Annual Governance Statement

For the Governing Body

Worstead Church of England Primary School

 2020/2021

 

 

In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all Governing Bodies the three core strategic functions of the Governing Body are:

 

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

 

Governance arrangements:

 

The Governing Body consists of two elected parent governors, one staff governor, one co-opted governors, one headteacher governor, one Local Authority Governor and seven Foundation Governors.

 

Attendance record 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).

 

The work that the Governing Body and the committees have done:

 

The Governing Body have met on fifteen separate occasions.  The Governors sit on one of three committees – Establishment, Values and Ethos and Curriculum.

 

The Governors remain fully committed to the continued improvement of the school with a determination that the school moves towards and achieves an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating.  The governors have supported the school in the transition to becoming voluntarily aided.  The Establishment Committee has scrutinised and closely monitored the budget to ensure the continued improvement of teaching and learning opportunities and have approved works for improvement to the school environment for the benefit of its pupils.  The Values & Ethos Committee continue to build opportunities for the children’s wellbeing and the school’s character as a church school.  The curriculum committee is working with the headteacher to ensure that the curriculum is delivered in such a way as to further excellence.

 

The Governors have supported the headteacher in his plan for the schools.  They have challenged decisions and closely monitored changes he has made to ensure the school’s vision is maintained.  The Governors discussed, questioned and accepted the School Improvement Plan which continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored.

 

The Governors have continued to be involved in the operation of the school during the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure that the decisions made meet with Government guidance and are in the best interests of the whole school community and can be implemented swiftly.

 

Governor Training:

 

To ensure they remain up-to-date with current affairs and legislation the Governors undertook the following training:

 

• Safeguarding Children in Education
• Behaviour and Exclusions
• RHSE
• Easy Use IT
• Workload and Wellbeing
• Governor networking
• School Finance
• Pupil Premium
• RE
• Governance in Church Schools

 

Future plans for the Governors:

 

The Governing Body will support Mr Read as he pushes the school forward and makes improvements for the benefit of the education of its pupils.

 

The Governors continue to plan for the redevelopment and expansion of the school.  They will continue to work with the local church, the new vicar (when appointed) and the Diocese as well as other partners to offer more exciting and new opportunities.  The Governors are keen to look to the future and make plans for the school’s strategic future and continue to welcome collaboration, both formal and informal, with others for the benefit of the school, its pupils and the wider community.

 

How to contact the Governing Body:

 

The Governors always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents – please contact the Chair of Governors via the school office. 

 

Statutory Information:

Current information about our governance can also be found at Get Information About Schools 

 

The following people make up our governing body:

                                           

Hayley Smith (Foundation Chair of Governors)

Hayley is a Foundation Governor; she is Chair of Governors and of the Establishment Committee; she has responsibilities for Communication and Early Years. Hayley is experienced in many aspects of education, having been a headteacher of a village school and nursery for 24 years. She has a grandson who has moved on to high school from Worstead, and two granddaughters currently at Worstead  She also runs Stay and Play sessions on Wednesday afternoons at the school for children from birth to 4 years old, in non-covid times.  Her current term of office runs from 13/2/18 to 11/2/22. Her monitoring roles include English, MFL, Finance and EYFS.  Hayley also sits on the Governing Body in another local primary school. She has not declared any business or financial interests in the school.

Saul Penfold (Foundation Vice-Chair of Governors)

Saul is our Vice Chair of Governors with responsibility for PE. He also Chairs our Values and Ethos Committee and is a member of the Establishment Committee. He is a Foundation Governor and lives locally in Meeting Hill. Saul’s children have all attended Worstead Primary School and are now flourishing at High School. Saul works as a freelance Heritage Learning and Interpretation Consultant. He is also the North Norfolk District Councillor for Worstead Ward. Saul's monitoring roles include Headteacher Appraisal, Values & Ethos and PE. His second term of office runs from 2/12/20 and he has no other governance roles in other schools. Saul has not declared any business or financial interests in the school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maureen Vaissiere (LA Governor)

Maureen is a Local Authority Governor and has responsibility for school data, science and mathematics and was a headteacher of a village school and later a county headteacher. She also has an overview of the school website and Health & Safety. Maureen is currently retired and lives locally. Her second term of office runs from 2/12/20. She is also a governor at another local primary school. Maureen has not declared any business or financial interests in the school.

 

 

Janet Butler (Foundation Governor)

Janet is the Bishop's Appointed Foundation Governor and lives locally. She is a member of the Values and Ethos Committee and is responsible for Safeguarding, SEND and LAC. Janet is an independent SEND consultant with many years experience of working in an advisory capacity for SEND in the county. Her term of office runs from 10/5/19 to 10/5/23 and this is her second term of 4 years. Janet does not hold any additional governance roles in other schools and has not declared any business or financial interests in the school.

 

Dan Carter (Co-Opted Governor)

His term of office as a co-opted governor runs from 2/12/20.  He is is Chair of the Curriculum Committee and is responsible for monitoring Humanities (history and geography), behaviour and Pupil Premium.  Dan also sits on the Values & Ethos committee. He has a child at the school and lives in Worstead.  He has been a teacher in Norfolk for many years and is currently a serving Principal in a Norfolk secondary academy. 

 

 

Nick Read (Ex-Officio Headteacher Governor)

Nick is the school's Headteacher and therefore sits on the governing body as Headteacher Governor. He is also Premises Manager. He sits on the three sub-committees, and Full Governing Body meetings where committee business is ratified.

 

Kate Parsonage (Staff Governor)

Kate's term of office runs from February 2019.  She is the school's Senior Teacher and Swifts' class teacher. One of her key roles within the school is Communication Lead, which encompasses English and MFL. She holds enhanced training in children's safeguarding as an Alternate DSL.

 

Miss Beth Groom (Parent Governor)

Beth joined as a parent governor in the 2018-2019 year. She is a member of the Establishment Committee and is responsible for monitoring the expressive arts and attendance. She has three children, two of whom currently attend the school. Beth is an artist with  BA Hons in Fine Art Sculpture and has 14 years' experience working locally as an Arts Facilitator supporting adults with learning difficulties. 

Mrs Frances Day (Parent Governor)

Frances was appointed in December 2020 and has two children, a nephew and a niece at the school. Due to her familiarity with HR and finance, she sits on our Establishment committee.

Rev. Jo Haywood (Ex-Officio Foundation Governor)

Jo was appointed in December 2020, as the parish of Worstead's representative whilst a new incumbent is found. She had long education experience and monitors RE and collective worship. Jo is part of our Values and Ethos committee.

Mrs June Andersen (Foundation Governor)

June is our newest governor, having been appointed in March 2021 and we look forward to her contribution to our full governing body and committees.

Mrs Judith Arksey (Associate Governor for Finance)

Judith is the school's finance officer and administrative manager. She reports to the Establishment Committee about staffing, premises and financial matters.

 

Mrs Sarah Wright (Clerk to the Governors)

Sarah is our new clerk and started in post in July 2019, following her predecessor Gill Leah, whom we thank for her service to the school. She also works at another Norfolk school.

 

Full Governing Body Declarations of Interest and Terms of Governance

 

Governor Attendance at Meetings

2018/19
  

 

 

Ap  = apologies received and accepted                                  x = apologies not received / not accepted

 2017/18

 

Ap  = apologies received and accepted                                  x = apologies not received / not accepted

 

 

Governor monitoring in school

 

Governors regularly monitor areas of school life in connection with their areas of responsibility. They liaise with school leaders and report back to governors at regular meetings. This responsibility is part of our annual School Improvement and Development Plan and is a key part of making sure the school keeps on the right track.