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Burnopfield Primary School

Front Street, Burnopfield, NE16 6PT

 Burnopfield Primary School
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Home / About Us / Our Governing Body

Our Governing Body

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

Governance Handbook

Competency Framework for Governance

Governor Structure

Burnopfield Primary School Governing Body

NameTerm
of
Office
CategoryCommitteesResponsibilitiesRegister
of
Interests
Governance of Other Schools
Mrs Marie Scott11/10/17 to 10/10/21Co-optedAppeals
Curriculum
Finance and Personnel
Safeguarding, Premises, Health and Safety
Chair of Governors
Pupil Premium
Safeguarding and
LAC
SEN
None
Mr Scott Robinson27/05/17 to 26/05/21Co-optedCurriculum
Finance and Personnel
Hearings/First
Vice-Chair Person
Chair of Finance and Personnel
Hearings/First
Committee
None
Mrs Cath Curry20/11/19 to 19/11/23Co-optedAppeals None
Mr Malcolm Webb01/9/19 to 31/08/23Co-optedCurriculum
Finance and Personnel
Hearings/First
None
Mrs Rebecca Brunton21/05/17Acting Head TeacherCurriculum
Finance and Personnel
Safeguarding, Premises, Health and Safety
None
Cllr Ivan Jewell13/09/17 to 12/09/21Local AuthorityHearings/First Safeguarding, Premises, Health and SafetyElected Member DCCNone
Miss Lesa Delaney01/11/20 to 30/10/24Co-optedAppeals
Curriculum
Sports Premium
SEN
None
Mrs Catherine Thompson21/05/17Acting Head TeacherCurriculum
Finance and Personnel
Safeguarding, Premises, Health and Safety
StaffSpouse has been contacted to provide building services in pastNone
Reverend Andrew Miller12/05/17 to 11/05/21Co-optedCurriculum
Hearings/First
Safeguarding, Premises, Health and Safety
None
Mrs Gillian Jones05/12/17 to 04/12/21Co-optedCurriculumStaffNone
Mrs Janine Hestletine14/10/20 to 13/10/24StaffSafeguarding, Premises, Health and Safety
Mrs Melanie Meadows09/11/20 to 08/11/24Parent
Mrs Sarah-Leigh Nicholson09/11/20 to 08/11/24Parent
Mr Philip Bell10/11/20 to 09/11/24Co-opted

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Burnopfield Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies.

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools 2017

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.


Governor Attendance

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

Record of Attendance 2020/2021

NameGovernors School Development Plan (Online)Pay Review MeetingPremises Meeting 14.10.20Curriculum Meeting 14.10.20Pay Review Meeting 21.10.20Full Governors Meeting 21.10.20
Mrs M Scott✔✔✔✔✔✔
Mr K S Robinson✔✔✔✔✔✔
Mrs C A Curry✔XXXX✔
Mr M Webb✔A/AXA/AA/A✔
Mrs R Brunton✔✔✔✔✔✔
Cllr I Jewell✔✔✔XX✔
Miss L Delaney✔XXA/AX✔
Mrs C L Thompson✔✔✔✔✔✔
Rev A Miller✔✔A/AA/AXA/A
Mrs G Jones✔X✔A/AX✔
Mrs J HeseltineElected in Autumn Term ✔
Mrs M MeadowsElected in Autumn Term
Mrs S L NicholsonElected in Autumn Term
Mr P BellElected in Autumn Term

Record of Attendance 2019-2020

NameSpecial Governor Meeting
23rd September
Curriculum Meeting 14th OctoberPremisesPremises
20th January
Curriculum
20th January
Full Governors Meeting 5th FebruaryFinance 5th February
Mrs M Scott✓✓✓A/AA/A✓✓
Mr K S RobinsonA/AXXXA/A✓✓
Mrs E W Turnbull✓✓XX✓✓✓
Mrs C A Curry✓XXXXA/AX
Mr M Webb✓✓XX✓A/AX
Mrs R Brunton✓XX✓✓✓✓
Cllr I Jewell✓X✓✓X✓X
Mrs A GoodwinA/AXXXX✓X
Miss L DelaneyA/AA/AXXA/AA/AX
Mrs S J Taylor✓✓✓A/AA/AA/AA/A
Mrs C L Thompson✓✓X✓✓✓X
Rev A MillerA/AA/AA/A✓✓✓X
Mrs G Jones✓✓X✓✓✓X
Mr Kevin Freeman✓X✓✓XA/AX

