GOVERNORS REPORT TO PARENTS ACADEMIC YEAR 2023- 2024

Our role as governors is wide ranging and requires various skills to carry out our work effectively. The job is voluntary, most governors work full time and bring their skills learnt in the workplace to carry out their role effectively.  We welcome enquiries from all members of the community who would be interested in serving on the Governing Board.

Our core functions include ensuring the school has a clear vision and strategic direction, ensure resources are well managed and hold leaders to account for the quality of education. 

During full and interim governing board meetings held termly, governors have discussed all aspects of school life to ensure that, as stated in our vision statement, ‘the firm foundations set down through our beliefs, curriculum and teaching will help our children to be successful now and, in the future,’. Governors have applied an enquiring and inquisitive approach to validate proposals and ensure outcomes could be achieved.  Every governor has a key role to play based on their strengths and experiences.

A brief resume of all governors and their attendance at board meetings can be found on the governor’s section on the school website.  Mr Jacques, a long-standing governor, retired from the board in July and Ms Newey has taken over as Vice Chairperson.

In September 2023 we welcomed new children and returning children who were full of anticipation and ready to learn.  Induction meetings had been held in the previous July to ensure a smooth transition from their nursery schools and parents were well informed.  Home visits took place for children who will be starting nursery in September.

Mrs Garner, who has been an outstanding Executive Headteacher, gave notice that she had decided to retire at the end of the academic year.  A rigorous recruitment process took place, and the governing board were delighted to appoint Mrs Jenny Gascoigne as the new Executive Headteacher with effect from September 2024. Mrs Gascoigne has had the opportunity to work closely with Mrs Garner to support and develop her knowledge of leadership.  We all look forward to working with Mrs Gascoigne and supporting her to meet the challenges ahead.

Holding the head teacher to account for the school’s educational performance is a key role.    Progress made within the School Improvement Plan informs future strategies. Governors have met with relevant members of staff and the School Improvement Partner to find out about how improvements are being secured in Early Years, Safeguarding, SEND, Attendance and Curriculum and Standards.  Their finding were reported at termly governors’ meetings where there were opportunities for challenging questions to be asked.   Local Authority Quality Assurance briefings are shared with governors as further evidence of educational performance.

Information from these meetings assists the Governing Board in the Headteacher’s Performance Management process, where the Headteacher is held to account for the Federation’s progress. The Governors continue to set challenging targets for the Headteacher, guided by the School Improvement Partner, that have a ripple affect across the Senior Leadership Team and teaching staff within both settings.

Governors have focussed on the further development of the Federation through link monitoring roles.  Good practice and professional development has been successfully aligned across the Federation and joint working has ensured best practice across both settings.  Training and support has been given to teachers to ensure they are secure in their roles leading the foundation subjects and our new maths subject leader.  Informative presentations were given to the Governing Board.  Our Early Careers Teacher has been well supported and has successfully completed her second year.

A further key role for Governors is ensuring financial resources are well spent. Budgets have been closely monitored and scrutinised to ensure spending is aligned to school development priorities in order that the curriculum can be taught effectively. Governors have an in-depth working knowledge of the school’s budget and income streams.  It has been a challenging year for school but the deficit prom the previous year has been reduced by careful management.  We will continue to work with the Local Authority to ensure that budget planning is sustainable in the long term.  Governors have ensured that the annual budget was set and submitted to the Local Authority on time.  Governors seek opportunities to challenge best value through their finance meetings and full Governing Board meetings.

Safeguarding is at the heart of all governor monitoring and is an embedded culture across the Federation.  Governors monitored and reviewed safeguarding policies and procedures.  Training has ensured that all governors understand their responsibilities in respect of safeguarding.  The governor with responsibility for safeguarding has taken part in the completion of the Section S175/157 Safeguarding Audit and an external audit by the Local Authority in the summer term which validated the school’s audit.

Governor training equips governors with the knowledge to provide strategic challenge to test and assure themselves that the policies and practices in place are effective and support the delivery of a robust whole school approach.  Governors have attended training courses or events focussing on safer recruitment, Prevent, specific safeguarding updates, keeping children safe on-line and information updates on their key roles.

The governors have reviewed policies to ensure they are relevant, are compliant and fit for purpose. At our meetings the headteacher has provided a comprehensive report on the progress made in all areas of school life in order that we can be assured that the policies are being put into practice and are effective.   The governor with responsibility for health and safety has met with relevant members of staff to ensure that policies are up to date and documentation is available for scrutiny.  The school premises have been appraised to consider refurbishment works when funds allow.  We look forward to the completion and move to the new premises for Oakengates Nursery by the end of 2024.

Governors have observed a culture of wellbeing in school.  Mental health and wellbeing of both children and adults in school is a high priority and there is a wealth of information available for staff to access.  Feedback from a questionnaire confirmed that staff feel that adult and children’s mental health is valued.  They feel supported and would know who to approach with any issues.

Governors recognise the efforts and good work of all staff in contributing to the success of the federation. Thank you to all children, parents and the communities we serve that make the federation flourish.

Gill Stubbs

Chairperson of Governors