Our Governing Body

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

Our Governing Body work collaboratively with the Head Teacher, Staff, and Local Authority advisors on all aspects of school performance, developing new initiatives, and school improvement.  We are part of the school leadership team in that Ofsted measure the effectiveness of the Governing Body and our impact on school improvement.

As a Governing Body we meet formally for full meetings three times per year – usually October, February, and June.  We have a number of committees that also meet up to three times per year.  These committees relate to Finance, Personnel and Staffing Matters, and our commitment to the Children through the Every Child Matters committee.

We are committed to supporting the school leadership team and staff to make sure Brandon Primary School is the best that it can be ensuring our children achieve the greatest academic and emotional learning foundation to move forward into secondary education.  Current membership of our Governing Body is given below along with the date their term as a governor will end.

Governor Committee Structure

Name	Representing	Committee	Term of Office	Responsibilities	Register of Interests	Relationship to Staff
Mrs Beverly Sherratt - Chair	Co-opted	Every Child Matters Pay Review (First) Personnel	07/02/2021	Chair of Governors Pupil Premium	Profectus 4 People	Non declared
Mr Stuart Dixon	Co-opted	Finance Pay Review (First) Every Child Matters	21/06/2020	Teaching & Learning Assertive Mentoring	None declared	None declared
Mr Simon Bartlett	Co-opted	Every Child Matters Appeals Finance Committee	21/06/2021	GDPR Attendance	None declared	None declared
Cllr John Turnbull Vice-chair	Local Authority	Every Child Matters Finance Pay Review (First) Personnel	16/11/2020	Blogging & Technology	Elected member of DCC & Brandon & Byshottles Parish Council	None declared
Mrs Helen Atkins	Parent	Appeals Personnel Every Child Matters	28/11/2020	SEN	Parent of child in school	None declared
Miss Hilary Franklin	Parent	Every Child Matters Pay Review (First) Personnel	21/06/2021	Website	Aunt of child in school	None declared
Mrs Judith Hodgson - Head Teacher	Staff	Every Child Matters	N/A	Head Teacher	M Hodgson(Husband) builder used by school	None declared
Mrs Louise Stabler	Staff	Finance Every Child Matters Personnel	18/01/2021	Policy Review SEN	Member of Staff	None declared
Mrs Katrina Cooke	Co-opted	Personnel Every Child Matters	14/11/2021	Link	School Business Manager	None declared
Mrs Nancy Radford	Co-opted	Every Child Matters Appeals	21/11/2022	Data	None declared	None declared
Mrs Pat Nelson	Co-opted	Finance Safeguarding Every Child Matters Appeals	21/11/2022	Health & Safety & Safeguarding	Governor at another DCC school	None declared

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

Brandon 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)
Role of a School Governor

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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
n/a  – Not a member of the committee

Attendance 2019 – 2020

Name	Finance Committee 3rd October 2019	Every Child Matters 27th November 2019	Full Governing Body 27th November 2019	Finance Committee 29th January 2020	Every Child Matters 26th February 2020	Full Governing Body 26th February 2020
Mrs H Atkins	X	A/A	A/A	X
Mrs N Radford	X	✓	✓	X
Mr S Dixon	A/A	✓	✓	A/A
Mrs J Hodgson	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mrs K Cooke	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mrs P Nelson	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mrs B Sherratt	X	✓	✓	X
Mrs L Stabler	A/A	✓	✓	✓
Cllr. J A Turnbull	✓	✓	✓	A/A
Mr S Bartlett	X	✓	✓	✓
Miss H Franklin	X	✓	✓	X

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

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Committee Terms of Reference

The Finance Committee

CHAIR:
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 DIE 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 Pay Review Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.

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.

Personnel Committee

CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:

• 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.

Appointment: 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

Delegate to the Headteacher as above for:

• Permanent teaching staff posts
• Permanent support staff posts
• Temporary staff

Dismissals: Governing Body delegates to Headteacher responsibility for the
dismissal of:

• All staff other than Headteacher, unless exceptional circumstances exist
• Headteacher to a committee of the Governing Body

Pay Review (First) Committee

CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:

• To act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy adopted by the Governing
  Body.
• To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
• To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, e.g. disciplinary, grievance, ill health, capability etc where the Headteacher is the subject of the action.
• To make any decisions relating to a member of staff (other than the Headteacher) under the Personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (unless delegated to the Headteacher).
• Staffing Reductions.
• Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions.
• Complaints.

Meetings: Autumn term, plus as and when necessary.
Disqualifications: The Headteacher; the Chair of Governors (if he/she has prior knowledge or involvement) Spouse/partner. School staff. Pecuniary interest

Delegation to the Headteacher
Under the 2009 Staffing Regulations the Governing Body determines the extent to which it delegates to the Headteacher responsibility, up to and including initial dismissal decisions for school staff.

Headteacher’s Performance Review Committee

Terms of Reference:

• To arrange to meet with the External Adviser (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.
• To decide with support from the EA or EDP whether the targets have been met and to set new targets annually.
• To monitor throughout the year the performance of the Headteacher against the targets.
• To make recommendations to the appropriate committee in respect of awards for the successful meeting of set targets.

Meetings: Autumn term, plus monitoring meetings.
Disqualifications: the Headteacher and staff.

Appeals Committee

Terms of Reference:

• To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by
  the First/Pay Review Committee (or Headteacher if delegated).
  • To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures
  adopted by the Governing Body (e.g. disciplinary, pay review, capability for
  teachers etc).
  • To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
  Meetings: as and when required. Must have no fewer members than the Hearing.
  Disqualifications: Headteacher. Any governor who was involved in the hearing.
  Spouse/partner.

Every Child Matters

ECM areas- Be Healthy
Staying Safe 

• 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 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 thEi 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 and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
• 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.
• Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement (SSFA 1998).
• Set targets for achievement at 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 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).

Meetings: at least termly.
Disqualifications: conflict of interest, pecuniary interest. Prior knowledge in cases of
pupil discipline or complaints.

Virement & Expenditure Levels

Virement Limits		Expenditure Limits
Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body	£2,000	Any items of expenditure up to	£5,000
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors	£2,000 to £5,000	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

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