Governance
The role of the school governor carries a great responsibility with it, so it can be demanding and challenging, but on the whole it is very rewarding. School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a good quality education. Together with the headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, they set the school’s aims and policies.
Raddlebarn-Governors-2023 – 2024
Governors-Organisational-Structure
Register of Interests 2023 – 2024
Attendance 2022/2023:
Governor att 2022 – 2023 ~ Full Governing Body
Governor att 2022 – 2023 ~ Finance and Staffing
Governor att 2022 – 2023 ~ Welfare Committee
Governor att 2022 – 2023 ~ Quality of Education Committee
Attendance 2023/2024:
Raddlebarn-FGB-Register-of-Attendance-2023-2024
Raddlebarn-FGB-Register-of-Attendance-2023-2024
Key roles of governors:
• To ensure clarity of the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and the performance management of staff.
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent.
Role of the Staffing & Finance Committee:
The Staffing & Finance Committee meets regularly to ensure the school’s finances are well managed and that we are achieving value for money.
In the Finance element of the Committee Meetings, they are attended and clerked by the clerk (employed by SIPS), who initially circulates the Agenda for the meeting, which Governors on the committee can add to. At the meetings, the Governors request that the Business Manager provides detailed information on the current budget position and highlights areas for discussion.
The committee provides challenge and support to achieve overall effectiveness in its responsibilities for the financial position of the school. It feeds back to the full Governing Body at its twice termly meetings.
The Finance Committee complies with the core responsibilities and strategic planning as set out in the ‘Governors External Review’ and is working on the action point regarding PP performance.
Role of the Welfare Committee:
The Children’s Act 2004 places a duty on agencies to ensure that their functions are discharged having regard for the need to safeguard children and promote their welfare.
By safeguarding and promoting welfare we mean:
• Protecting children from abuse or neglect
• Preventing impairment of the child’s health or development
• Ensuring children’s are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Creating opportunities to enable children to have optimum life changes in adulthood
• As the governor responsible for safeguarding children, you will play an essential role in ensuring children in education are kept safe from harm
Suggested duties
It is recommended that there is a named Safeguarding and Child Protection Governor. Their role includes:
• To be familiar with LA guidance and policy relating to Safeguarding and Child Protection and associated issues, and to attend training for nominated Safeguarding and Child Protection governors
• To ensure that the Governing Body puts in place a suitable Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and associated procedures
• To champion safeguarding and child protection issues within the school
• To encourage other members of the governing body to develop their understanding of the governing body’s responsibilities with regard to Child Protection and assist them to perform their functions in respect of Safeguarding Children and Young People
• To contribute to ensuring any deficiencies in the school’s safeguarding practices are addressed which may be brought to Governors’ attention by a member of school staff, a parent, an officer of the Authority or from any other source
• To meet regularly with the senior member of the school’s leadership team who is the designated teacher for safeguarding and child protection in order to monitor the effectiveness of the governing body’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policy. It is recommended that this is at least a termly meeting
• To ensure that the governing body receives an annual report on the implementation of the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures including:
Arrangements for ensuring that the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy is communicated to, and implemented by, all staff:
• Ensuring that the designated member of staff with lead responsibility for Safeguarding and Child Protection is part of the school’s leadership team, and has sufficient time and resources at his /her disposal to carry out his / her duties effectively
• Ensuring that a deputy designated teacher for safeguarding and child protection is identified
• Ensuring that the Designated Teacher for Safeguarding and Child Protection and the deputy DSLs receive training every two years
• Training in Child Protection undertaken by ALL staff, including Lunch Time Supervisors, clerical staff and other ancillary staff, every three years
• Arrangements are in place for the inclusion of child protection procedures in an induction programme for all people working in the school, no matter for how long, nor the status of that individual
• Arrangements to ensure safer recruitment procedures and appropriate checks on new staff and volunteers
• The number of students currently subject to a Child Protection Plan NB details of names will not be provided to maintain confidentiality
• How Safeguarding and Child Protection issues are addressed through the curriculum
• The provision of information to the LA about how the governing body’s duties in respect of Safeguarding and Child Protection have been discharged
• The Chair of the governing body will liaise with the Head teacher and the Authority over matters regarding confidential child protection issues involving allegations against staff
• Where there is an allegation of abuse against the head teacher, the Chair of the governing body will take the lead in liaising with the LA and/or partner agencies unless a member of the Governing Body has relevant expertise which would mean that person was better fitted to take this role, including:
• Notifying the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) immediately
• Ensuring with LA support that appropriate action is to be taken in accordance with agreed procedures
• To attend initial and subsequent strategy meetings as required if other agencies are involved
• To take the lead in an investigation under employment procedures in conjunction with Human Resources and the Child Protection Service when the other agencies’ involvement is at an end
Role of Quality of Education Committee:
The Quality of Education Committee largely focusses on standards of teaching and learning and the roles people play within this area.
