaluation Form)
• Headteacher’s Reports
• Headteacher’s Performance Management
• Relevant Documentation
• Ofsted

Accountability that drives up educational standards and financial health

Governors receive training at least annually on how to analyse the standards achieved by pupils using external and internal data and receive copies, accompanied by analysis of key points of Analyse School Performance Service (ASP) and Inspection Data Summary Report (IDSR).

Governors are expected to have an excellent understanding of the school’s priorities for raising standards and monitor progress towards implementing them through action plans.

Performance management, including of the headteacher for which they have direct responsibility is effective. There are appropriate procedures for governance and effective financial controls.

Evidence

• Headteacher’s and Curriculum Leaders Reports to Governors
• Link Governor Meetings
• Governors’ minute’s show key questions linked to standards
• LA Service Level Agreement for finance and LA audits
• Budget Review Meetings
• Schools financial value standard (SFVS) checklist
• DfE Benchmarking

 

People with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity

The governing body has a very clear understanding of its role and responsibilities, including statutory requirements. Its members bring a range of complementary skills and a diversity of perspectives to the board.

The board operates effectively so that decision-making is clear and robust. The governing body plans ahead to manage recruitment and the processes of election and appointment are transparent. It is serviced by a professional clerk.

Evidence

• Meeting Minutes
• Governor Skills Audit, Training and Recruitment
• HBC Governor Support
• LA Support

Structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities

 

Members of the governing body represent the range of the school’s stakeholders.

The core functions and terms of reference are linked across and back to the school’s mission statement. Terms of reference and governor roles are reviewed annually and revised as necessary.

The strong partnership between governors and the senior leadership team is key to the school’s success and this is based on a clear separation between strategic oversight and operational leadership. Communication within the governing body and with pupils, parents and carers, staff and communities is excellent.

 

Evidence

• FGB Meeting minutes
• Subject Lead meetings
• List of members and responsibilities, terms of reference, minutes of meetings
• School website
• Governor representation school events

 

Compliance with statutory and contractual requirements

The governing body is scrupulous in fulfilling all its legal responsibilities under education and employment legislation and other legal requirements, including meeting the duties of the Equality Act.

A commitment to promoting and ensuring diversity and equality is an integral part of the school’s fundamental values.

Evidence

• Website Compliance
• Equalities Policies
• Procedures and Action Plans including Accessibility
• School SEND Report
• Disability and Equalities Working Party
• Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policies and Procedures
• Appraisal and Pay Policy and Procedures
• SLAs including Legal, Finance, Health and Safety, HR

Evaluation to monitor and improve the quality and impact of governance

The governing body carries out regular reviews to ensure it contains an appropriate range of skills. Governor are expected to identify and continuously challenge their knowledge on

The contribution and impact of governance is part of the self-evaluation of the school’s effectiveness.

Evidence

• Governor Skills Audit
• Training
• HBC Governor Support
• Self-Evaluation Tools
• DfE Benchmarking
• SFVS

 

 

Governors set the aims and objectives for the school. They set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher.

The headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing board.

The school’s recent OFSTED visit highlighted some improvements to be made but also highlighted the good foundations Ms Heyes and the senior leadership team are building upon to improve the school is performance. The improvement plan was shared with Councillors from Halton Borough Council at a meeting with Ms Heyes and myself in November 2017.