Meet the Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Meeting Dates 2019/20

Governors’ Statutory Responsibilities and Functions

In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

1. Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and

1. Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (Extract from Governance Handbook March 2019)

Governance Handbook/Competency Framework for Governance

Please refer to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education. The latest versions are available online below:

Governance Handbook March 2019

Competency Framework for Governance January 2017  

Review of committees and delegation

The governing board must review the committee structure, terms of reference for each committee and the membership of each committee on an annual basis.

Terms of Reference

The following committees established by the governing board comply with The School Governance (Role, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

The head teacher/principal can attend all meetings of any committee established by the governing board but in some instances this may only be in an advisory capacity.  When an issue is being discussed which directly affects the head teacher/principal they must, as with any other governor in a similar position, declare an interest and physically withdraw from the meeting.

In maintained schools the quorum for a meeting of the full governing board and for any vote on any matter at such meeting, is one half (rounded up to a whole number) of the membership of the governing board at the time of the meeting not including any vacant positions.  For academies and free schools refer to their articles of association for the quorum. In the event of equal votes the chair has the casting vote.

Committees

The legal minimum quorum for committee meetings is three voting governors.  The quorum for committees will only include associate members where a voting right has been granted by the governing board.

In maintained schools the governing board can appoint associate members to serve on one or more committees of the board. Associate members can attend full board meetings but may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil. They can be appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term. Associate members are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government (Extracted from Governance Handbook March 2019 – Page 53, paragraph 45).

NB: Associate members are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in full governing board decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

No vote on any matter can be taken at a committee meeting unless the majority of members present are members of the governing board.

The appointed clerk will undertake the clerking of the committees.

The committee minutes shall be included as an agenda item for consideration/information at the next meeting of the full governing board where appropriate.

All decisions made by committees with delegated powers should be reported to the next full meeting of the governing board. If the minutes are not finalised a brief statement of the conclusions reached should be given.

The chair of the committee will be appointed at the first full governing board/committee meeting of the academic year.  Governors who are employed by the school are not eligible to be appointed as chair.

Committees will have delegated powers to approve policies as relevant to that committee.

The governing board cannot delegate any functions relating to:

• The constitution of the governing board (unless otherwise provided by the constitution regulations),
• The appointment or removal of the chair and vice chair/clerk,
• The appointment or removal of governors,
• The suspension of governors,
• The delegation of functions and establishment of committees,
• Change of school name or status,
• Salary range for the head teacher/principal & deputy/vice principal.

  In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

   

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

•  

• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and

•  

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (Extract from Governance Handbook March 2019)

•  

  Governance Handbook/Competency Framework for Governance

  Please refer to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education. The latest versions are available online below:

   

  Governance Handbook March 2019

  Competency Framework for Governance January 2017  

                                                                                                                         

  Review of committees and delegation

  The governing board must review the committee structure, terms of reference for each committee and the membership of each committee on an annual basis.

   

  Terms of Reference

  The following committees established by the governing board comply with The School Governance (Role, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

   

  The head teacher/principal can attend all meetings of any committee established by the governing board but in some instances this may only be in an advisory capacity.  When an issue is being discussed which directly affects the head teacher/principal they must, as with any other governor in a similar position, declare an interest and physically withdraw from the meeting.

   

  In maintained schools the quorum for a meeting of the full governing board and for any vote on any matter at such meeting, is one half (rounded up to a whole number) of the membership of the governing board at the time of the meeting not including any vacant positions.  For academies and free schools refer to their articles of association for the quorum. In the event of equal votes the chair has the casting vote.

   

   

   

  Committees

  The legal minimum quorum for committee meetings is three voting governors.  The quorum for committees will only include associate members where a voting right has been granted by the governing board.

   

  In maintained schools the governing board can appoint associate members to serve on one or more committees of the board. Associate members can attend full board meetings but may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil. They can be appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term. Associate members are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government (Extracted from Governance Handbook March 2019 – Page 53, paragraph 45).

   

  NB: Associate members are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in full governing board decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

   

  No vote on any matter can be taken at a committee meeting unless the majority of members present are members of the governing board.

   

  The appointed clerk will undertake the clerking of the committees.

