Pam and Steve Langmead - Newport School
The Governance Statement Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body of Opossum Hard Federation Dawlish Primary and Newport Schools July 2016 In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the 3 core strategic functions of Opossum Federation’s Governing Body are:
1.
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2.
Holding the Executive Headteacher/Head of Schools to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
3.
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Governance arrangements
Attendance record of governors The work that we have done on our committees and in the governing body
The Governing Body of Opossum Federation was re-constituted in 2014 and is now comprised of 12 voting members, 1 associate member and the Head and Deputy Head of Schools. Co-opted governors are appointed by the Governing Body and are people who, in the opinion of the governing body, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school: on our Governing Body one of the Co-opted governors is a staff member and the remaining three are members of the local community, including our Chair of Governors. Governing Body members sit on committees, which have been created to consider aspects of school life in detail. The Resources Committee examines aspects of school life relating to finance, human resources and premises whilst the Curriculum Committee considers matters relating to pupil achievement, the statutory curriculum and school events. The full Governing Body meets each half term to review the actions of the committees and to ratify decisions and policies. A committee is formed, as required, to consider complaints and grievance issues. See p3 for a list of Governors. Governors have excellent attendance at meetings and we have never cancelled a meeting because it was not “quorate” (the number of governors needed to ensure that legal decisions can be made). See p4 for details of individual governors’ attendance at meetings. The Governing Body has had a particularly busy year, focusing on school improvement. The Curriculum Committee has spent time considering the introduction of a new national curriculum and its implementation across the year groups. The committee has reviewed the range of enrichment events planned for pupils, and their impact. The curriculum provided by the school for the children endeavors to be as creative as possible and the opportunities provided such as, experiencing the magic of a story told by a professional storyteller, writing in response to an alien spaceship that has landed in their playground are the things that make learning at Newport and Dawlish Schools special for our children. The schools never seem to stand still, we always seems to be planning and thinking about how to extend successful experiences from one year group to another - Year 6 in Edinburgh, Year 5 in Gillwell Park and Year 4 having a sleepover in school. Governors have been pleased to receive feedback reports from groups of pupils who have shared their views and work ideas. They have answered searching questions relating to their learning, opinions and school events. The committee discussed key data relating to the results of pupil achievement and progress, so that we can be sure that the school is on track to fulfill its ambitious targets for all pupils. We are also concerned about our “vulnerable groups” of children and focus on how the Pupil Premium Grant is being spent by the school and what impact this has on their outcomes. Further information can be found about the use and impact of the Pupil Premium Grant on the schools’ websites. The Resources Committee reviewed the maintenance and development of the school premises, and made decisions about how the school should use the budget. Mrs Meehan, our Health and Safety Governor, carried out checks of the premises with the School Business Manager. Governors are also particularly concerned about safeguarding and our Nominated Governor for Safeguarding, Cllr Wheeler meets the schools’ Designated Safeguarding Leads each term; he reports to the governors about any safeguarding matters. After careful consideration the
1
Resources Committee and Full Governing Body approved the 2016/17 budget plans and SEN budgets for both schools: we are pleased to report that we have set a three year budget plan with no planned deficits. This year, the Opossum Federation entered into a Soft federation with Oakhill Primary School, a one form entry school in the north of our borough. We believe the partnership with Oakhill Primary School will bring opportunity for children attending the federation now and in the future. A Soft federation enables a coordinated approach across all schools, derived from combining key structures and practises, from which benefits can be realised. Each of the schools within the federation (hard and soft) retain their distinct legal identities with regard to such matters as admissions, budget, performance tables and OFSTED inspections and retain their respective Governing Bodies. One of the roles for the governors is reviewing and agreeing school policies, and this year we have considered a number of key policies:
Future plans for the governors
Scheme of Delegation Statement of Internal Control Authorised signatories Leave of absence policy Debt Recovery Plan Whistleblowing Policy Governors’ Code of Conduct SEND Information Report Health and Safety Fire Management Plan Home School Agreement Complaints Safeguarding Teacher Appraisal Pay Policy Recruitment and Selection Policy and Procedure Maternity Procedure Shared Parental Leave Procedure Organisation Change Policy Probation Procedure Data Protection Policy Governors’ Allowances Charging and Remissions Policy Asset Management Plan Admissions
Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are public documents – parents may contact the school office if they would like to see any of the minutes of the meetings. Pupil attendance remains an area of concern for both schools; particularly with regards to rates of persistent absence. The governing body has identified this as an area of focus, to support the school in developing strategies to promote positive attendance and reduce persistent absence. A continued focus on maintaining outstanding rates of attainment and progress at Newport School and securing the achievement for pupils at Dawlish, particularly in mathematics. To support the school in developing the consultancy and training aspect of Opossum.
How you can contact the governing body
We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents – please contact the Chair of Governors, Mrs Meehan, via the school office.
2
Opossum Federation Governing Body Governor
Category
Prue Barnes Kemp Jacqui Burton Sally Davey Joan Ede Sue Gill Paulette Houghton Maxine Martin Lisa McIntyre Maria Meehan Michele Moir Jennifer Monks Mary Neilson Kenneth Nkemnacho Ade Oragbade Sharon Vassell Ashley Walker Terry Wheeler
Executive Head Teacher Associate member (non voting) Parent Governor Co-opted Governor Clerk Co-opted Governor Parent Governor Head of Schools (non voting) Co-opted Governor Co-opted Governor (staff) Parent Governor Co-opted Governor Parent Governor Parent Governor Staff Governor Deputy Head of Schools (non voting) Local Authority Governor
Term of office expiry date
8- 2- 2016 23-3-2016
Link Governors Terry Wheeler
Safeguarding
Maria Meehan
Health and Safety
Sally Davey
SEND
Joan Ede/Maria Meehan
Governor Training
3
4
1.