Record of Attendance 2018-2019

NameSpecial Governor Meeting
8th October
HT Performance Management
16th October
Premises Meeting
17th October
Curriculum Meeting
17th October
Finance Meeting
31st October
Full Governors Meeting
Pay Review Meeting
18th December
Safeguarding and Premises
16th January
Curriculum
16th January
Finance
6th February
Full Governors Meeting
6th February
Premises 15th MayCurriculum 15th MayFinancial and Personnel
5th June
Termly Meeting 5th June
Mrs M Scott✓X✓✓✓✓X✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
Mr K S Robinson✓✓X✓✓✓✓X✓✓✓X✓✓✓
Mrs E W Turnbull✓XX✓✓✓XXX✓✓XA/A✓✓
Mrs C A CurryA/AXXXX✓XXXXA/AXXX✓
Mr M Webb✓✓X✓✓✓✓X✓✓✓X✓✓✓
Mrs R Brunton✓XX✓✓✓XXXA/AA/AXX✓✓
Cllr I JewellXX✓XXA/A✓✓XX✓✓XX✓
Mrs A GoodwinA/AXXXXA/AA/AXXX✓XXXA/A
Miss L DelaneyA/AXXA/AXA/AXX✓XA/AXA/AXA/A
Mrs S J Taylor✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
Mrs C L Thompson✓XX✓X✓XX✓X✓XA/AXA/A
Rev A Miller✓X✓A/AX✓XA/AA/AX✓A/AA/AX✓
Mrs G Jones✓XX✓X✓✓X✓XA/AX✓X✓
Mr Kevin Freeman✓X✓XX✓X✓XX✓✓XX✓

Record of Attendance 2017-2018

 TrainingGov BodyFinanceTrainingPay ReviewPremisesCurriculumGov BodyFinanceGov BodyFinance
Name25.9.171.11.171.11.178.11.1721.11.1717.1.1818.10.177.2.187.2.185.6.185.6.18
Mrs M Scott✓✓✓✓x✓✓✓✓✓✓
Mr K S Robinson✓NN✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
Mrs E W Turnbull✓✓✓✓xx✓✓✓✓✓
Mrs S MurrayNNNN✓xxNNResigned✓
Mrs C A CurryN✓x✓xx✓✓xA/Ax
Mr M Webb✓✓✓✓✓xx✓✓✓✓
Mrs R Brunton✓✓✓✓xxA/AA/AA/AA/AA/A
Cllr I Jewell✓✓x✓✓✓x✓x✓x
Mrs A Goodwin✓✓x✓✓xx✓xA/Ax
Miss L DelaneyNNxA/Axx✓Nx✓x
Mrs S J Taylor✓✓✓✓x✓✓✓✓✓✓
Mrs C L Thompson✓✓xA/AxxxA/Ax✓x
Rev A Miller✓✓x✓x✓A/AA/AxA/Ax
Mrs G Jonesxxxxxxx✓x✓x
Mr Kevin Freemanxxxxxxxxx✓x

Committee Terms of Reference

 

Burnopfield Primary School No: 2234

Committee Structure

 

Full Governing Body

CHAIR: Mrs M Scott

VICE CHAIR: Mr K S Robinson

Terms of Reference 

Strategic Leadership and Accountability:

  • In collaboration with school leaders determine a clear and explicit vision for the future.  Ensure this is communicated to the whole organisation.
  • Set strong and clear values and ensure these are embedded across the organisation and adhered to.
  • Determine the strategic direction for the school.
  • Monitor and evaluate pupil progress and attainment by receiving reports and information from the Headteacher and other school leaders; compare against national and local benchmarks over time. 
  • Receive reports from committees, working parties or individuals and agree actions.
  • Approve the SEF and monitor throughout the year.
  • Approve the School Improvement Plan priorities and monitor throughout the year progress towards agreed actions.
  • Ensure there is a transparent system for performance management of all staff which is clearly linked to the school’s priorities.  Have oversight of staff performance throughout the year.
  • Ensure there are mechanisms in place to listen to and respond to the views of parents/carers, pupils, staff, local communities and employers.
  • Agree recruitment process to be followed in relation to Senior Leader posts; where delegated ratify appointments.
  • Final approval of the annual budget plan.
  • Monitor the school’s budget throughout the year.
  • Agree virement and expenditure limits for the Headteacher.
  • Hold at least 3 meetings each academic year.  Ensure that committee meetings are held in accordance with the agreed terms of reference.