   

  The committee minutes shall be included as an agenda item for consideration/information at the next meeting of the full governing board where appropriate.

   

  All decisions made by committees with delegated powers should be reported to the next full meeting of the governing board. If the minutes are not finalised a brief statement of the conclusions reached should be given.

   

  The chair of the committee will be appointed at the first full governing board/committee meeting of the academic year.  Governors who are employed by the school are not eligible to be appointed as chair.

   

  Committees will have delegated powers to approve policies as relevant to that committee.

   

  The governing board cannot delegate any functions relating to:

• The constitution of the governing board (unless otherwise provided by the constitution regulations),
• The appointment or removal of the chair and vice chair/clerk,
• The appointment or removal of governors,
• The suspension of governors,
• The delegation of functions and establishment of committees,
• Change of school name or status,
• Salary range for the head teacher/principal & deputy/vice principal.

  In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

   

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

•  

• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and

•  

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (Extract from Governance Handbook March 2019)

•  

  Governance Handbook/Competency Framework for Governance

  Please refer to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education. The latest versions are available online below:

   

  Governance Handbook March 2019

  Competency Framework for Governance January 2017  

                                                                                                                         

  Review of committees and delegation

  The governing board must review the committee structure, terms of reference for each committee and the membership of each committee on an annual basis.

   

  Terms of Reference

  The following committees established by the governing board comply with The School Governance (Role, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

   

  The head teacher/principal can attend all meetings of any committee established by the governing board but in some instances this may only be in an advisory capacity.  When an issue is being discussed which directly affects the head teacher/principal they must, as with any other governor in a similar position, declare an interest and physically withdraw from the meeting.

   

  In maintained schools the quorum for a meeting of the full governing board and for any vote on any matter at such meeting, is one half (rounded up to a whole number) of the membership of the governing board at the time of the meeting not including any vacant positions.  For academies and free schools refer to their articles of association for the quorum. In the event of equal votes the chair has the casting vote.

   

   

   

  Committees

  The legal minimum quorum for committee meetings is three voting governors.  The quorum for committees will only include associate members where a voting right has been granted by the governing board.

   

  In maintained schools the governing board can appoint associate members to serve on one or more committees of the board. Associate members can attend full board meetings but may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil. They can be appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term. Associate members are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government (Extracted from Governance Handbook March 2019 – Page 53, paragraph 45).

   

  NB: Associate members are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in full governing board decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

   

  No vote on any matter can be taken at a committee meeting unless the majority of members present are members of the governing board.

   

  The appointed clerk will undertake the clerking of the committees.

   

  The committee minutes shall be included as an agenda item for consideration/information at the next meeting of the full governing board where appropriate.

   

  All decisions made by committees with delegated powers should be reported to the next full meeting of the governing board. If the minutes are not finalised a brief statement of the conclusions reached should be given.

   

  The chair of the committee will be appointed at the first full governing board/committee meeting of the academic year.  Governors who are employed by the school are not eligible to be appointed as chair.

   

  Committees will have delegated powers to approve policies as relevant to that committee.

   

  The governing board cannot delegate any functions relating to:

• The constitution of the governing board (unless otherwise provided by the constitution regulations),
• The appointment or removal of the chair and vice chair/clerk,
• The appointment or removal of governors,
• The suspension of governors,
• The delegation of functions and establishment of committees,
• Change of school name or status,
• Salary range for the head teacher/principal & deputy/vice principal.

  In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

   

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

•  

• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and

•  

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (Extract from Governance Handbook March 2019)

•  

  Governance Handbook/Competency Framework for Governance

  Please refer to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education. The latest versions are available online below:

   

  Governance Handbook March 2019

  Competency Framework for Governance January 2017  

                                                                                                                         

  Review of committees and delegation

  The governing board must review the committee structure, terms of reference for each committee and the membership of each committee on an annual basis.

   

  Terms of Reference

  The following committees established by the governing board comply with The School Governance (Role, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

   

  The head teacher/principal can attend all meetings of any committee established by the governing board but in some instances this may only be in an advisory capacity.  When an issue is being discussed which directly affects the head teacher/principal they must, as with any other governor in a similar position, declare an interest and physically withdraw from the meeting.

