Governing body
Governors
The Langley Fitzurse Stanton St Quintin Federation is looking for new governors to join the team. We currently have two vacancies for Governors, one Co-opted and one Foundation. Co-opted governors are community governor roles elected by the Governing Board to meet specific skill needs, and Foundation governors are elected and or approved by the Diocese of Bristol to ensure the school’s Church of England foundation is preserved and developed.
Being a governor is a rewarding way of making a voluntary contribution to the lives of the young people in our community.
Governors do not run the school day to day, as their role is at the strategic or policy-making level in the school. You do not have to be an expert on education to be a school governor.
We are currently looking for people with skills in public relations/marketing to assist our federated schools in building relationships with the local community. The visibility and profile of the schools and ultimately the numbers of pupils on roll are critical to the sustainability of small schools. While this is a focus, for the time being we are seeking all volunteers to support the board in a variety of other ways. We value the experience that all governors bring to the role.
If you join our governing body, you will serve for a four-year term. Being a governor does take up time. There are six governing body meetings each year, and governors usually serve on one of the committees which meet once a term. You will need to set aside time to be able to be an effective governor: time to prepare for meetings, for visiting the school and undertaking training.
To find out more about what being a governor is like, please contact Ed Shire (Chair of Governors) at eshire@lfssq.wilts.sch.uk who will be very happy to answer any questions.
The Federated Board of Governors for Langley Fitzurse & Stanton St Quintin Schools
The role of the Board of Governors, as stipulated by the Department for Education, is to:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Hold the Executive Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
- Oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure the money is well spent.
The Structure of the Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is made up of 12 governor positions and two associate members, as follows:
- 2 Parent Governors (elected by the Parents)
- 1 Local Authority Governor (appointed by the Local Authority)
- 3 Foundation Governors (appointed by the Diocese)
- 1 Staff Governor (appointed by the Staff)
- 1 Executive Head (ex officio)
- 4 Co-Opted Governors (appointed by the Board of Governors)
- 3 Associate members (appointed by the Board of Governors)
The Governing Body must act as a corporate body. It must also act with integrity, objectivity, honesty and in the best interests of the school. The governing body will:
- Elect the Chair & Vice Chair
- Approve the school budget
- Review & agree the School Improvement Plan
- Agree any general principles on pupil discipline
- Decide any changes in the times of school sessions
- Set the Governors’ objectives for the year
- Ensure all pupils can take part in a daily act of worship
The governing body has a duty to:
- Hold a meeting at least once a term
- Consider the LA’s curriculum policy
- Ensure that the national curriculum is implemented
- Ensure that RE and daily collective worship are provided
Our Committees
There are 3 committees – Finance & Resources – chaired by Huw Solly, Teaching, Learning & Development – chaired by Adrian Cole, and Christian Distinctiveness – chaired by Katherine Bloomer. The governing body will determine the membership of these committees and remains accountable for any decisions taken. The overriding objective of the committees is to work towards an outstanding rating from Ofsted and from SIAMS (statutory Inspections of Anglican & Methodist Schools) at the earliest opportunity, and to maintain that standard. Towards meeting this objective they will work closely with the full governing body, the school and all stakeholders, including the Church. With them, they will ensure that the necessary steps are embedded in the School Improvement Plan and the Self Evaluation Form to drive the schools forward.
Our Panels and Working Groups
In order to support the work of the committees, we have the following Panels and Working Groups:
Performance Management Panel
Composed of Chair of Governors, a member from each of the Committees, including a Foundation governor and our School Improvement Partner. The compliment of this committee will not include members of staff or those with a conflict of interest. Where this may occur the FGB will appoint another person. This panel undertakes the Executive Headteacher’s annual performance review and recommending any Executive Headteacher’s pay increment.
Appeals/Complaints Panel
Composed of 3 other non staff governors (not from the staffing panel), has the delegated power to hear appeals/complaints, ensure the policy for Appeals and complaints is adhered to and make decisions following a Pay Panel Meeting.
Pay Panel
Comprises 3 members. This panel meets once a year to approve the result of the Headteacher’s performance review and any recommendation for a salary increment. This panel also approves the pay policy including performance related pay for teachers.
Our Link Governors
In order to better understand key areas of the schools and provide a link between the governing body and staff we have appointed link governors for the following areas:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- SEND
- Computing
- Relationships, Health & Sex Education (RSHE)
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Church/RE
- Safeguarding
- Health & Safety
- Pupil Premium
- Equality & Diversity
- Whistleblowing
We will also appoint a Governor of the Term, who will visit both schools in connection with the current FGB focus.
Some of our Responsibilities
| Function | Tasks |
| GB Procedures | To draw up instrument of government and any amendments thereafter |
| To appoint (and remove) the chair, vice-chair and clerk of a permanent or a temporary governing body | |
| To hold a full governing body meeting at least three times in a school year | |
| Curriculum | Approve and monitor curriculum policy |
| Approve and monitor sex education policy | |
| Approve and monitor Special Education Needs (SEN) policy. | |
| Ensuring that Racial Equality and Cultural Diversity are included in the PSHCE policy | |
| Approve and monitor charging and remissions policy for activities outside the NC | |
| Budgets | To prepare and approve formal budget plan for each financial year |
| To monitor monthly expenditure. | |
| To establish a charging and remissions policy | |
| Miscellaneous financial decisions | |
| To enter into contracts over £2,000 | |
| Identify budget priorities in school development plan | |
| Staffing | Headteacher appointment, suspension and dismissal |
| Approve and monitor pay policy | |
| Establishing disciplinary /capability procedures | |
| Determining staff complement | |
| Performance Management | Approve and monitor performance management policy |
| To implement the performance management policy for the Headteacher | |
| Discipline/ Exclusions | Approve and monitor discipline policy |
| To review the use of exclusion and to decide whether or not to confirm all permanent exclusions and fixed term exclusions where the pupil is either excluded for more than 15 days in total in a term or would lose the opportunity to sit a public examination. | |
| Admissions | To appeal against LA directions to admit pupil(s) |
| Collective Worship | Arrangements for collective worship |
| Premises | Buildings insurance and personal liability |
| Procuring and maintaining buildings, including developing properly funded maintenance plan | |
| Monitor condition of site and premises. Approve repairs over £1000 | |
| Health & Safety | Approve and monitor a health and safety policy as agreed with LA |
| School Organisation | To publish proposals to change category of school |
| Information For Parents | Adoption and review of home-school agreements |
| School Improvement Plan | Review, accept and delegate School Improvement Plan |
| Extended Schools | To decide whether to offer additional activities and to what form these should take |