People and Structures:

  • Elect and/or remove Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors.
  • Appoint Committee Chairs or delegate to each committee.
  • Consider and agree delegation of functions to individuals or committees.
  • Agree committee terms of reference and membership.
  • Establish a register of Governors business interests.
  • Ensure Governors information on the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register and the school website is up to date and compliant with current requirements.
  • Confirm the Instrument of Government and subsequent amendments.
  • Appoint Co-opted, Local Authority and where necessary Parent Governors to the Board.
  • Review and monitor the Governor Induction Process.
  • Have regard for Governors professional development. 
  • Where necessary, suspend or remove Governors from the Board.
  • Appoint/dismiss the Clerk to the Governing Body.

Compliance and Evaluation:

  • Consider business provided by Local Authority and other sources
  • Suspend or end suspension of staff members.
  • Ensure all statutory policies are in place and there is an effective policy review cycle.
  • Review and agree the Governor Code of Conduct.
  • Confirm arrangements for completion of a Governor Skills Audit.
  • Ensure there is regular self-evaluation and review of individual’s contribution to the Board as well as the Board’s overall operation and effectiveness.
  • As necessary, consider an external review of the Board’s effectiveness.
  • Ensure school website is up to date and compliant with current DfE requirements.

Finance and Personnel Committee

CHAIR: Mr K S Robinson

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 DfE Schools Financial Value Standard.
  • To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body.
  • 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 Hearings/First Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.
  • To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee.
  • To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
  • 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.
  • To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on Personnel-related expenditure.

Meetings: termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with Oracle.

Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest.  Associate Members may not vote.

 

Hearings/First Committee

CHAIR: Mr K S Robinson

Terms of Reference

  • Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
  • Annually agree the Teachers’ Pay Policy.
  • Act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy when carrying out the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
  • Report to the Finance and Premises Committee on pay review related expenditure.
  • Consider any requests made in accordance with personnel policies e.g. flexible working, leave of absence etc. (unless delegated to the Headteacher).
  • Make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body e.g. disciplinary, grievance, ill-health, capability etc. (Unless delegated to the Headteacher).
  • Deal with matters relating to staffing reductions. 

MEETINGS: at least annually 

QUORUM:

DISQUALIFICATIONS: Headteacher; Chair of Governors (if have prior knowledge); where there may be a conflict of interest; any Governor whose spouse/partner is involved; staff (annual pay review and matters relating to staffing reductions)

 

Appeals Committee

CHAIR:

Terms of Reference

  • Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
  • Consider any appeal against a decision made under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body.
  • Consider any appeal against a decision made by the First/Pay Review Committee during the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
  • Consider any appeal against selection for redundancy through a staffing reduction process.
  • Consider complaints against the school in accordance with the agreed school Complaints Procedure.

MEETINGS: as and when required.  

QUORUM: Must have at least the same number of Governors as were present at the original hearing.  

DISQUALIFICATIONS: Headteacher; Chair of Governors (if have prior knowledge); any Governor involved in the original hearing; where there may be a conflict of interest; any Governor whose spouse/partner is involved; staff (appeals in relation to salary or staffing reduction decisions)

 

SAFEGUARDING, PREMISES, HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE

CHAIR:

Terms of Reference:

  • Ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements and review the schools H&S policy regularly.
  • Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
  • 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.

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

CHAIR:

Terms of Reference:

  • 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 Equalities 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 (Primary).  Agree the content and organisation of the school’s programme of sex and relationship education and notify parents of their right to withdraw their child (all secondary schools and primary schools that choose to provide S&R education).
  • 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.  Secondary schools: ensure sex education is provided.
  • Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
  • Anti-Bullying and Behaviour Policies.
  • Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement (SSFA 1998).
  • Set targets for achievement at EYFS, KS1, 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 (see Enjoy and Achieve re promoting high standards).
  • Plan to raise standards of achievement and monitor the school’s performance.
  • Consider out-of-hours provision (wrap around provision, study support, extended schools).
  • Ensure that all pupils have access to careers advice.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Complaints.

Meetings: at least termly.

Disqualifications: conflict of interest, pecuniary interest.

 

Virement & Expenditure Levels

Virement LimitsExpenditure Limits
Limit set for Headteacher without prior
written approval of Chair or Governing
Body
£
5,000
Any items of expenditure up to£
10,000
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors or Vice-Chair5,000
–
10,000
Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body.

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.

Delegation to the Headteacher

School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009

The Governing Body can delegate the power to appoint outside the leadership group to:

  • The Headteacher
  • One or more Governors with the right of the Headteacher to advise
  • One or more Governors and the Headteacher

 

Appointments:  

The Governing Body delegates to the Headteacher responsibility for appointments outside the Leadership structure of temporary and permanent staff.

 

Dismissals:  

No delegation to the Headteacher.

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Front Street

Burnopfield

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE16 6PT

Tel 01207 270397 · Email burnopfield@durhamlearning.net

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