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 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
• Overseeing the school's financial performance and ensuring its money is well spent.
• Ensuring the school's compliance with statutory requirements, such as safeguarding.
• Listening to and responding to parents, staff, and the local community. 

 

 

The Role of the Headteacher

The Headteacher is a governor of the school.

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 and SDP 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 Structure and Terms of Reference

Our Circle Model of Governance

At Fiskerton CE Primary School, we operate a Circle Model of Governance, which means all governors work together as a single team rather than through separate committees. Full Governing Body meetings take place once every term and are the main forum for reviewing school priorities, progress and strategic decision-making.

To ensure strong oversight and specialist focus, specific areas of school leadership are monitored by Link Governors. Each Link Governor (or governor pair) builds a close working relationship with the relevant school leader, visiting the school and gathering first-hand insight to share with the Full Governing Body.

Our current Link Governor roles cover:

• Curriculum
• Finance
• Church School Distinctiveness
• Safeguarding
• Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) and Pupil Premium
• Attendance
• Health & Safety

This approach enables governors to maintain a clear understanding of school strengths, achievements and areas for development, while working collaboratively and efficiently as one governing team. It supports our commitment to continuous improvement and ensures all children at Fiskerton CE Primary School benefit from strong, well-informed governance.

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

 

 

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

The Governing Body 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.

 

 

Committees

Some responsibilities are delegated to committees. We have a pay committee, Head teacher performance management committee and would convene committees when needed for certain events e.g. pupil or staff disciplinary committees (see below for more information)

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.

 

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 GOVERNORS

• 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 governing body 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.

 

 

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