Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
Chair of Governors – Mrs Helen-Goulty-Brown
Email address – chairofgov@redroseprimaryschool.com
Governor Information
Angela Brinton (Headteacher)
Representing: Headteacher
Term of Office: Start Date: 27/6/2018
Term of Office End Date: Ongoing
Link Governor Role: N/A
Register of Interests: Headteacher
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mrs Helen Goulty-Brown (Chair)
Representing: Co-opt
Term of Office: Start Date: 28/9/21
Term of Office End Date: 27/9/25
Link Governor Role: Art, English, EYFS and EYFS Data, Safeguarding and Child Protection, Pupil Attendance, Pupil Exclusion Information, GDPR, Single Central Record, Parental Engagement, Parental Complaints, Publicity and Community Engagement
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mr David Bernstone
Representing: Parent Governor
Term of Office: Start Date: 4/12/23
Term of Office End Date: 3/12/27
Link Governor Role: Asset register
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mr Avie Dees
Representing: Parent Governor
Term of Office: Start Date: 24/4/23
Term of Office End Date: 23/4/27
Link Governor Role: Online Safety, KS1 and KS2 Data, Pastoral Provision and PSHE, Cultural Education, Lettings, charging and remissions, Nutritional Standards
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mr Neil Dosdale
Representing: Parent Governor
Term of Office: Start Date: 23/11/21
Term of Office End Date: 22/11/25
Link Governor Role: Computing, School Website, D & T, Pupils with Medical Conditions, Educational Visits
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mrs Ellie Sheppard
Representing: Co-opted
Term of Office: Start Date: 8/1/25
Term of Office End Date: 7/1/29
Link Governor Role:
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mr Daniel Oliver-Elliott
Representing: Staff
Term of Office: Start Date: 1/5/23
Term of Office End Date: 1/5/27
Link Governor Role:
Register of Interests: Staff Member
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mrs Suzanne Rehan
Representing: Parent
Term of Office: Start Date: 9/12/2019
Term of Office End Date: 8/12/2023
Link Governor Role: Maths, SEND funding, Audit Reviews
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Cllr Julie Scurfield
Representing: Local Councillor
Term of Office: Start Date: 21/9/23
Term of Office End Date: 20/9/27
Link Governor Role: SEND, Music, Staff training/CPD, School Council, Children in Care, Pupil surveys, Staff wellbeing, Working conditions, Workloading, Training and Development, Pupil Premium
Register of Interests: Local Councillor
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Ms Venessa Sixbery
Representing: Parent Governor
Term of Office: Start Date: 24/11/21
Term of Office End Date: 23/11/25
Link Governor Role: Geography, History, MFL, Pupil Reports
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mrs Lisa Ward
Representing: Parent Governor
Term of Office: Start Date: 22/5/22
Term of Office End Date: 21/5/26
Link Governor Role: Science, PE, Sports Premium, RE and RSE, Primary to Secondary transition
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
Mrs Andrea Campbell
Representing: Co-opted
Term of Office: Start Date: 31/1/25
Term of Office End Date: 30/1/29
Link Governor Role:
Register of Interests: None
Relationship to Staff: None
Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
At Red Rose Primary School, we recognise the importance of our governing body reflecting the community that it serves. Due to the small number of people that make up the governing body, we feel that making this information public may affect the privacy of individual governors. We continue to strive to ensure that the governing body does reflect our community.
Committee Structure and Responsibilities
Appeals Committee
CHAIR: To be elected at the beginning of each meeting
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, 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.
Finance Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
Finance
- 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 that the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standards.
- To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body.
- To annually review the School Fund statements.
- 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, including whether sufficient funds are available for performance-related pay increments.
- To ensure that priorities in the School Improvement Plan are appropriately financed.
- Consider and promote income generation.
- To review policies as assigned by the governing body, and to report back to full governing body.
- To oversee tendering procedures.
Resources
- To advise the governing body on priorities for the maintenance, repair and development of the school buildings and grounds.
- To ensure, as far as is practical, that all Health & Safety issues are appropriately prioritised, any recommended actions undertaken, alongside completion of an annual risk assessment.
- To regularly review the Health and Safety policy.
- To oversee arrangements for repairs and maintenance.
- In consultation with the Headteacher, to oversee premises-related funding bids.
- To oversee arrangements, including Health and Safety, for the use of the school premises by outside users, subject to governing body policy.
- To establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan.
- To consider the purchase and disposal of furniture and equipment.
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.
Headteacher's Performance Review Committee
CHAIR: To be elected at the beginning of each meeting
Terms of Reference:
- To arrange to meet with the Education Development Partner (EDP) annually to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.
- To decide, with support from the EDP, whether the targets have been met and to set new targets annually.
- To monitor termly throughout the year the overall performance of the Headteacher and performance set 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 termly monitoring meetings
Disqualifications:the Headteacher and staff
Staff & Pupil Discipline Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
Staff
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and any budgetary implications highlighted by the Finance Committee.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff, with appropriate delegation to the Headteacher (as outlined below). Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher appointments will be subject to consideration by the full Governing Body and if the appointment is delegated to the Committee it will need to be endorsed by the full Governing Body.
- To establish and review a performance management policy for all staff (except the Headteacher which will be performed by the Headteacher’s Performance Committee).
- To liaise with the Headteacher with regard to the impact of Performance Management and the needs of staff for training and development, making recommendations to the governing body where appropriate.
- To keep under review staff work/life balance, working conditions and wellbeing, including monitoring of absence.