   

  In maintained schools the quorum for a meeting of the full governing board and for any vote on any matter at such meeting, is one half (rounded up to a whole number) of the membership of the governing board at the time of the meeting not including any vacant positions.  For academies and free schools refer to their articles of association for the quorum. In the event of equal votes the chair has the casting vote.

   

   

   

  Committees

  The legal minimum quorum for committee meetings is three voting governors.  The quorum for committees will only include associate members where a voting right has been granted by the governing board.

   

  In maintained schools the governing board can appoint associate members to serve on one or more committees of the board. Associate members can attend full board meetings but may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil. They can be appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term. Associate members are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government (Extracted from Governance Handbook March 2019 – Page 53, paragraph 45).

   

  NB: Associate members are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in full governing board decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

   

  No vote on any matter can be taken at a committee meeting unless the majority of members present are members of the governing board.

   

  The appointed clerk will undertake the clerking of the committees.

   

  The committee minutes shall be included as an agenda item for consideration/information at the next meeting of the full governing board where appropriate.

   

  All decisions made by committees with delegated powers should be reported to the next full meeting of the governing board. If the minutes are not finalised a brief statement of the conclusions reached should be given.

   

  The chair of the committee will be appointed at the first full governing board/committee meeting of the academic year.  Governors who are employed by the school are not eligible to be appointed as chair.

   

  Committees will have delegated powers to approve policies as relevant to that committee.

   

  The governing board cannot delegate any functions relating to:

• The constitution of the governing board (unless otherwise provided by the constitution regulations),
• The appointment or removal of the chair and vice chair/clerk,
• The appointment or removal of governors,
• The suspension of governors,
• The delegation of functions and establishment of committees,
• Change of school name or status,
• Salary range for the head teacher/principal & deputy/vice principal.

  In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

   

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

•  

• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and

•  

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (Extract from Governance Handbook March 2019)

•  

  Governance Handbook/Competency Framework for Governance

  Please refer to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education. The latest versions are available online below:

   

  Governance Handbook March 2019

  Competency Framework for Governance January 2017  

                                                                                                                         

  Review of committees and delegation

  The governing board must review the committee structure, terms of reference for each committee and the membership of each committee on an annual basis.

   

  Terms of Reference

  The following committees established by the governing board comply with The School Governance (Role, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

   

  The head teacher/principal can attend all meetings of any committee established by the governing board but in some instances this may only be in an advisory capacity.  When an issue is being discussed which directly affects the head teacher/principal they must, as with any other governor in a similar position, declare an interest and physically withdraw from the meeting.

   

  In maintained schools the quorum for a meeting of the full governing board and for any vote on any matter at such meeting, is one half (rounded up to a whole number) of the membership of the governing board at the time of the meeting not including any vacant positions.  For academies and free schools refer to their articles of association for the quorum. In the event of equal votes the chair has the casting vote.

   

   

   

  Committees

  The legal minimum quorum for committee meetings is three voting governors.  The quorum for committees will only include associate members where a voting right has been granted by the governing board.

   

  In maintained schools the governing board can appoint associate members to serve on one or more committees of the board. Associate members can attend full board meetings but may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil. They can be appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term. Associate members are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government (Extracted from Governance Handbook March 2019 – Page 53, paragraph 45).

   

  NB: Associate members are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in full governing board decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

   

  No vote on any matter can be taken at a committee meeting unless the majority of members present are members of the governing board.

   

  The appointed clerk will undertake the clerking of the committees.

   

  The committee minutes shall be included as an agenda item for consideration/information at the next meeting of the full governing board where appropriate.

   

  All decisions made by committees with delegated powers should be reported to the next full meeting of the governing board. If the minutes are not finalised a brief statement of the conclusions reached should be given.

   

  The chair of the committee will be appointed at the first full governing board/committee meeting of the academic year.  Governors who are employed by the school are not eligible to be appointed as chair.

   

  Committees will have delegated powers to approve policies as relevant to that committee.

