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Governors' Information: (Development)

Rationale:

We wish to ensure that as a Governing Body of Saints Peter And Paul School, we are providing appropriate rigour and integrity in our Support and Challenge of the school.

The following details highlight the means by which we intend to achieve that.

Objectives:

Establish Umbrella Groups, covering and monitoring all aspects of school life in order that the Governors Committees can adequately support and challenge the Headteacher and staff of the school in their work.

To establish appropriate Specialist (Link) Governors to provide reports relating to school development based upon discussion and investigation into school processes..

Suggested initial umbrella groups are:

	*Life Of The School*
	*People*
	*Facilities*

Life Of The School Group

	Curriculum
	Kirkby Federation Of Schools / Northern Collaborative
	Teaching and Learning

People

	Grievance
	Pupil Discipline
	Special Needs

Admissions

Staffing

	Staffing structure
	Non contact time
	Staffing in relation to finance
	Anticipated staffing levels over 3 years

Appeals

Performance Management (including Continuous Professional Development)

Workforce Reform

Staff Discipline

Quality Assurance

Facilities

	Finance
	Buildings
	Health and Safety

Building upon the structure of the governing body, we aim to associate Specialist (link) Governors to liase with key personnel in order to support and challenge school development in a constructive manner within the school and each to provide a single governors report at the main meetings through the year.

Specialist (Link) Governor

Role Of The Specialist (Link) Governor:

	To provide a link between the Governing Body, its committees and the staff of the school,. In the first instance, this might mean:
	Attending organised training events related to school practice and issues.
	Asking questions about current policy and practice with regard to the “Life of the School”, “Facilities” or “People”.
	Reporting to Governor colleagues on the progress and effectiveness of the issues within school, monitored, reviewed and praised in line with an agreed annual schedule (see below.)
	Supporting and promoting the involvement of Parents.

The Specialist (Link) Governors might:

	Meet with coordinators and other key personnel within school at least once per term to discuss how the implementation of agreed policies and strategies are going.
	Meet with the headteacher from time to time to become better informed about school issues in relation to the Specialist governors area of focus.
	Use termly visits to talk with teachers and see policies in practice in relation to their area of focus. This might, for example, involve the Specialist Governors seeing certain lessons.
	Report to the Governing Body as agreed.
	Try to attend training in relation to the area of focus.
	Be involved in the school’s attempts to inform parents and involve them in issues relating to “The Life Of The School” “Facilities” or “People” within the school
	Write a section in the Annual Governors’ Report to Parents on the way in which school is implementing policies within the focus area and progress to date.

Linking Specialist Governors to Umbrella Groups:

The following sets out how Specialist Governors might link to Governors Committees, including the termly issues that the committees might cover, in order to meet the statutory requirements of the governing body.

Life Of The School Group

Organisation:

The committee meeting would have a set agenda across the course of the year, set by the governing body, to examine a broad range of issues.

The agenda would have issues agreed annually, well in advance, and would accommodate varying issues of particular interest at the time

With The Life Of The School, it is thought that The Specialist Governor roles would be to examine the curriculum from an age range viewpoint, rather than specific subject areas.

Eg At Saints Peter And Paul School, we might have:

	Foundation Stage Specialist Governor
	KS 1 Specialist Governor
	KS 2 Specialist Governor

Term By Term Challenge And Support In “The Life Of The School”

(With a basis of examining Teaching and Learning)

Term 1: Receive and approve / amend the SDP

Science and Foundation Subjects (ICT across the curriculum) RE

Term 2: Numeracy and Foundation Subjects (Art Music, Design Technology PE [Creative]

Term 3: Literacy and Foundation Subjects (Geography, History MFL)

The Life Of The School

This would break down in “The Life Of The School” committee meetings having the following agenda issues:

(By way of example only – this is not set in stone!)

Term 1 (Autumn)

Term 2 (Spring)

Term 3 (Summer)

	Elect Chair Of Committee
	Agree / Amend Terms Of Reference
	Receive And Approve / Amend The School Development Plan (General)
	Curriculum Focus:
	Science
	ICT Across The Curriculum
	RE
	Set Pupil Performance Targets
	Set Dates For Meetings For The Year
	Review Sats / Public Examinations Results / National Tests
	Compare School’s Performance With Similar Schools, Inc Autumn Package And PANDA Report.
	Review Mission Statement – Ensure Relevance
	Agree Monitoring Procedures Including Those Policies That Will Be Reviewed This Year
	Agree Statutory Targets For English And Maths KS2 Results For Following Year.

