The Role of the Governing Body

THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNING BODY AND ITS COMMITTEES

In accordance with recent legislation and the relevant Education Acts this Governing Body and its committees will:

Act with integrity, objectivity and honesty in the best interests of the school
Be open about their decisions and actions

The Governing Body and its Committees will act strategically by:

Setting the aims and objectives for the school
Setting policies for achieving those aims and objectives
Setting targets by which progress towards the aims and objectives can be measured
Reviewing and monitoring progress in achieving the aims, objectives and targets

In all of the above, the Governing Body and its committees will act in accordance with Education Law, and will consider any advice given by the Headteacher and Leadership Team.

The Governing Body and its committees will act as a ‘critical friend’ offering an external perspective to the Headteacher and the school: monitoring its work, offering support and advice, an external opinion, asking challenging questions and offering constructive criticism when appropriate.

The Role of the Headteacher

The Headteacher is a governor of the school and is a governor member of all the committees as specified in this document. Where the Headteacher is not a member of the committee, s/he is entitled to attend committee meetings unless the regulations state otherwise. However, the Headteacher is only entitled to vote if s/he is a member of that committee.

The Headteacher, as the principal leader and manager for the school, is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school, for advising the Governors and for implementing the strategic development plan.

The Headteacher will be supported in the day-to-day management of the school by the Leadership Team.

Incorporated in the role of the Headteacher in advising the Governing Body are:

Formulating aims and objectives for the school, for adoption, modification or rejection by the Governing Body
Formulating policies and targets for the Governing Body to consider adopting
Reporting to the Governing Body on progress, at least once per term.
Completing the SEF for sign off by the Governing Body

Delegation of the Governing Body’s Functions

The full Governing Body has taken decisions about delegation, and that delegation has been considered in the light of:

The requirement for the Governing Body to fulfil a largely strategic function within the school
The responsibility of the Headteacher and SLT for the internal organisation, management and control of the school
The requirement for the Headteacher to comply with any legal and reasonable direction of the Governing Body in carrying out a function delegated by the Governing Body.

The Governing Body Committee Structure and Terms of Reference

The individual committees are responsible for the functions that have been delegated to them by the full Governing Body. They operate under their own terms of reference and in compliance with existing legislation, including the relevant Education Acts.

The Governing Body will review the establishment, terms of reference, constitution and membership of committees at least once a year (normally at the first ordinary meeting of the Full Governors in the first school term).

Each Committee must have a chair who will be appointed by the Governing Body or committee to serve a term of one year. The Governing Body retain the right to remove a Committee Chair at a Full Governor’s meeting.

All Governing Body Committee meetings must be minuted. All minutes will be circulated except confidential matters relating to individual staff, pay or pupils, which will be printed on pink paper and will not be circulated outside of the committee.

In the event of a tied vote the Chair of the Committee will have the casting vote.

Glossary of Terms

Abbreviations

DFE Department for Education

ICT Information Communication Technology

KS 2 Years 3,4,5,6

LA Local Education Authority

NC National Curriculum

SDP School Development Plan

SEN/ALN Special Educational Needs / Additional Learning Needs

SLT Senior Leadership Team

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Chair’s responsibilities:	Clerk’s responsibilities:
To chair meetings	To arrange meetings & notify members
To set agenda	Note decisions/options
To liaise with LA as appropriate	To provide written report/minutes

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL COMMITTEES

To act strategically, in accordance with the School Procedures Regulations
To establish a list of policies coming within the area of responsibility of the committee and plan accordingly
To review the effectiveness of the committee and recommend variations to the terms of reference.

All Governors are required to act in accordance with the Nolan Principals for conduct in Public Office as shown below:

Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principals by leadership and example.

GOVERNING BODY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP

STAFF DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

Any three eligible Governors who are available within the required timescales. The Headteacher and Governors employed to work in the school are not eligible to be a member.

