Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
Governor’s Committee Structure
For further information on who our governors are and what they do, please click on each name below:
| Name | Representing | Term of Office | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Sarah Hodgkinson - Acting Headteacher | Acting Headteacher | Acting Headteacher of Rookhope & Forest of Teesdale Primary Schools Husband employed by Education Durham |
|||
| Ms Jo Simm (Chairperson) | Co-opted | 19/06/2018 - 18/06/2022 | First / Pay Review Resources | Chairperson | |
| Mrs Kath Greaves (Vice Chairperson) | Co-opted | 21/06/2018 - 20/06/2022 | Appeals Curriculum (Chair) | Vice Chairperson | |
| Mrs Janet Elizabeth Lonsdale | Co-opted | 06/06/2018 - 05/06/2022 | Appeals Curriculum | SEND | None |
| Vacancy | Local Authority | ||||
| Mr Anthony John Meacham | Parent | 03/10/2016 - 02/10/2020 | Curriculum First / Pay Review Resources | PE - Sports premium | None |
| Mrs Rachael Greaves | Parent | 27/02/2018 - 26/02/2022 | Appeals Curriculum | Safeguarding | |
| Vacancy | Staff |
Recent Governors
The following Governors have also served in the last 12 months.
- Mr Ian Carroll
- Mr Anthony Griffin
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
St John’s Chapel Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of 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 documents below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Governor Attendance
Schools are required to display a record of Governor’s attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
Attendance 2019-2020
| Name | Full Governing Body Meeting 15-10-19 | Meeting [add date] | Meeting [add date] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs S Hodgkinson Acting Headteacher | Yes | ||
| Ms Jo Simm | Yes | ||
| Mrs K Greaves | Yes | ||
| Mrs Janet Elizabeth Lonsdale | Yes | ||
| Mr Anthony John Meacham | Yes | ||
| Mrs Rachael Greaves | Yes |
KEY
Yes – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
Resources Committee
CHAIR: Anthony Meacham
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 SFVS.
- To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body.
- 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.
- 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.
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all 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 monitoring of absence.
Delegation to the Headteacher
Appointments:
Delegate to the Headteacher:
- Permanent teaching staff posts
- Permanent support staff posts
- Temporary staff.
Dismissals:
The Headteacher has no delegated responsibility for dismissals
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. Associate Members may not vote.
Virement & Expenditure Limits
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £ 1,500 | Any items of expenditure up to | £ 5,000 |
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | £ up to 5,000 | 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 Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations.
First/Pay Review Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To act in accordance with the Teachers Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body.
- 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).
- 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. Staff members cannot take part in any decisions.
Appeals Committee
CHAIR:
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. Staff members cannot take part in any salary decisions.
Curriculum Committee
CHAIR: Mrs Kath Greaves
Terms of reference:
- Set targets for achievement at KS1 and KS2. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of policies on race, SEN, Looked After Children and Disability on pupils, parents and communities.
- 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.
- Ensure that a report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to their parents annually.
- Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs.
- Ensure the school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination.
- 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 and learning
- 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 careers advice.
- Ensure the school works well with its community, parents and other schools.
- Ensure the school meets the requirements of the SEN and relevant disability legislation.
- Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.
- Consider complaints against the school in accordance with the agreed school Complaints Procedure.
- Consider representations from parents/carers in the case of fixed term exclusions in line with statutory guidance.
- Consider the appropriateness of any permanent exclusion or any exclusion where one or more fixed period exclusions total more than 15 school days in one term or where a pupil is denied the chance to take a public examination in line with statutory guidance
Meetings: At least termly.
Disqualifications: Prior knowledge; conflict of interest.
Headteacher’s Committee
(The Chair acting jointly with the Chairs of Rookhope Primary School and Forest of Teesdale Primary School)
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 the successful meeting of set targets.
- Any personnel related issues concerning the Headteacher (i.e. ill-health absence, disciplinary, grievance)
Meetings: Autumn term, plus monitoring meetings.
Disqualifications: the Headteacher and staff.
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