In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all Governing Boards, the three core strategic functions of the Perfect Primary School Governing Board is:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

Governors are responsible for setting the school’s strategic framework, identifying priorities for school improvement and monitoring progress towards these goals. Governors are also responsible for setting a school ethos of high expectations of behaviour, progress and attainment of all pupils and of conduct of staff and governors.

2. Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;

Governors must provide challenge to the school and hold the Headteacher and senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching and learning and school performance. Governors do this through questioning and through regular monitoring and analysis of data on children’s performance and progress. Governors hold the Headteacher to account for the performance management of teachers. The performance management of the Headteacher is conducted by governors together with an external advisor.

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Governors look at financial statements and ask questions to ensure that the school makes efficient use of its budget and provides best value for money.

4. Other important functions of the Board include:

• Determining how the school's budget is spent
• The appointing and dismissing of staff
• Hearing appeals and grievances
• Forming policy on the school’s curriculum and collective worship
• Setting standards for pupils’ behaviour and discipline
• Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
• Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies.

Governance arrangements

The Governing Board of Orton Wistow Primary School was re-constituted in 2015 and is now made up of the Head Teacher, one staff Governor, two elected Parent Governors, one Local Authority  Governor and 5  Co-opted Governors. Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Board and are people who, in the opinion of the Governing Board, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school, this includes finance, buildings, business and community expertise and knowledge.

The full Governing Body meets twice each term.

There is a Pay and Performance Committee that meets annually and other committees that meet if required to consider pupil discipline and staffing matters.

 

Attendance Record of Governors

Governors have excellent attendance at meetings and we have never cancelled a meeting because it was not “quorate”. The Governor attendance record can be found on the website.

The governing body has completed a skills audit to identify any further skills or training they needed to be able to deliver their functions effectively.

Individual governors attend regular training sessions run by the local authority e.g. .

Each year, governors sign a Code of Conduct which can be viewed on website and the Governing Body have also published their Register of Business and Pecuniary Interests.

The school has a Governor blog; it can be accessed via the school website. New posts are added on the regular basis to inform you on changes, events or to tell you what we have been doing.

One of the roles for the Governors is reviewing and agreeing school policies, copies of the latest versions can be found on the school website or can be requested via the school office.

Governors are frequent visitors to school, meeting subject leaders to provide them with support and challenge. In addition, governors attend an annual joint governor and staff meeting where each subject leader makes a presentation based on pupil attainment, achievement and a review of pupil engagement in that subject.

Governors monitor the “vulnerable groups” of children and have discussed how the Pupil Premium Grant is being spent by the school and what impact this has on their outcomes. 

The Sports Premium has been used to improve the quality of the PE curriculum by providing through:

• the use of specialist teachers (2 afternoons per week),
• introduction to new sports,
• ensuring sports teaching is well resourced with high quality equipment,
• specialist swimming coach to help deliver swimming in Years 3/4,
• introduction of a new sports scheme to be used across the school to develop core skills and mastery,
• developing sports and play at lunchtimes.

 Minutes of Governing Board and Committee meetings are public documents you can ask at the school office if you would like to see any of the minutes of our meetings.

Future plans for the Governors

The governing body will continue to support the Headteacher and senior leaders in the efficient running of the school whilst continuing to strategically develop the excellent standard of education in the current challenging and changing environment. The governing body has safeguarded the future of the school by working with two other schools  to gain multi academy trust status which will be formally in place by March 2019.

 

Governors will continue to establish systems and styles of working through which the governing body can work most effectively in fulfilling their roles, especially when multi-academy trust status is achieved.

They will also look to increase their communication with parents and the community through attendance at parent’s meetings and school events.

How you can contact the Governing Board:

We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents – please contact the Chair of Governors, Mrs Mary Foreman, via the school office. You can see the full list of governors and their biographies, on the Governors’ page of the school website.