	Arrange Dates Of Visits For The Year Including Residential (Agreement)
	Governors’ Annual Report And Meeting With Parents
	School Self Evaluation – Receive And Discuss School / LEA Self Review Annual Statement
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

Other Issues Specifically Related To The Time.

	Review Progress Against The School Development Plan (General)
	Curriculum Focus:
	Numeracy
	Creative Foundation Subjects:
	Art
	Music
	Design Technology
	PE
	Agree School Prospectus
	Review Special Educational Needs Policy
	Other Issues Specifically Related To The Time.

Draft / Agree / Review School Development Plan.

Draft Annual Report To Parents – To Include Report On SEN

Monitor Outcomes Of School Self Assessments.

	Policy Review In Line With Cycle Agreed By Governing Body.
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

	Review Progress Against The School Development Plan (General)
	Curriculum Focus:
	Literacy
	Geography
	History
	Modern Foreign Languages (If Appropriate)
	Other Issues Specifically Related To The Time.
	Policy Review In Line With Cycle Agreed By Governing Body.
	Revise School Prospectus
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

This would give a coverage of the whole curriculum, and in depth coverage of the different Key Stages (inc Foundation) and achieving an active liaison with key personnel.

We would have a common structure for meetings

In order to be effective, at least two key governors would need to be present for the monitoring discussion / meeting

People

The whole governing body will need to decide how many Specialist (Link) Governors are going to work with the “People” committee.

With the “People” focus, certain committees would meet as, when and if required. These include the following committees:

	Grievances
	Staff Discipline
	Appeals
	Pupil Discipline
	Special Needs

The following cycle of meetings would cover the work described below:

Staffing

	Staffing structure
	Non contact time
	Staffing in relation to finance
	Anticipated staffing levels over 3 years

Performance Management (including Continuous Professional Development)

Workforce Reform

Quality Assurance

Term 1 (Autumn)

Term 2 (Spring)

Term 3 (Summer)

	Review Terms Of Reference
	Agree Monitoring Procedures Including Those Policies That Will Be Reviewed This Year
	Review The Destination Of School Leavers.
	Receive Confirmation From The Performance Management Governors That The Performance Review Of The Headteacher Has Taken Place And Objectives Set For The Coming Year.
	Review Performance Management Policy. Receive Report From Headteacher On Effectiveness Of Performance Management Policy And Approve Any Amendments Deemed Necessary
	To Review Special Needs Provision Including Monitoring Of Numbers Of Children With Special Needs And statements of SEN.
	Review Admissions Policy And Arrangements For Following Year’s Intake
	Review Cpd And Ensure That Any Cpd Issues Emerging From Curriculum Review By The Life Of The School Committee Are Being Met
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

	Publish And Consult On Proposed Admissions Arrangements For Autumn And The Following Year, Deadline Date For Consultation 1^st March And Determination Of Policy By 15^th April
	Draft / Agree / Review School Development Plan.
	Monitor Performance Procedures For Teacher Observation And Review.
	Review Temporary Contracts
	Policy Review In Line With Cycle Agreed By Governing Body.
	Review CPD And Ensure That Any CPD Issues Emerging From Curriculum Review By The Life Of The School Committee Are Being Met
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

Policy Review In Line With Cycle Agreed By Governing Body.

	Approve The Staffing Establishment As Being Consistent With School’s Plans And Budget.
	Review Attendance Of Pupils
	Review Exclusions For Previous Year
	Receive Confirmation That Employment Policies Are In Place.
	Review Attendance By Staff And Monitor School Performance In Relation To Sickness Absence Ethnic Origin, Ill Health And Early Retirements.
	Ensure That The Workforce Reform Statutory Requirements Are In Place To Be Met By September
	Review CPD And Ensure That Any CPD Issues Emerging From Curriculum Review By The Life Of The School Committee Are Being Met
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

Facilities

The whole governing body will need to decide how many Specialist (Link) Governors are going to work with the “Facilities” committee.