- Consider staff Leave of Absence (only if necessary after delegation to Headteacher).
- Review temporary contracts on an annual basis.
- To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on personnel-related expenditure.
- To monitor and review feedback from staff surveys.
- To review policies as assigned by the governing body, and to report back to the full governing body.
Pupils
- To monitor and review the pastoral provision and care provided by the school for pupils.
- To monitor the quality and adequacy of PE and sport provision, promoting an ethos which encourages participation in competitive sport.
- To monitor nutritional standards within the school, including school meals, snack provision, and food available during any wrap-around provision.
- To monitor and review student absence, exclusions, and behaviour.
- To set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- To monitor and review inclusion arrangements for the integration of children with SEN and other vulnerable groups, and ensure the school’s SEN policy is consistent with the Code of Practice and Equalities Act and reviewed regularly.
- To consider parental engagement.
- To consider safeguarding arrangements and to ensure that the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of Working Together to Safeguard Children.
- To monitor and review the school’s RE and PSHE provision and advise the governing body on standards and other matters relating to statutory requirements, and to ensure parents are notified of their right to withdraw their child.
- To consider provision and agree the content of Sex and Relationships education and consult parents, notifying them of their right to withdraw their child.
- To ensure implementation of Anti-Bullying and Behaviour Policies and to assess their impact.
- To ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination.
- To monitor the development of pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities.
- Ensure that the school has an effective School Council and to receive regular reports from the Student Council.
- To ensure that adequate provision is made for transition between primary and secondary education.
- To monitor and review feedback from pupil surveys.
- To receive reports with regard to parental complaints.
- To review policies assigned by the governing body, and to report back to the full governing body.
Delegation to the Headteacher
Appointments: Under the 2009 School Staffing (England) Regulations the Governing Body delegates to the Headteacher the power to appoint:
Temporary
- Temporary Staff (teaching and non-teaching).
Permanent
- Permanent non-teaching staff.
- Permanent teaching staff appointments, below leadership level, to be made by the Headteacher with 1 Senior Leader and 1 Governor.
Dismissals: The governing body delegates to the Headteacher responsibility for the dismissal of:
- All staff, other than Headteacher, unless exceptional circumstances exist.
- Dismissal of the Headteacher will be delegated to a committee of the Governing Body.
Meetings: At least once yearly
Pecuniary interest.
Curriculum Committee
CHAIR: Mrs Helen Goulty-Brown
Terms of Reference:
- Set targets for achievement for EYFS, KS1 and KS2 and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Monitor the quality of teaching and learning taking place, and the progress of pupils.
- Ensure each child is able to reach their potential through effective differentiation of curriculum.
- Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of Pupil Premium and Sports premium funding.
- 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.
- Monitor provision of ICT and related website safety information.
- Ensure that a high-quality report on each pupil’s educational achievement is forwarded to their parents/guardians annually.
- Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs and act as a critical friend for curriculum development.
- To oversee arrangements for individual governors to take a leading role in specific areas of provision through assigning a Link Governor for each curriculum area.
- To receive regular monitoring reports from Link Governors and report back on findings to the full governing body.
- In collaboration with the staff, monitor how the curriculum is taught, evaluated and resourced.
- To oversee arrangements for educational visits.
- To review policies assigned by the governing body, and report back to the full governing body.
Meetings: At least termly.
Disqualifications: None.
First / Pay Review Committee
CHAIR: To be elected at the beginning of each meeting
Terms of Reference:
- To act in accordance with the Teachers Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body to include matters relating to: teaching and learning responsibility payments, SEN (Special Educational Needs) allowances, recruitment and retention payments, points for previous experience, bursaries, re-gradings.
- To review the pay policy for all categories of staff and to be responsible for its administration and review, including approving threshold payments and UPS movement.
- 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 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 (after delegation to the Headteacher).
- To oversee the process leading to staff reductions.
Meetings: as and when necessary.
Disqualifications: The Headteacher; the Chair of Governors (if he/she has prior knowledge or involvement) Spouse/partner.
Steering Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To agree during Autumn Term the objectives of the governing body and Senior Leadership Team for the upcoming school year, and present a plan to the full governing body.
- To monitor throughout the year whether the SLT and governing body are effectively meeting their objectives in setting the vision and strategic direction for the school.
- To agree during Autumn Term the programme of work and calendar of meetings for the governing body and its committees for the school year, based on known cycles of School Improvement and SEF planning, financial management, staffing issues, performance management, and present to the full governing body for approval.
- To monitor the progress of work being undertaken by committees and individuals.
- To review arrangements for governors’ monitoring visits to school.
- To review arrangements for Ofsted and ensure that all statutory requirements are met.
- To oversee any exceptional arrangements that may arise that are not covered by current committees.
- To be available and respond to matters of particularly difficulty, sensitivity or emergency and offer advice and support.
- To undertake any other tasks delegated to them by the full governing body.
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
Red Rose 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 about our Governors please view or download the documents below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (DfE)
Instrument of Government – Red Rose
Red Rose Primary School- Code Of Conduct
The Governors fill in a register of interest every year. For details of this, please contact the school office.
Governor Attendance
Governor Training and Minutes of Meetings
Governors have access to a range of training opportunities that can address the needs of the individual governor and the governing body as a whole. Records of training that governors have received are available from the school office.
Minutes of meetings are available via a request to the Chair of Governors.
Finance Committee
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £5,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £5,000 |
| Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | £5,000- £15,000 | 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 Proceudre Rules for quotations.
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