Governor Info for Parents
THE GOVERNING BODY
The main focus of Norwood’s Governing Body is ensuring that our pupils make good progress in their education and are ready for the next stage of their learning journey. We appreciate that for this to happen the school must be well-led by a professionally competent leadership team with motivated staff who all work together within a safe, caring, supportive yet professionally challenging environment. The governing body work alongside the leadership team and all staff to ensure that our children develop into well-equipped, independent learners and thinkers. Our values of “ASPIRE, RESPECT and ENJOY” are at the heart of our thinking and decision making.
In accordance with the Government’s requirements for all governing bodies, the three core strategic functions of Norwood Primary School Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, values and strategic direction;
- Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent;
Setting the strategic direction of the school is a vital role of governors. They support the Head Teacher and senior leadership team in setting the school’s priorities and strategic direction. Governors continually monitor the School Development Plan (SDP). They receive termly reports from the Head Teacher relating to the SDP and monitor the progress towards achieving targets and goals. They then receive an in-depth end of year evaluation detailing the member/members of staff that were responsible for leading the progression, the methods used, pupil outcomes, the timescale in which it was actioned, resources used to enable the progress, the success criteria and how and who it was monitored by.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The governing body work as a ‘whole team’, meeting once every half term. By working as one board, without separate committees, this enables all governors to work together to strategically lead the school and the vision for continued improvement. In addition to the full governing body meetings, there are committees established for Headteacher Performance Management, Pay, Pay Appeals, Staffing Disciplinary and Disciplinary Appeals. Working parties may be set up throughout the year as required, for example to complete the Schools Financial Values Standard. Governors have link roles which enable them to provide a greater level of support and challenge in key areas, including safeguarding, health and safety, finance, SEND, pupil premium and curriculum.
The governing body of Norwood Primary School consists of:
- One local authority governor
- Six parent governors
- Six co-opted governors
- One staff governor
- One headteacher governor
POLICIES
Governors review all relevant policies, during the relevant committee meeting, on a programmed basis to ensure that they meet the statutory requirements and that all guidance is relevant and up to date.
Specific attention is paid to ensure that the school complies with the Department of Education mandatory policy list and the Local Authority recommended list.
TRAINING
The governing body access training through the Local Authority’s Governor Services, the Key and the National Governors Association.
New Governors attend training for new Governors. Governors are encouraged to attend any training that is relevant to the SDP and their roles and may also attend any training that is of particular interest to them. The staff also provide training for governors which is sometimes held before or after a scheduled meeting or if required another meeting is arranged.
Governors have attended training on Safeguarding, Prevent Strategy, Safer Recruitment, Introduction to School Governance, the role of a governor in OFSTED inspection and Health & Safety courses.
If you would like to let the governors know about the things you think we do well here, or about how we could do things better, please put it in a letter and hand it in at the school office.
Address your letter for the attention of the Chair of Governors - Mrs Lesley Lee or email to norwoodgovernors@norwoodmail.co.uk