Governance

Governors’ Annual Statement Autumn 2022

Governors
Our Governors are representatives of the local community, parents, school staff and the Local Education Authority. They bring a range of interests, knowledge and skills to the school whilst working in a voluntary capacity.

Message from the Chair of Governors

Our Governors

The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main these responsibilities relate to:

Setting targets and promoting high standards of education.
Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates.
Being part of the schools senior leadership team and to be strategic in their thinking e.g monitoring the progress of all groups of children, evaluating the impact of the school’s curriculum and promoting good teaching and learning.
Acting as a ‘critical friend’. A ‘critical friend’ offers support, constructive advice, a sounding board for ideas, a second opinion on proposals and help where needed. However a ‘critical friend’ may also challenge, ask questions, seek information, improve proposals and so arrive at the best solution for the pupils, staff and whole school community.
Making decisions on the school’s budget and staffing.
Being accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community.
Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based.
Ensuring that Health and Safety and Safeguarding policy and procedures are followed and embedded.
Approval of all school policies.
Making sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special educational needs.

At Sir Alexander Fleming Nursery and Primary School we are privileged to have an enthusiastic, dedicated and well-informed group of governors with a wide range of personal interests and expertise. The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the Local Authority. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved, for example with such things as staffing, curriculum, health and safety, safeguarding, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives. The Governing Body works as a team with shared responsibilities. Governors never make decisions on their own, nor do they act as individuals.

Could you be a Governor?

Are you interested in the education, welfare and opportunities provided for children and young people? Have you got enthusiasm and time to spare? If so, you could consider volunteering as a school governor.

Governors give their service voluntarily and no formal qualifications are necessary although there are eligibility criteria.
Governors are ordinary people, aged over 18, with a special commitment to the education and well-being of children.
Terms of office will be a minimum of one to a maximum of four years.

If you are interested in becoming a governor please contact the school office on 01952 327820.

There are typically four types of Governors:

Staff Governors
Parent Governors
Co-opted Governors
Local Authority Governors

Membership

The school’s governing body comprises of 9 Governors:

2 parent governors – elected by other parents at the school
1 staff governor – elected by their colleagues
1 LA governor – appointed by the governing body
4 co-opted governors – invited by the other governors to represent the wider community
the Headteacher – appointed by the governing body.

Governors are appointed for a four year term. The chair and vice chair are appointed annually. All governors participate in a voluntary capacity and do not receive any remuneration for their work as school governors.

Committees

The full governing body usually meets once per term. Most governors also sit on one or two committees, which meet more frequently:

School Development and Standards Committee
Personnel, Finance and Health and Safety Committee
Personal Development and Safeguarding Committee

Committees also usually meet once per term, in time to report on their work to the full governing body meeting. Each Committee has its own Terms of Reference. Individual governors also take on specific responsibilities e.g. linked to a subject area such as literacy or numeracy, or a focus area such as special educational needs/disabilities (SEND) or child protection.

The Governing Body is, therefore rightly proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms of its academic achievement, but also in the solid foundations it provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their formative education. Our community matters and our commitment to high expectations for all is at the core of everything that we do.

Schools Financial Benchmarking – GOV.UK (schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk)

Governor’s role in school improvement

2022-2023

Governor’s Action Plans

Action Plan 2022-2023

Action Plan 2021-2022

Action Plan 2020-2021

Action Plan 2019-2020

Governor’s Roles and Responsibilities

Link Governors

Register of Business Interests

Business Interests 2022-2023