The committee will carry out the function laid down in the School Standards and Framework Act and the School Procedures Regulations. The committee will act in accordance with the procedures agreed by the full Governing Body and undertake any procedure/hearing which may result in an employee who works at the school having his/her contract of employment with the Governing Body terminated, not renewed or be in receipt some other sanction in accordance with the disciplinary procedure.

STAFF DISCIPLINE APPEAL COMMITTEE

Any three eligible Governors who are available within the required timescales. The Headteacher and Governors employed to work in either the college or the school are not eligible to be a member. These Governors must not have sat on the originating Staff Discipline Committee.

The committee will carry out the function laid down in the School Standards and Framework Act and the School Procedures Regulations. The committee will act in accordance with the procedures agreed by the full Governing Body and undertake any procedure/hearing relating to an appeal made against a decision taken by the Staff Discipline Committee.

Quorum for above committees: 3 members of Committee

Frequency of meetings for above committees: as and when required

SCHEME OF DELEGATION

The Governing Body delegates its authority in respect of the Disciplinary Process, to the Headteacher in consultation with a named Governor in all cases except where the end result of this stage of the Disciplinary Process, may be the Dismissal of the member of staff concerned.

The Governing Body delegates the decision to suspend staff in the circumstances which may be considered to be ‘Gross Misconduct’, or where a fair investigation may be prejudiced by their continued presence at work, to the Headteacher. The removal of a suspension and re-instatement of a member of staff is delegated to the headteacher in consultation with the named governor. This delegation excludes members of staff who are part of the SLT, where agreement must be sought from the Chair of Governors. In any event it would preferable for the Chair/Vice Chair of Governors to be notified prior to any suspension.

PUPIL DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

Any three Governors who are available within the required timescales. The Headteacher is not eligible to be a member.

The committee will carry out the function laid down in the School Standards and Framework Act and the School Procedure Regulations. The committee will act in accordance with the procedures agreed by the full Governing Body and undertake the functions of the Governing Body in relation to excluded pupils. The committee will review all exclusions made by the school on a termly basis and will also meet exceptionally for long term/permanent exclusions when required.

PUPIL DISCIPLINE APPEAL COMMITTEE

Any three Governors who are available within the required timescales. The Headteacher is not eligible to be a member. Those Governors who served on the originating committee are not eligible to serve on this committee.

Quorum for above committee: 3 members of Committee

Frequency of meetings for above committees: as and when required

ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE

Any three Governors (in addition to the Headteacher) who are available within the required timescales.

The Admissions Committee acts with Delegated Authority from the Governing Body in respect of KGGS.

Exercise any power of the Governing Body to determine whether any child should be admitted to the school.

Quorum for above committee: 3 members of Committee.

Frequency of meetings for above committees: as and when required.

Governing Body

The governing body fulfil a strategic and co-ordinating role and the terms of reference are detailed below

To agree, by early in the autumn term, the programme of work and calendar of meetings for the Governing Body and its committees for the school year, based on known cycles of school improvement, financial management, staffing issues and communicating with parents
To monitor the progress of work being undertaken by committees and individuals
To establish and keep under review Critical Incident policy and procedures
To consider recommendations made by committees with regard to the working of the Governing Body
To establish and keep under review a code of conduct for the Governing Body
To establish and keep under review arrangements for Governors’ visits to school
To oversee arrangements for Governor involvement in formulating and monitoring the School Improvement Plan
To make recommendations to the Governing Body to establish exceptional working arrangements where particular circumstances arise e.g. a working party to oversee the writing of the School Profile
To be available and respond to matters of particular difficulty, sensitivity or emergency and offer advice to the Headteacher

Frequency of meetings: at least once per term and as and when required.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (as part of full governors):

At least five Governors – to include either the Chair or Vice-chair and Headteacher. (Any committee can, as stated above, allow or request other people to attend the meeting e.g School Business Manager)

Quorum for above committee: 3 members of Committee

Frequency of meetings for above committees: at least once per term and as and when required.

