St Austin's RC PrimarySchool Governors
On the 21st July 2014 the school achieved 'Governormark' accreditation.
Role of School Governor
What do School Governors do?
Governors work as a team to:
•promote high standards of educational attainment at their school
•set targets for pupil achievement
•take general responsibility for the conduct of the school
•manage the school's budget , including deciding how many staff will work there
•make sure that the National Curriculum is delivered via a broad and balanced provision
•report on pupils' achievement in National Curriculum assessments and examination results
•act as a 'critical friend' to the school
•be prepared to undertake training and develop their role
•participate in the appointment of senior staff (including appointing the Head Teacher) and regulate staff conduct and discipline ; and
•draw up an action plan after an inspection by the Office of Standards in Education (OfSTED)
Why do Schools Need Governors?
Every school has a Governing Body to represent the local community - "the stakeholders" in the running of our schools. School Governors bring external support perspectives from ordinary life and the staff, and the Local Authority to help secure the best possible education for the children in the school. They have important responsibilites like managing the school budget, overseeing the curriculum and appointing staff.
How are Governors elected?
Foundation Governors are appointed through the Archdiocese. Parent Governors are appointed by Parent Governor Election through the school as and when a vacancy arises. LEA Governors are appointed through the Local Authority via a Panel and recommendation. Staff Governors are appointed via staff election at the school.
Our School Governing Body
School Governing Body
Chairperson: Mr M Burke - Chair of all committees/Data Protection Officer
Vice Chair: Deacon Kevin Taylor
Headteacher: Mrs P Wade
Foundation Governors: Mr Kerr
Mr Bielby
Deacon K Taylor
Vacancy
Mrs Neal - Link Governor SEND and EYFS
Elected Parent
Governors Mr K Crooks
Ms E Hampson
LA Governor - Vacancy
Elected Staff Governor Mrs Duvall
Clerk to the Governors - Governor Services
Please contact Clerk for further enquiries regarding contact or vacancies of the Governing Body.
The next Full Governing Body Meeting provisional date is May 2021.
Governors complete a declaration of interest at each Governing Body meeting of which there are 6 per academic year. There are no business or financial interests noted or governance roles in other schools.
Governors' Term of Office and attendance for Academic Year 2019/20:
*wef 23rd March 2020 Governors adopted a Terms of Reference for a single FGB meeting 6 times per year.
| Governor | Category of Governor | *Committee | Term of Office | Register of Business Interest | Attendance to relevant committees 2019/20 |
| Mrs Patsy Wade | Headteacher | All committees | n/a | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mr Brian Bielby | Foundation Governor | All committees/Chair of All Committees | 01.09.18 - 31.08.22 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mr Tom Robinson | Vice Chair | Finance/Health and Safety/Staffing and Vice Chair of those committees | 01.09.18 - 31.08.22 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Ms Emma Hampson | Parent | Finance/Buildings | 15-05.19 - 19.05.23 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mr Michael Burke | Chair | Finance/Staffing/ | 15.02.17 - 19.5.23 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mrs Kevin Crooks | Parent | Staffing/Curriculum | 15.05.19 - 19.05.23 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mr Ian Kerr | Foundation | Finance/Staffing | 01.09.18 - 31.08.22 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Deacon Taylor | Foundation | Finance/Staffing | 01.09.18 - 31.08.22 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mrs Helen Duvall | Staff | Curriculum/Finance/Staffing | 01.09.18-11.011.22 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
| Mrs D Neal | Foundation | Curriculum | 01.09.18-31.08.22 | Nil | Attended all meetings |
Remit of the Governing Body and Committees
The Governing Body is the strategic lead of the school and has a vital role to play to ensure
every child has the best possible education.
Governors govern rather than manage. They provide direction and focus by performing a vital strategic role.
The Governing Body key roles are:
• To provide strategic direction for the school. For example, through the development and
participation in the School Development Plan.
• To act as a critical friend to the Headteacher. For example, responding to the
Headteacher’s Report, providing question and challenge through monitoring of the
School Development Plan.
• To ensure accountability. For example, through agreeing and monitoring the budget and
monitoring standards and progress in achievement.
Specifically, the Governing Body:
Is accountable for the performance of the school
Helps shape the school’s future direction
Monitors and reviews the performance of the school
Makes decisions about the school’s budget and staffing
Makes sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special needs
Is at the heart of how a school operates
Is responsible for how the school is performing. We have to be prepared to
support and challenge the Headteacher by gathering views, asking questions and deciding
what’s best for our pupils.
Undertakes our own training needs analysis to ensure we stay up to date with training programmes to provide the very best support we can for the school.
Is made up of volunteers, with members representing a range of
interests and professions. As such we aim to provide a representative group of the local
community.
Committees
Governing Bodies are formally required to deal with Committees using a whole range of Regulations and Statutory Instruments. The ever growing pressure and complexity of business has made it essential for Governing Bodies to discharge their increased responsibilities.
The effective use of Committees ensure good working practices and the Government wants to enable Governing Bodies to choose ways of working that suit them and the school best so that they can carry out their functions most effectively and help their school improve further.
The Governing Body will not have any Committees (with the exception of statutory committees for specific purpose) but will assign a focus to each of the FGB meetings to ensure that the business formerly undertaken by Committees is addressed.