Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). The Governing Body of Seascape Primary School works with the Headteacher to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement. The core functions of the Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance of staff and;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school, and making sure its money is well spent.
Key issues that have faced the Governing Body during 2016-2017
- Staffing restructure due to budget deficit.
- Monitoring of the SDP to ensure that the school maintains its ‘good’ status at least
- Developing of a highly effective two year old provision
Governor Committee Structure
| Name | Representing | Committee | Term of Office | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Samantha Croft | Parent | Appeals Curriculum and Standards | 11.01.21 - 10.01.25 | |||
| Mrs Anne Delandre | Co-opted | Appeals Finance and Premises | 27.11.20 - 26.11.24 | |||
| Miss Tara Duncombe | Associate | Finance and Premises Pupil Discipline | 26.02.21 - 25.02.25 | SEND | ||
| Cllr Diane Howarth | LA | Finance and Premises First / Pay Review Headteacher Performance Review Pupil Discipline Staffing | 09.07.21 - 08.07.25 | Chair | ||
| Mrs Jill Huntington | Clerk | Appeals Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises First / Pay Review Pupil Discipline Staffing | - | Clerk | ||
| Ms Emma Milburn | Headteacher | Appeals Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises Pupil Discipline Staffing | 01.08.2018 - ongoing | Headteacher | - | - |
| Mrs Claire Oxley-Gillett | Staff | Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises | 31.09.19 - 31.8.23 | |||
| Mrs Yvonne Ryle | Co-opted | Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises (Chair) First / Pay Review (Chair) Headteacher Performance Review Pupil Discipline Staffing | 07.06.22 - 07.06.26 | Vice Chair | ||
| Mrs Amy Smout | Associate Member | Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises Staffing | 13.01.21 - 12.01.23 | |||
| Ms Kelly Walton | Co-opted | Appeals Finance and Premises | 18.02.22 - 17.02.26 | None |
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
Seascape 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 full document below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Governor Attendance
Schools are 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
Record of Attendance 2022-2023
| Name | Meeting [add date] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Mary Cartwright | |||
| Miss Samantha Croft | |||
| Mrs Anne Delandre | |||
| Miss Tara Duncombe | |||
| Cllr Diane Howarth | |||
| Mrs Jill Huntington | |||
| Mrs Victoria Makin | |||
| Ms Emma Milburn | |||
| Mrs Claire Oxley-Gillett | |||
| Mrs Yvonne Ryle | |||
| Mrs Amy Smout | |||
| Ms Kelly Walton |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
Personnel Committee
Terms of Reference:
- Review temporary contracts on an annual basis with the Head teacher.
- Consider staff Leave of Absence (only if necessary after delegation to Headteacher)
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all Senior 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 monitor of absence.
Meetings: termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with oracle.
Disqualifications: when there may be conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required;Or pecuniary interest. Associate members may not vote.
Finance Committee
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 polices and expenses polices.
- 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.
- Consider all matters received from the LA relating to the financial aspects of the Authority’s scheme for the Financing of Schools (Fair Funding).
- Consider and promote income generation.
- Inspection/reporting repair and maintenance to Building & Grounds.
- Building and grounds Improvements.
- Tendering procedures.
- Purchase & disposal of Furniture and Equipment.
Meetings: termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with oracle.
Disqualifications: when there may be conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; Or pecuniary interest. Associate members may not vote.
First / Pay Review Committee
Terms of Reference:
- To act in accordance with the Teacher’s 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 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)
- Reducing the staffing.
Meetings; as and when necessary.
Disqualifications: The Headteacher; the Chair of Governors (if he/she has prior knowledge or involvement) Spouse/partner.
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.
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 responsibility for dismissal of:
- All staff other than Headteacher
- Headteacher to a committee of the Governing Body.
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. (eg. disciplinary, pay review, capability etc.)
- To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
Meetings: as and when required. Must have no fewer members than Hearing.
Disqualifications: Headteacher. Any governor who was involved in the hearing. Spouse/partner.
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 successful meeting of set targets.
Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare
- Health & safety issues, inspection report and action (including completion of annual risk assessment)
- 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 and sports premium funding is used effectively.
- 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 SEND 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.
- Audit and review the whole school drugs policy.
- Provide sex and relationships education and consult parents (Primary). Agree the content and organisation of the school’s programme of sex and relationship education ad notify parents of their right to withdraw their child (all secondary schools that choose to provide S&R education)
- Monitor pupil’s attitudes, values and how other personnel qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told their right to withdraw their child.
- Ensure the effective integration of children with SEND
- Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
- Ensure the school is fulfilling responsibilities regarding child protection and requirements of “keeping children safe in Education” (2014)
- 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.
- Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
- Monitor the development of pupil’s attitudes, values and other personnel 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 more able and talented.
- Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions.
- Complaints
- Monitor the impact of P2b on Children’s SEMH
- Monitor the EMP provision.
Meetings: at least termly.
Disqualifications: conflict of interest, pecuniary interest. Prior knowledge in cases of pupil discipline or complaints.
Outcomes for pupils, teaching, learning and assessment
Set targets for achievement at EYFS, KS1, KS2. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Ensure all staff monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of polices on race, SEND, Looked after Children and Pupil Premium pupils, parents and communities.
- Ensure staff contribute to the development and monitoring of the School Development Plan and the SEF to improve pupil outcomes.
- 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, learning and assessment is at least good.
- Plan to raise standards of achievement and monitor the school’s performance.
- Provision of high quality out-of-hours provision (wrap around provision, study support, extended schools).
- Ensure that all pupils have access to curriculum enriched activities.
Meetings: at least termly.
Disqualifications: None.
Leadership and Management
- Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement (SSFA 1998).
- Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of polices on race, SEND, Looked after Children and Pupil Premium pupils, parents and communities.
- Contribute to the development and monitoring of the School Development Plan and the SEF.
- Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide.
- Ensure and report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to parents/guardians annually.
- Ensure the school has policies statutory and non-statutory.
- Ensure the quality of education, teaching, learning and assessment is at least good.
- 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 to raise aspirations.
- Ensure the school meets requirements of the SEN and relevant disability legislation.
- Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.
Meetings: at least termly.
Disqualifications: None.
Effectiveness of the Early Years provision, quality and standards
- Set targets for achievement at EYFS. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of polices on race, SEND, Looked after Children and Pupil Premium pupils, parents and communities within EYFS.
- Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide.
- Ensure and report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to parents/guardians annually.
- In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils is at least good.
- 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 curriculum enriched activities.
- Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.
Meetings: at least termly.
Disqualifications: None.
Virement & Expenditure Limits
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair of Governing Body | £2,000 | Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair of Governing Body £ 2,000 Any items of expenditure up to £ 10,000 | £10,000 |
| Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors or Chair of Finance Committee. | £10,000 | 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 Governing Body 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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