Finance

In consultation with the Headteacher, to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year
To establish and maintain an up to date 5 year financial plan
Ensure the budget reflects the schools’ prioritised educational objectives
Monitor the budgets and ensure expenditure stays within agreed limits, reporting significant potential variances to the Governing Body
To ensure that the school operates within the Financial Regulations of the County Council
To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body
Recommend whether to delegate the Governing Body’s responsibility to spend the delegated budget and any grants, including Standards Fund grants to the Headteacher and if so, to decide the amount to be delegated.
Audit: to monitor compliance with approved financial procedure and consider action required as a result of internal/external audit report
To review annually charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.
To make decisions in respect of service agreements
To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees
To ensure, as far as is practical, that Health and Safety issues are appropriately prioritised

Staffing

Oversee the drafting and recommend the staffing structure of the school
Oversee the recruitment and selection of permanent teachers and TLR posts (arrangements for short listing and interviews to be made by school). A governor who is not employed by the school will be present on the interview panel. Recruitment will be undertaken in accordance with the school’s Personnel Procedures Manual
Ensure that every member of staff has a job description
Ensure selection and screening of staff complies with all regulations and good practice guidance
Draft, recommend and implement the Disciplinary and Grievance Policy and Procedures. The panel members for Disciplinary/Grievance/Appeals are to be the same individuals as comprise the Staff Dismissal and Staff Dismissal Appeal Committees
Oversee and advise on the training and development of staff and the Governing Body
Take primary responsibility for matters concerning staff welfare

Performance Management & Pay

Observe all statutory and contractual obligations
Draft, recommend and monitor the implementation of the Performance Management Policy for all staff
Draft and recommend, and monitor the implementation of the whole school Pay Policy for teachers and associate staff, including
Review the salaries and any discretionary allowances of the school staff, not covered by the “ Pay and Performance Review Committee” in line with the performance reviews and the whole school Pay Policy
Consider Pay assessment appeals through the Pay Assessment Appeal Committee, in accordance with the whole school Pay Policy
Agree the method of distribution of any Achievement Awards granted to the school, taking into account advice from the DCFS and the LA

Premises and Health and Safety

Recommend the Health and Safety Policy (see below)
Ensure that the school complies with standards for health and safety on school premises
Receive and consider a report on health and safety, on a termly basis
Oversee the drafting and recommendations of the School Accessibility Plan
Oversee the drafting and recommendations of the School Lettings Policy and Arrangements
Oversee the use of school premises both during and outside the school day
Make recommendations to ensure that maintenance, decoration, and equipment/furniture renewal is planned and budgeted for
Audit and review the use of premises, equipment and resources and ensure they match the requirements of SDP priorities
Oversee site management, cleaning and grounds maintenance
Oversee site security arrangements and practice and review them periodically.
Consider and determine the need for capital works at the school, in line with the school’s SDP and the authority’s Asset Management Plan priorities, liaising with interested parties, as appropriate and making prudent use of the school’s devolved capital budget.

Health and Safety terms of reference:

To appoint a named governor with health and safety responsibilities
Review, update the School Health and Safety Policy – Chair of Governors to sign and date policy.
Review school’s compliance with the LEA Health and Safety Handbook
Communicate with other stakeholders to promote a culture which recognises that controlling health and safety risks is an essential part of everyone’s daily life
Ensure the leadership team has considered specific health and safety issues and that legal minimum standards for health and safety are being met:
Review and ensure adequate welfare provision for staff
Monitor the performance by checking that
- Physical controls are in place and working
- Staff have done what they are supposed to do
- Procedures are working
Oversee site security arrangements and practice and review periodically

HEADTEACHER PAY AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE (CONFIDENTIAL)

Review the Headteacher’s performance – Three Governors, who are not employed at the school, are to be appointed by the Governing Body to carry out the review.
Appeals will be dealt with by a committee comprising three Governors who do not work at the school, including the Chair of Governors

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: SCHEME OF DELEGATION TO THE HEADTEACHER