   

  The governing board cannot delegate any functions relating to:

• The constitution of the governing board (unless otherwise provided by the constitution regulations),
• The appointment or removal of the chair and vice chair/clerk,
• The appointment or removal of governors,
• The suspension of governors,
• The delegation of functions and establishment of committees,
• Change of school name or status,
• Salary range for the head teacher/principal & deputy/vice principal.

  In all types of schools, governing boards should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

   

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

•  

• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and

•  

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (Extract from Governance Handbook March 2019)

•  

  Governance Handbook/Competency Framework for Governance

  Please refer to the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education. The latest versions are available online below:

   

  Governance Handbook March 2019

  Competency Framework for Governance January 2017  

                                                                                                                         

  Review of committees and delegation

  The governing board must review the committee structure, terms of reference for each committee and the membership of each committee on an annual basis.

   

  Terms of Reference

  The following committees established by the governing board comply with The School Governance (Role, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013.

   

  The head teacher/principal can attend all meetings of any committee established by the governing board but in some instances this may only be in an advisory capacity.  When an issue is being discussed which directly affects the head teacher/principal they must, as with any other governor in a similar position, declare an interest and physically withdraw from the meeting.

   

  In maintained schools the quorum for a meeting of the full governing board and for any vote on any matter at such meeting, is one half (rounded up to a whole number) of the membership of the governing board at the time of the meeting not including any vacant positions.  For academies and free schools refer to their articles of association for the quorum. In the event of equal votes the chair has the casting vote.

   

   

   

  Committees

  The legal minimum quorum for committee meetings is three voting governors.  The quorum for committees will only include associate members where a voting right has been granted by the governing board.

   

  In maintained schools the governing board can appoint associate members to serve on one or more committees of the board. Associate members can attend full board meetings but may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil. They can be appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term. Associate members are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government (Extracted from Governance Handbook March 2019 – Page 53, paragraph 45).

   

  NB: Associate members are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in full governing board decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

   

  No vote on any matter can be taken at a committee meeting unless the majority of members present are members of the governing board.

   

  The appointed clerk will undertake the clerking of the committees.

   

  The committee minutes shall be included as an agenda item for consideration/information at the next meeting of the full governing board where appropriate.

   

  All decisions made by committees with delegated powers should be reported to the next full meeting of the governing board. If the minutes are not finalised a brief statement of the conclusions reached should be given.

   

  The chair of the committee will be appointed at the first full governing board/committee meeting of the academic year.  Governors who are employed by the school are not eligible to be appointed as chair.

   

  Committees will have delegated powers to approve policies as relevant to that committee.

   

  The governing board cannot delegate any functions relating to:

• The constitution of the governing board (unless otherwise provided by the constitution regulations),
• The appointment or removal of the chair and vice chair/clerk,
• The appointment or removal of governors,
• The suspension of governors,
• The delegation of functions and establishment of committees,
• Change of school name or status,
• Salary range for the head teacher/principal & deputy/vice principal.

Finance & Personnel Committee

Behaviour & Safety Committee

Staffing Committee

Pupil Discipline Committee

Complaints Committee

Appeals Committee

Pay Committee

Head Teacher’s Appraisal

Selection Panel

Special Responsibility Governors

*In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 and Working together to safeguard children ‘Governing bodies and proprietors should have a senior board level (or equivalent) lead to take leadership responsibility for their schools or college’s safeguarding arrangements.’  The DfE have confirmed that this can be a member of staff, but that person must be a member of the board as well (for example, the headteacher or a staff governor) and that this must be a separate person from the DSL, in order to ensure there is sufficient challenge to the organisation's safeguarding arrangements and performance.  

Items Delegated to an Individual(s)

Delegation of expenditure and virements

That sums below £­­­10,000 be delegated to the head teacher/principal.

Disposal of surplus stock

Delegated to Head Teacher/Principal with the approval of the chair of the governing board.

Delegation of Suspension

That suspension be delegated to the chair in instances where the head teacher/principal is the person in question or involved in the case.  That the chair be given delegated powers to lift the suspension after taking advice from LA Human Resources or any other organisation providing the service to the school.

Approval for Expenditure

The chair of governors or chair of finance committee be given approval for expenditure above the set limit prior to the finance committee meeting – only in cases of emergency

Appointment of Staff (ensure no appointment is carried out by one person alone)