St Peter's Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Board of St Peter’s C. of E. (V.C.) Primary School, Sible Hedingham

July 2020

In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all Governing Boards, the 3 core strategic functions of the St Peter’s C of E (V.C.)  Primary School Governing Board 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;

3.                  Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Governance arrangements

The Governing Board of St Peter’s C of E (V.C.) Primary School is made up of 2 Staff Governors (including the Headteacher), 4 elected Parent Governors, 1 Authority Governor, 3 Foundation Governors and 4 Co-opted Governors. Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Board and are people who, in the opinion of the Governing Board, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Mrs Nicola Adams took on the role of Chairman of the Governing Board, with Mr Bob Darkins as Vice-Chairman.

Mr Dave Heather and Mr Andy Stopps were appointed to the Governing Board during the last academic year.

Mrs Clair Page resigned from the Governing Board in November 2017.

There is currently a Co-opted vacancy and a Foundation DBE vacancy.

The full Governing Board meets at least once each term, and we also have a number of Committees to consider different aspects of the school in detail.  At St Peter’s Primary School we have a Finance & Personnel Committee, a Premises Committee, a Curriculum & Pupil Related Committee, and a Pay and Performance Committee.  We also have Committees that meet if required to consider pupil discipline and staffing matters.

See p3 for a list of Governors.

Attendance record of Governors

Governors have good 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).

See Page 4 for details of individual Governors’ attendance at meetings.

The work that we have done on our Committees and in the Governing Board

The Governing Board has met once a term and considers every aspect of the running and governing of the school to ensure the school provides a balanced curriculum that meets all statutory duties.  It takes assurances from the Curriculum Committee and looks in detail at the delivery of the curriculum to hold the school to account for the achievements of the children.  The Finance and Personnel Committee scrutinises the use of funds at the school, examining the budgets to ensure that the school remains in financial balance; that the finances are spent wisely and reports are sent to the Governing Board on financial matters and changes in personnel and performance.

Maintenance and development of the school grounds is considered by the Premises Committee to ensure the school is fit for purpose and safe.

The Governing Board is assured through inspections by the Governors themselves into every aspect of school life, their attendance at schools events, as well as by independent inspectors such as our SIAMS inspector who agree that we are a good school with elements of outstanding.

Governors are confident that all children at the school are developed to their full potential and that the school is proactive in improving through the delivery and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan.

We maintain our ethos as a Church of England school and the values ‘TERRIFIC’ run through every aspect of school life supporting our aims and objectives to ‘aspire, persevere and achieve.’

Future plans for the Governors

The Governing Board continues to develop and undertake training to ensure we can fully support the school, staff and children.  Our programme for visits will continue to support rising standards and the achievement of the school overall, but at the same time our role as critical friend continues ensuring that all children are supported to thrive and succeed.

How you can contact the Governing Board

We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents – please contact the Chairman of the Governing Board, Mrs Nicola Adams, or the Clerk to the Governing Board, via the school office.

Governor

Category

Term of office expiry date

Mr Fergus Ranson

Authority Governor

05.11.2021

Mr Robert Darkins – Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board

Mrs Jennifer Carlton

Co-opted Governor

Co-opted Governor

09.11.2024

15.09.2024

Mr David Heather

Mr Martin Lee

Revd Liz Paxton

Co-opted Governor

Co-opted

Foundation Ex.0fficio

11.07.2021

12.03.2023

Vacancy

Foundation PCC Governor

Mrs Glenys Young

Foundation DBE Governor

13.03.2023

Vacancy

Parent Governor

Mr Phillip Zelley

Parent Governor

24.03.2023

Mrs Nicola Adams – Chairman of the Governing Board

Parent Governor

05.02.2022

Mr Andrew Stopps

Parent Governor

05.02.2022

Mrs Sue Craig

Mr N Hancock

Staff Governor

The Head

31.03.2024

-

Governor

Miss Julie Harper       (ex Headteacher)

Mr Philip Zelley

Mrs Glenys Young

Name of Governing Body Member

Membership Representation

Link Governors

Date of

Appointment

End of Term

Committee Membership

Date of Interest

Declaration

Mr Nicholas Hancock

Headteacher

n/a

n/a

n/a

Premises

Curriculum

Finance & Personnel

Autumn 2020

Mrs Nicola Adams

Parent-Governor

Chair

Safeguarding/Child Protection/

Children Looked After

1^st Contact

GDPR

Data Protection/FOI/SCR

Staff & Pupil Wellbeing

Equality

06/02/2018

05/02/2022

Finance & Personnel 

Autumn 2020

Mr Bob Darkins

Co-opted

Vice-Chair

Health and Safety

SCR

08/11/2016

09/11/2024

Premises (Chair)

Finance & Personnel

Family members own Darkins Supplies 

Autumn 2020

Mr David Heather

Co-opted

Humanities

Art

Music

12/07/2017

11/07/2021

Premises

Owner " What a difference a Dave Makes"

Spouse works at school

Autumn 2020

Vacancy

Foundation PCC

Mrs Jennifer Carlton

Co-opted

More Able

Pupil Attendance

PHSE

24/01/2017

Curriculum (Chair)

Autumn 2020

Mr Martin Lee

Co-opted

Whistleblowing

Maths/Numeracy

Health & Wellbeing

13/03/2019

12/03/2023

Finance & Personnel (Chair)

Curriculum

Member of local Parish Council

On Governing Board of Hedingham School

Autumn 2020

Mr Andrew Stopps

Parent-Governor

Humanities

Art

06/02/2018

05/02/2022

Finance & Personnel

Spouse works at school

Autumn 2020

Mrs Sue Craig

Staff-Governor

01/04/2016

01/04/2024

Premises

Curriculum

Autumn 2020

Rev Liz Paxton

Foundation ex-officio

RE

Collective Worship

Health & Wellbeing

n/a

Autumn 2020

Mr Philip Zelley

Parent-Governor

Technologies

25/03/2019

24/03/2023

Premises

Curriculum

Spouse chair of PTA

Autumn 2020

Mrs Glenys Young

Foundation DBE

EYFS

14/03/2019

13/03/2023

Curriculum

Autumn 2020

Mrs Deborah Hilliard

Clerk to Governors

N/A

N/A

Autumn 2020