Governors play a key role in the life of Laurel Avenue Community Primary School.

• Ensuring the clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school
• Holding the leadership of the school to account for the educational performance of the school and its children
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure that money is well spent

MEET OUR GOVERNORS

The work of Laurel Avenue’s governors is carried out through meetings of the full governing body and its two committees:

Finance and Premises Committee. Responsible for setting and monitoring the budget for the school, and overseeing the financial management of the school., Premises and Personnel; and Curriculum Committee, which deals with pupil matters, curriculum and attainment.

Curriculum and Standards Committee. Responsible for reviewing the curriculum related policies of the school, and ensuring that the school’s Self Evaluation is conducted appropriately and development plans implemented. Responsible for monitoring safeguarding, health and safety, nutritional standards, and the Accessibility Plan. This committee also monitors all SMSC across school, including anti-bullying and effective pupil groups such as the School Council.

 

 

Prior to 2022- 2023 there were three committees: Finance and Premises Committee. Responsible for setting and monitoring the budget for the school, and overseeing the financial management of the school., Premises and Personnel; and Curriculum Committee, which deals with pupil matters, curriculum and attainment.

Learning, Teaching and Achievement Committee. Responsible for reviewing the curriculum related policies of the school, and ensuring that the school’s Self Evaluation is conducted appropriately and development plans implemented.

Community and SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural) Committee. Responsible for monitoring safeguarding, health and safety, nutritional standards, and the Accessibility Plan. This committee also monitors all SMSC across school, including anti-bullying and effective pupil groups such as the School Council.

Governors do not manage the school – that is the role of the Headteacher.  The Governors aim to support her in doing this but do not shy away from being a ‘critical friend’ and asking searching questions.

 

Role of the Governors

Governors are responsible for the strategic vision of the school and for supporting the Headteacher and her staff in achieving that vision.  Governors have responsibility for appointing the Headteacher, managing the school’s budget, setting annual targets and monitoring performance against those targets, all in the interest of raising standards of achievement.  In addition to these statutory responsibilities, governors monitor the impact of policies and do a wide variety of other things, either through formal committee activity or through personal involvement with the day-to-day life of the school.

The governing body may also be called upon to consider complaints from parents.

Whilst the role is a voluntary one, the Governing Body expects all governors and prospective governors to be aware of the time commitment required to be an effective governor. Primarily, that commitment arises from:

• Attending meetings of the Governing Body (minimum of one per term)
• Membership of either the Finance and Premises Committee (1 per term) or Curriculum and Standards Committee (1 per term)
• Undertaking training courses relevant to the role of a governor
• Having a link to a particular class and undertaking class visits to see the School Development Plan in action
• Having a particular area of responsibility such as finance, safeguarding or an area of the curriculum

 

Policies

The governors are responsible for setting and monitoring many of the school's policies.

POLICIES

Who are the Governors?

Laurel Avenue’s Governing Body comprises  of 11 members, as follows: Three Parent Governors, one Authority Governor appointed by the Local Authority, one Staff Governor appointed by a ballot of staff, one Headteacher Governor, five Co-opted Governors appointed by the Governing Body themselves.

The members come from all sections of the community and each brings different experience and skills to the governing body.  The governors have a common interest in education and want to make a positive contribution to education of pupils at Laurel Avenue.

Our Governing Body meetings are usually held after school. Governors attend training sessions to help them to keep up to date with changes in schools and education and to help them to do their job effectively.

 

 

 

F.   Full Governing Body Meeting (3 per year)

Learning, Teaching and Achievement Committee (3 per year) Chair: Helen Blakey

Finance and Premises Committee (3 per year) Chair: Katie Corrigan

Community and SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural) (3 per year) Chair: Claire Linfoot

/ : not a member of that committee

A: Apologies sent

R: Resigned

Read more about our Governing Body's role in school by clicking this link.