Finance

To authorise expenditure, in line with the school’s financial policy, within the agreed budget plan
Headteacher to approve any urgent/emergency expenditure not identified in the agreed budget plan to a limit of £10,000 per term and to report said expenditure to the committee at its next meeting
For any urgent/emergency expenditure over £10,000 and less than £25,000 the Headteacher must have prior approval from the Chair of Governors.
Ensure that the school is adequately insured.
To adjust the budget plan (process virements), across budget headings including the allocation of contingency funds, in line with the school development plan, subject to the following limits:

Up to £2,000 Headteacher
Over £2,000 in consultation with full Governing Body

Staffing

In consultation with Governors:

Appointment of all teaching staff, except those to SLT positions
Appointment of Non Teaching Staff – Headteacher to report to Committee.

A governor who is not employed by the school may be present on the interview panel for all appointments

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND PAY COMMITTEE

The role of the Committee is to implement the School's Pay and Performance Policy. The Committee has fully delegated powers and consists of three members of the Governing Body but will not include the Chairman of Governors.

The Head has the right to attend the Committee. The Committee will seek advice from the Head and/or if relevant from the Director of Children’s Services (through Human Resources)/or Staff Governors.

The terms of reference of the Committee might be as follows:

to achieve the aims of the whole school Pay and Performance Policy in a fair and equal manner;
to apply the criteria set by the whole school Pay and Performance policy;
to observe all statutory and contractual obligations;
to minute clearly the reasons for all decisions;
to have regard for the school’s budget;
to keep abreast of relevant developments and to advise the Governing Body when the school’s Pay and Performance Policy needs to be revised.

Decisions of the Committee will be taken in private, confidentially minuted and reported without comment or discussion to the next meeting of the Governing Body as a confidential item. The individual concerned, the Head and Human Resources will be notified in writing immediately following the Committee’s decision. In the case of pay decisions for teachers, this will be done in accordance with Paragraph 4 of ‘the Document.’

APPEALS PROCEDURE

The arrangements for considering appeals are as follows:

A member of staff may appeal against any determination in relation to his pay or any other decision taken by the Governing Body that affects his pay.

The grounds for appeal are that the Head Teacher or the committee which made the decision–

a) incorrectly applied any provision of the relevant national or local conditions of service;

b) failed to have proper regard for statutory guidance;

c) failed to take proper account of relevant evidence;

d) took account of irrelevant or inaccurate evidence;

e) was biased; or

f) otherwise unlawfully discriminated against the member of staff.

The order of proceedings is as follows:

1. The member of staff receives written confirmation of the pay determination and where applicable the basis on which the decision was made.

2. If the member of staff is not satisfied, he/she should seek to resolve this by discussing the matter informally with the Head Teacher within ten working days of the decision.

3. Where this is not possible or where the member of staff continues to be dissatisfied, he/she may follow a formal process

4. The member of staff should set down in writing the grounds for questioning the pay decision (which must relate to the grounds as set out above) and send it to the decision-making committee within ten working days of the notification of the decision being challenged or of the outcome of the discussion referred to above.

5. The decision making committee will provide a hearing within ten working days to allow the member of staff to make representations against the decision in person. Its decision and a subsequent right of appeal (if applicable) will be communicated in writing to the member of staff.

6. Any appeal will be heard by a panel of three governors who were not involved in the original determination normally within 20 working days of the receipt of the written notification of appeal. The member of staff will be given the opportunity to make representations in person and be accompanied by a trade union representative or ‘friend’ if they so wish. The decision of the appeal panel will be given in writing, and where the appeal is rejected will include a note of the evidence considered and the reasons for the decision. This decision is final and, as this appeals process functions as the staff grievance procedure with regard to pay matters, there is no further recourse to that general procedure.

Procedure for appeals hearings

Chair of Panel introduces all parties and outlines the procedure
Appellant and/or representative state their case
Panel question appellant and/or representative
Head Teacher questions appellant and/or representative
Head Teacher outlines the reasons for his decision
Panel question Head Teacher
Appellant and/or representative question Head Teacher
Head Teacher, appellant and/or representative leave the room
Panel considers all representations and makes a binding decision.