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2.
Holding the Executive Headteacher/Head of Schools to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
3.
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Governance arrangements
Attendance record of governors The work that we have done on our committees and in the governing body
The Governing Body of Opossum Federation was re-constituted in 2014 and is now comprised of 12 voting members, 1 associate member and the Head and Deputy Head of Schools. Co-opted governors are appointed by the Governing Body and are people who, in the opinion of the governing body, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school: on our Governing Body one of the Co-opted governors is a staff member and the remaining three are members of the local community, including our Chair of Governors. Governing Body members sit on committees, which have been created to consider aspects of school life in detail. The Resources Committee examines aspects of school life relating to finance, human resources and premises whilst the Curriculum Committee considers matters relating to pupil achievement, the statutory curriculum and school events. The full Governing Body meets each half term to review the actions of the committees and to ratify decisions and policies. A committee is formed, as required, to consider complaints and grievance issues. See p3 for a list of Governors. Governors have excellent attendance at meetings and we have never cancelled a meeting because it was not “quorate” (the number of governors needed to ensure that legal decisions can be made). See p4 for details of individual governors’ attendance at meetings. The Governing Body has had a particularly busy year, focusing on school improvement. The Curriculum Committee has spent time considering the introduction of a new national curriculum and its implementation across the year groups. The committee has reviewed the range of enrichment events planned for pupils, and their impact. The curriculum provided by the school for the children endeavors to be as creative as possible and the opportunities provided such as, experiencing the magic of a story told by a professional storyteller, writing in response to an alien spaceship that has landed in their playground are the things that make learning at Newport and Dawlish Schools special for our children. The schools never seem to stand still, we always seems to be planning and thinking about how to extend successful experiences from one year group to another - Year 6 in Edinburgh, Year 5 in Gillwell Park and Year 4 having a sleepover in school. Governors have been pleased to receive feedback reports from groups of pupils who have shared their views and work ideas. They have answered searching questions relating to their learning, opinions and school events. The committee discussed key data relating to the results of pupil achievement and progress, so that we can be sure that the school is on track to fulfill its ambitious targets for all pupils. We are also concerned about our “vulnerable groups” of children and focus on how the Pupil Premium Grant is being spent by the school and what impact this has on their outcomes. Further information can be found about the use and impact of the Pupil Premium Grant on the schools’ websites. The Resources Committee reviewed the maintenance and development of the school premises, and made decisions about how the school should use the budget. Mrs Meehan, our Health and Safety Governor, carried out checks of the premises with the School Business Manager. Governors are also particularly concerned about safeguarding and our Nominated Governor for Safeguarding, Cllr Wheeler meets the schools’ Designated Safeguarding Leads each term; he reports to the governors about any safeguarding matters. After careful consideration the
1
Resources Committee and Full Governing Body approved the 2016/17 budget plans and SEN budgets for both schools: we are pleased to report that we have set a three year budget plan with no planned deficits. This year, the Opossum Federation entered into a Soft federation with Oakhill Primary School, a one form entry school in the north of our borough. We believe the partnership with Oakhill Primary School will bring opportunity for children attending the federation now and in the future. A Soft federation enables a coordinated approach across all schools, derived from combining key structures and practises, from which benefits can be realised. Each of the schools within the federation (hard and soft) retain their distinct legal identities with regard to such matters as admissions, budget, performance tables and OFSTED inspections and retain their respective Governing Bodies. One of the roles for the governors is reviewing and agreeing school policies, and this year we have considered a number of key policies:
Future plans for the governors
Scheme of Delegation Statement of Internal Control Authorised signatories Leave of absence policy Debt Recovery Plan Whistleblowing Policy Governors’ Code of Conduct SEND Information Report Health and Safety Fire Management Plan Home School Agreement Complaints Safeguarding Teacher Appraisal Pay Policy Recruitment and Selection Policy and Procedure Maternity Procedure Shared Parental Leave Procedure Organisation Change Policy Probation Procedure Data Protection Policy Governors’ Allowances Charging and Remissions Policy Asset Management Plan Admissions
Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are public documents – parents may contact the school office if they would like to see any of the minutes of the meetings. Pupil attendance remains an area of concern for both schools; particularly with regards to rates of persistent absence. The governing body has identified this as an area of focus, to support the school in developing strategies to promote positive attendance and reduce persistent absence. A continued focus on maintaining outstanding rates of attainment and progress at Newport School and securing the achievement for pupils at Dawlish, particularly in mathematics. To support the school in developing the consultancy and training aspect of Opossum.
How you can contact the governing body
We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents – please contact the Chair of Governors, Mrs Meehan, via the school office.
2
Opossum Federation Governing Body Governor
Category
Prue Barnes Kemp Jacqui Burton Sally Davey Joan Ede Sue Gill Paulette Houghton Maxine Martin Lisa McIntyre Maria Meehan Michele Moir Jennifer Monks Mary Neilson Kenneth Nkemnacho Ade Oragbade Sharon Vassell Ashley Walker Terry Wheeler
Executive Head Teacher Associate member (non voting) Parent Governor Co-opted Governor Clerk Co-opted Governor Parent Governor Head of Schools (non voting) Co-opted Governor Co-opted Governor (staff) Parent Governor Co-opted Governor Parent Governor Parent Governor Staff Governor Deputy Head of Schools (non voting) Local Authority Governor
Term of office expiry date
8- 2- 2016 23-3-2016
Link Governors Terry Wheeler
Safeguarding
Maria Meehan
Health and Safety
Sally Davey
SEND
Joan Ede/Maria Meehan
Governor Training
3
4