 

Resigned 2023

 

 

 

F.   Full Governing Body Meeting (3 per year)

(O): Observer/: not a member of that committee

1. Learning, Teaching and Achievement Committee (3 per year)

2. Finance and Premises Committee (3 per year)

3. Community and SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural) (3 per year)

1. Learning, Teaching and Achievement Committee

Terms of Reference 

Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement (SSFA 1998)

Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide

Ensure that a report on each child’s educational achievements is forwarded to their parents/guardians annually

Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs

In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils

Ensure the school meets the requirements of the SEN and relevant disability legislation

Ensure that the school’s inclusion policies that allow for the achievement of all pupils are widely and actively promoted

Promoting high standards of education/ensuring the quality of education, teaching and learning, through e.g.

Governor monitoring of Headteacher’s report and verbal reports at meetings

Monitoring visits, reports of special interest governors

Headteacher’s performance management and reports of teachers’ Performance Management

Staff continuing professional development

Monitoring the quality of the curriculum and how the school promotes good attendance

Target setting for achievements and attendance

Improvement in results in national tests and the results of teacher assessments

Monitoring the progress of the improvement targets in the School Improvement Plan

Set targets for achievement at FSU, KS1, KS2. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets

 

2. Finance and Premises Committee

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 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 the Schools Financial Value Standard

To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body

To make decision in respect of service level agreements

To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees

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

 

3. Community and SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural)

Terms of Reference

Ensure the school works well with its community, parents and other schools

Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families

Monitor the development of pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities

Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions

Complaints

Ensure that working partnerships are developed and maintained with school and community groups, e.g. Key Landlords (HOME) that add value to the school’s provision for all its pupils

Overseeing the use of premises by outside users, Community Centre and Groups (shared use with school)

Ensure that the school has an effective School Council and other groups where children have a voice – Happy in School Interest Group, School Nutrition Action Group, Safeguarding. The Governing body takes account of the school council and other groups in determining the way in which the school is conducted

Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and how other personal qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told of their right to withdraw their child

Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children” including staff and governor training

Anti-Bullying and Behaviour (Happy in School Interest Group)

Ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination

Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and how other personal qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told of their right to withdraw their child

Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children” including staff and governor training

Anti-Bullying and Behaviour (Happy in School Interest Group)

Ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination

Ensure the school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination

Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact

Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos

Ensure the school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination

Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact

Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos

Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan – audit and plan

Monitoring nutritional standards within the school to include school meals, snack provision and food available during wrap-around provision (monitored by Local Authority/Healthy School Award)

Consider developing a whole school drugs policy

Decide whether or not to provide sex and relationships education and consult parents (Primary). Agree the content and organisation of the school’s programme of sex and relationship education and notify parents of their right to withdraw their child

Monitor the provision of extra-curricular activities including overnight stays provided to encourage recreation and social development

Consider extra-curricular & out of hours provision (wrap around provision, study support, extended schools)

Ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements and review the schools H&S Policy regularly

Monitoring use of Risk Register and Hazards Profile

Ensuring that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure

Ensuring that buildings and the learning environment are maintained and fit for purpose

Ensure that adequate provision is made for transition between Primary and Secondary education, and Nursery to Primary education

 

Interested in becoming a Governor?

The personal qualities that our Governing Body looks for in selecting governors include strategic awareness, individual responsibility, sound judgement, effective communication skills, confidentiality and the ability to work as part of a team.  If you are interested in becoming a governor now or in the future, please speak to Gaynor Davison (Headteacher) or Ann Elliott (Chair of Governors).

When vacancies arise for Co-opted Governors, the Governing Body is responsible for the identification and selection of its members. We will identify and select prospective governors by, firstly, identifying any skills gaps among the current membership.

Parent and Staff Governors are advertised in the school community and if there are more nominations than vacancies a ballot will be held.   If no parent governor nominations are forthcoming, the governing body has a duty to appoint a parent governor.

 

Useful Links:

Durham County’s Governors’ website:

WWW.DURHAM.GOV.UK

 

National Governors’ Association:

WWW.NGA.ORG.UK

 

Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body 2017 - 2018

PLEASE CLICK TO READ OUR ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT FOR THE GOVERNING BODY