Our Governing Body

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).

Governor Committee Structure

Name	Representing	Start Date - End Date	Committee	Responsibilities	Relationship to Staff	Register of Interests
Mrs Margaret Greener	Foundation	07 November 2014 - November 2018	Federation Pay Review; Admissions, Children’s School & Community; Finance, Premises & Grounds; Pay Review (First);	Behaviour Safeguarding Achievement & Progress	Daughter works in the school.	Daughter works in school
Rev Fr Ian Jackson	Foundation	05 December 2016 - 04 December 2020	Federation Pay Review, Admissions, Finance, Premises & Grounds; Pay Review (First);	Leadership & Management		Governor of different school
Mr. Michael Facchini Chair	Foundation	01 September 2016-September 2020	Admissions, Finance, premises & Grounds (Chair), Pay Review (First), Personnel, Federation Pay Review (First),	Chair		None
Mr. Paul. Devine	Foundation	01 November 201 -November 2021
Mrs Alexandra Banks	Parents	January 2019	Federation Appeals; Admissions, Children’s School & Community; Finance, Premises & Grounds;	Health & Safety
Mrs Paula Charlton	Staff	November 2018	Children’s School & Community; Admissions, Personnel	SMSC	Husband is sometimes a supply teacher in school.	None
Mrs Joanne Walton - Acting Headteacher			All			Son in school
Mr Jake Miller	LA	September 2017				None
Mr Paul White - Clerk to the Governing Body

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

St Mary’s RCVA Primary school adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the documents below.

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body 2017

Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body 2018

Governor Attendance

Schools are now required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.

KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee

Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.

Record of Governor’s Attendance 2018-2019

Name	Admissions Committee 07/09/2018	Admissions Committee 10/09/2018	Admissions Committee 26/09/2018	Admissions Committee 02/10/2018	Admissions Committee 11/10/2018	Finance and Premises + Pay Review Committee 15/10/2018	Admissions Committee 02/11/2018	Full Governing Body	HT Appraisal	Admissions Committee 23/01/2019	Finance and Premises 07/02/2019	Full Governing Body 14/03/2019	Full Governing Body 08/05/2019	Finance and Premises 10/06/2019	Full Governing Body 26/06/2019
Mrs M Greener	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes	Yes	Yes - Chair	Yes - Chair	Yes	Yes	Yes - Chair	Yes
Rev Fr I Jackson	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	Yes	no	no	no	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Mr M Facchini	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mrs S Clarke	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	No No longer a governor	No	No	No
Mrs P Charlton	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	no	no	no	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mrs J Lewin	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	No	No	No
Mr Jake Miller	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	Yes	no	no	no	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Mr Paul Devine	no	no	no	no	no	Yes	no	Yes	no	no	no	no	No	No	No
Mrs Walton	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	no	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mrs Alexandra Banks												Yes	No	Yes	No

Record of Attendance -Admissions Committee 2018-2019

Name	Meeting [07/09/2018]	Meeting [10/09/2018]
Mrs M Greener	Attended - Chair	Attended
Rev Fr I Jackson
Mr M Facchini	Attended	Attended
Mrs S Clarke
Mrs P Charlton
Mrs J Lewin
Mr Peter Robson
Mr Paul Devine
Mrs Walton	Attended	Attended

Committee Terms of Reference

Finance Committee

Terms of Reference:

In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
To establish and maintain an up to date 3 year financial plan.
To monitor income and expenditure, including virement decisions, significant anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the Governing Body.
To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council and the requirements of the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).
To annually review charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.
To make decisions in respect of service level agreements.
To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
To prepare financial statements for inclusion in any reports to parents.
To ensure as far as is practical that any Health and Safety (H&S) issues are appropriately funded in accordance with priorities.
To ensure that Pay Review Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.

Personnel Committee

Terms of Reference:

To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher
To establish and review a performance management policy for all staff.
To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.

Pay Review/First Committee

Terms of Reference:

To act in accordance with the Teachers Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body to include matters relating to: teaching and learning responsibility payments, SEN (Special Educational Needs) allowances, recruitment and retention payments, points for previous experience, bursaries, regradings.
Staff disciplinary, grievance and ill-health matters in accordance with the procedure adopted by the Governing Body
Staff reductions (as the ‘first’ committees in accordance with the agreed procedure)

Appeals Committee

Terms of Reference:

To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the Hearing/First Committee (or Headteacher if delegated).
To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body. (eg. disciplinary, pay review etc.).
To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.

NB: Any appeals to be heard by Governors from St Godric’s

Admissions Committee

Terms of Reference:

To determine within statutory provisions and the Governing Body policy whether any child shall be admitted to the school.
To review admission arrangements and to make recommendations for changes to the Governing Body.

Children School and Community Committee

Ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements and review the schools H&S policy regularly.
Ensuring that PE is taught as part of the school curriculum and monitoring the quality and adequacy of provision.
Promoting an ethos that encourages participation in competitive sport both within the school and between schools.
Monitoring nutritional standards within the school to include school meals, snack provision and food available during wrap-around provision.
Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Disability Discrimination Act and that arrangements are made to ensure the policy is monitored and reviewed regularly. The policy is known to parents and carers.
Consider developing a whole school drugs policy.
Decide whether or not to provide sex and relationships education and consult parents
Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and how other personal qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told of their right to withdraw their child.
Ensure the effective integration of children with SEN.
Consider the provision of sex and drugs education.
Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection.
Anti-Bullying and Behaviour Policies.
Ensure that buildings and the learning environment are maintained and fit for purpose.
Oversee the use of the premises by outside users.
Establish and keep under review an asset management /building development plan.
Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan.
Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
Monitor the development of pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities.
Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos.
Ensure that the school has an effective school council. The Governing Body takes account of the school council in determining the way in which the school is conducted.
The school promotes inclusive policies that allow for the achievement of all pupils.
Ensure that adequate provision is made for transition between primary and secondary education
Ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination.
Ensure each child is able to reach their potential including the gifted and talented (differentiation).
Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions.
Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement
Set targets for achievement at KS1 and KS2. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of policies on race, SEN, Looked After Children and Disability on pupils, parents and communities.
Contribute to the development and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan and the SEF.
Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide.
Ensure that a report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to their parents/guardians annually.
Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs.
Ensure the school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination.
In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
Monitor the provision of extra-curricular activities including overnight stays provided to encourage recreation and social development.
Ensure the quality of education, teaching and learning.
Plan to raise standards of achievement and monitor the school’s performance.
Consider out-of-hours provision
Ensure the school works well with its community, parents and other schools.
Ensure the school meets the requirements of the SEN and relevant disability legislation.
Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.

Delegation to Headteacher

Appointment of all staff outside of the Leadership Group
Approval of all school trips except trips abroad and out of bound trips

In matters of Discipline and/or Capability, Redundancy and Ill-health

First Written warning

Virement & Expenditure Limits

Virement Limits		Expenditure Limits
Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body	£ 5,000	Any items of expenditure up to	£ 5,000
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors	Between £ 5,000 and 10,000	Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body/Finance Premises & Grounds Committee Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity.
Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity.

NB Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations

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