NB. For pay appeals by Head Teachers, substitute references to ‘the Head Teacher’ with ‘the Chair of the Pay Committee’

STANDARDS AND WELL BEING (as part of full governors):

At least five Governors – to include Chair or Vice-Chair and Headteacher. Members of staff responsible for specific areas may be asked to attend meetings to discuss with, report to or advise the committee on issues pertinent to their roles within the school (these staff members will not have any voting rights).

Quorum for above committee: 3 members of Committee

Frequency of meetings for above committee: at least 3 times a year and as and when required.

The committee, taking advice from the Headteacher and the lead professionals shall:

Ensure the Statutory Curriculum is taught to all pupils
Monitor the implementation of the curriculum and test results and report issues for consideration to the Governing Body
Oversee the drafting of the school curriculum policy and recommendations for Governing Body approval.
Oversee the drafting of the School Development Plan, including appropriate amendments following an OFSTED inspection (full or subject)
Monitor and evaluate progress towards targets in the SDP
Oversee the drafting of the SEN Policy and recommendations for Governing Body approval
Monitor the implementation of the SEN Code of Practice and provision for pupils with statements and those on the SEN/G and T register
Oversee the drafting of the Sex Education Policy and recommendations for Governing Body approval
Ensure information, advice and guidance is provided for all students at key transition points
Oversee the drafting of the School Profile

Hear complaints related to any curriculum issue, in accordance with the Complaints Procedure adopted by the school

To make arrangements for the Annual Educational Adviser report to be tabled/presented at the Governing Body meeting in the summer term

Oversee the drafting of appropriate Policy Documents to the full Governing Body (e.g. Equal Opportunities)
Hear complaints about matters other than the curriculum, in accordance with the Complaints Procedure adopted by the school
Oversee the drafting of the policy on charging and remissions for (non NC) school activities and recommendations for Governing Body approval
Oversee the drafting of school discipline/behaviour policy and recommendations for Governing Body approval
Oversee the drafting of the Home-School Agreement and recommendations for Governing Body approval
Oversee the drafting of the school prospectus (meeting legal requirements) and recommendations for its publication and distribution to the Governing body
Be responsible for all matters of student health and welfare (e.g. school meals)
Oversee home/school and community/business links
Ensure that pupil attendance arrangements meet statutory requirements
Ensure that arrangements for reporting to parents meet statutory requirements
Oversee and authorise the arrangements for school visits in line with school policy and legal requirements
Ensure the school fulfils its commitments under extended schools legislation.

ETHOS AND VALUES COMMITTEE

Membership

Not less than 3 governors plus Headteacher Foundation Governors to be approved by PCC and appointed by the Diocese. May include co-opted governors

Quorum Two Foundation Governors plus head

Meetings At least 3 times a year

Aims

To provide guidance to the Headteacher and Governing Body on matters related to the school's role as a Church of England Controlled School
To consider relevant school policies and statements related to the school's role as a Church of England Controlled School and within the spirit of the school's Trust Deed. Policies include: Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural Development, R.E., Collective Worship, The School’s Ethos statement and Governors Sex Education Statement.

To maintain links with the Foundation Governors at St Faith's Infants School through the incumbent (ex-officio governor at both schools), and through at least one joint meeting per year
To establish closer links with other local church schools through the annual joint service and/or meeting

Terms of Reference

To rotate a chair and minute taker within themselves
To review the terms of reference on an annual basis
To publish an agenda and to keep minutes of each meeting
To inform the main governing body's meetings of matters related to Foundation Governors and the school's role as a Church of England Controlled School
To review the governors' Sex Education Statement on an annual basis
To review policies and resources relevant to Foundation governors on a regular basis in consultation with the Headteacher and with reference to an action plan and the School Development Plan
To arrange for the school's Inspection Section 48 as and when required
To receive feedback from the school's Inspection Section 48 and to monitor the arrangements for any issues resulting from this.

Lincoln St Faith & St Martin-Constitution
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