Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Board of Mellor St. Mary’s C of E Primary School School Year 2017/2018
|
Role of the Governing Board
The role of the governing board in a local authority maintained school is set out in education law, namely to ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement’. The board also has a legal responsibility to promote pupil wellbeing. It does this by:
Setting Strategic Direction - Ensuring clarity of vision and ethos - Engaging with stakeholders - Making sure statutory duties are met.
Creating Robust Accountability - Accountability for teaching, achievement, behaviour and safety - Strengthening and supporting school leadership - Performance managing the Headteacher - Contributing to school self-evaluation.
Ensuring Financial Probity - Making sure the school’s money is well spent - Monitoring the use of the Pupil Premium grant and other resources to overcome barriers to learning. |
Governance Arrangements
The governing board is made up as follows:
The full Governing Board meets once per term with an additional Business meeting early in the Autumn Term. Governors also meet at least termly as committees to consider various aspects of the school in detail. At Mellor St. Mary’s School we have the following committees:
Curriculum Committee The main function of this committee is to monitor and evaluate the standards and achievement of the school and the quality of education provided. This includes use the impact assessment of Pupil Premium and Sports Premium funding.
Standards and effectiveness Committee
This is a committee set up to specifically monitor implementation of the School Action Plan prepared to address improvement requirements identified by the LA’s Monitoring and Intervention Team.
Staffing and Finance Committee The main functions of this committee are to:
Buildings premises and health and safety Committee The main functions of this committee are to:
Head teacher’s Performance Appraisal Committee The main functions of this committee are:
Pay Committee The main functions of this committee are:
Governors visit school regularly to meet pupils and staff, in addition to monitoring specific aspects of the curriculum or areas such as SEN and safeguarding. A number of governors routinely provide in class support by way of assistance in reading and maths.
A revised visits policy was adopted during the year. This policy now includes a number of questions which may be asked of pupils during governor school visits. This enables governors to prepare in advance, questions they may ask particular pupil groups such as the school council, pupil premium children, high ability children and Looked After and SEND pupils. This approach was successfully trialled with the School Council who enthusiastically engaged in a discussion on British Values.
A further related policy which was introduced during the year was a governor Induction Policy. Again, this was successfully used to monitor, and record the induction of a new governor to the governing board.
There are also committees that meet, if required, to consider such things as pupil discipline, staffing appeals and complaints and pay Appeals. A list of Governors, their terms of office and positions of responsibility can be accessed by clicking here http://www.mellor.lancs.sch.uk/governors/ |
Governors’ Attendance Record
Governing boards make decisions collectively, though they may choose to delegate responsibility to committees, or individuals (including the Headteacher). Attending Governing Board meetings is an essential part of a governor’s role and the attendance record for the governors of our school is excellent. This ensures that all governors receive the necessary information all at the same time and therefore important and informed decisions can be made as and when necessary on all aspects of the school, staff and pupils.
The attendance record for all governors can be accessed by clicking http://www.mellor.lancs.sch.uk/governor-meeting-attendance-2017-18/
|
Assessment and Impact of the Governing Board during 2017/2018 School Year
Finance and Staffing Committee
Standards Committee
Buildings premises and health and safety Committee
Full Governing Board
The impact of the governing board is reviewed at every meeting of the full board. The following items were noted during the year:
|
Future Plans for Continuous Improvement
A ’20 Questions for Governors Course’ was run in February.
The key issue emerging from this course was the need for the school to establish a revised vision for the school which all stake holders could buy into. A preliminary workshop was held with staff and the Vice Chair of the governing board. This needs to be followed up by a second workshop with the full governing board.
Further items for consideration were as follows.
- - - - - o - - |
Report created by: G.Gill (retiring Chair of Governors) July 2018
Agreed by the Governing Board on: …17.09.2018
Signed by the Chair: …P.Skupski…