The meeting of the Facilities Committee would impact (challenge and support) in the following areas:

	Finance
	Buildings
	Health and Safety

The following cycle of meetings would cover the work described below:

Term 1 (Autumn)

Term 2 (Spring)

Term 3 (Summer)

	Review Terms Of Reference
	Adopt Financial Procedures
	Annual Review Of Governors Pecuniary Interests
	Agree Monitoring Procedures Including Those Policies That Will Be Reviewed This Year
	Receive Confirmation From Headteacher / Pay Committee That Each Teacher’s Salary Has Been Reviewed And That Each Teacher Has Been Provided With A Pay Statement
	Monitor Budget And Spending Plans. Governors Must Agree Any Changes To The Original Budget.
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

	Draft The Budget And Allocation Of The Standards Fund For The New Financial Year.
	Monitor Budget And Spending Plans And Agree Any Changes.
	Receive The Health, Safety And Premises Audit And Set Financial Allocations, Review Asset Management Plan.
	Project End Of Year Spend 2004/5
	Agree An Allocation For Governor Training And Expenses.
	Draft / Agree / Review School Development Plan.
	Policy Review In Line With Cycle Agreed By Governing Body.
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

	Policy Review In Line With Cycle Agreed By Governing Body.
	Review The Whole School Pay Policy

	Approve Budget By 1^st June 2005
	Confirm School’s 2004/5 Closing Balance
	Monitor Budget And Spending Plans And Agree Any Changes To The Original Budget.
	Agree The Focus Of The Specialist Governor Report To Whole Governors Meeting

SEN Specialist (Link) Governor

It is thought that it would be wise to maintain a specific SEN Specialist Governor. The role would be as follows:

The Role Of The SEN Governor

The main function of the SEN Governor is to keep Governors informed about the way the school manages its provision for SEN, so that the Governing Body can fulfil its legal responsibilities.

It is likely that a key contact for the SEN Governor will be the School SENCOS

The responsibilities of the SEN Governor are as follows:

	Be informed about relevant SEN related legislation and that relating to the role of the Governing Body
	Liase with the SENCOS about the school’s procedures for identifying and supporting pupils with SEN.
	With the assistance of the SENCOS and Headteacher to monitor and evaluate the school’s SEN provision.
	To establish and maintain the Governing Body’s regular consideration of SEN provision and its effectiveness
	To contribute to the Annual Parents Report.
	To be aware of the arrangements the school has made to ensure regular communication with parents of SENM pupils.
	To be an advocate for SEN when whole school needs are being considered.
	Attend Governors training sessions to improve his / her effectiveness as a SEN Governor.
	To represent the Governing Body on SEN matters

The SEN Governor is in a particularly sensitive position as many people may not realise the distinctive different roles of the Headteacher and Governor. It is the Headteacher’s responsibility to manage the school and therefore SEN provision within the context of the strategic direction set by the Governing Body. Therefore it is not appropriate for SEN Governors to become involved with the case work relating to individuals, nor individual pupil progress.

Child Protection Specialist (Link) Governor:

It is thought that it would be wise to maintain a specific Child Protection Specialist Governor. The role would be as follows:

The Role Of The Child Protection Governor:

This role will normally be taken by the Chair of Governors and will involve:

	Ensuring, in liaison with the Headteacher / senior designated teacher, that the school has a child protection policy and procedures in place.
	Ensuring that an annual item is placed on the Governors’ agenda to report on changes to child protection policy / procedures, training undertaken by the senior designated teacher and other protection issues in the school curriculum.
	Liaison (with due regard for confidentiality) with the Headteacher / senior designated teacher re allegations of child abuse
	Liaison with the Education Department, Social Services and the police in relation to allegations of abuse made against the Headteacher, including attendance at strategy meetings. (This responsibility lies with the Chair of Governors only in cases where the Child Protection Officer is NOT the Chair of Governors.)
	Where another member of the Governing Body carries the role of Child Protection governors, their responsibility is to ensure that all school staff are aware of the existence of the relevant procedures in respect of allegation against staff.

Whole Governing Body Cyclical Issues

Term 1 (Autumn)

Term 2 (Spring)

Term 3 (Summer)

	Elect Chair And Vice Chair
	Establish Committees For The Year And Review Terms Of Reference
	Appoint Governors To Committees
	Agree Specialist (Link) Governor Requirements
	Appoint Specialist (Link) Governors
	Agree A Programme Of Meetings For The Year Including Committees
	Receive Reports From The Specialist (Link) Governors
	Receive Reports From Governors Committees

	Receive Reports From The Specialist (Link) Governors
	Receive Reports From Governors Committees

	Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Governing Body Over The Past Year.
	Prioritise The Governor’s Training And Development For The Year.

	Receive Reports From The Specialist (Link) Governors
	Receive Reports From Governors Committees
	Agenda Item To Review Changes To Child Protection Policy / Procedures

Conclusion:

It is anticipated that the huge majority of the Governors effectiveness will be through the Sub Committees, models of which are described above.

Governors are strongly urged and encouraged to treat attendance at the Committees with a high priority.

It is anticipated that through the above model, the whole life of the school will be evaluated and that key staff will be challenged, supported and rewarded relating to the excellent work they do in ensuring the school is so successful.

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