• necessary curriculum related policies to meet statutory and local requirements.
• Where delegation has been agreed by the FGB, establish and review the effectiveness of statutory policies, plans and procedures relating to achievement and teaching related matters including the Accessibility Plan.
• Where delegation has been agreed by the FGB, establish and review the effectiveness of non-statutory policies, targets, plans and procedures relating to achievement and teaching related matters including:
• Agreeing targets.
• Agreeing and reviewing policies on Curriculum, Collective Worship, Religious Education, Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, ensuring British Values are promoted across all areas.
• Oversight of a policy for educational visits, including the appointment of a named co-ordinator.
• Consider and advise the FGB on standards and other matters relating to the school’s curriculum, including any statutory requirements delegated to the committee.
• Consider curricular issues which have implications for financial and human resource decisions and make recommendations to the relevant committee or the Governing Body.
• Arrange for on-line information to be published on the Pupil Premium allocation, its use and impact on attainment.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes supported by Pupil Premium.
• Arrange for on-line information to be published on the curriculum provision, content and approach, by year and by subject.
• Evaluate arrangements for reporting to parents on learning.
• Provide challenge and hold the Headteacher and other senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching and students’ achievement.
• Agree and review a policy on assessment and target setting to ensure that all groups of students, including the most vulnerable make good progress.
• Provide and support curriculum development as set out in the School Improvement Plan ensuring opportunities for all irrespective of location.
• Evaluate all aspects of the curriculum design and student learning.
• Oversee arrangements for individual governors to take a leading role in specific areas of provision, e.g. SEN, Literacy, Numeracy.
• Review opportunities for students and parents to access resources via an electronic means rather than face to face.
Governors also fulfil a number of other important duties, which include:
• Making sure the school buildings and grounds are safe
• Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and objectives
• Setting standards for the pupils’ behaviour and discipline
• Ensuring policies are relevant and up-to-date
• Deciding how to spend the school’s budget
• The appointing and dismissing of staff
• Hearing appeals and grievances
Who can be a school governor?
You do not have to have children at the school in order to be a governor. However, you do need to be aged over 18 and pass a formal check (DBS) for your suitability to enable you to come into our school.
No specific qualifications are required but there are certain expectations which are set out in the governor’s code of conduct. Similarly, experience of working in a school can be helpful in your role as a school governor but not essential. What really matters to us is that you have the time to commit fully to the role of the governor, playing a proactive part while working as part of a team, and the passion to ensure that every child has the opportunity to realise their potential and be the best they can be. As a school governor, there is no greater achievement than bringing about school improvement to ensure the best possible education for our children. What better way is there of giving something back to your community.
If you feel you have what it takes to be a school governor, or would like more information about becoming a school governor, then please speak to our Chair of Governors: Lauren Houlder
Chair’s Welcome
On behalf of myself and my fellow governors, welcome to Raddlebarn Primary School’s website.
We are very proud of the amazing progress made by the children at our school, as a result of our rich, engaging curriculum and high-quality teaching.
This is due in very great part to the dedication and hard work of an amazing group of support and teaching staff, led by an inspirational, forward-thinking leadership team.
We offer a rich, vibrant learning and teaching environment for children, staff and parents.
There are a wide range of activities outside the classroom for our children and they are responding magnificently to these opportunities.
As a governing body, we fully support the Headteacher and her staff’s drive to make Raddlebarn Primary School a world class school and to fulfil its mission statement, ‘Success for All’.
On a personal note, I am immensely proud and honoured to be Chair of such a fantastic school.
I hope you find the website interesting and informative.
