The Governing Board
The Governing Board
Are the key strategic decision-making body of a school. It is their role to set the school’s strategic framework and to ensure all statutory duties are met.
The Governing Board has three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher 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
Greatstone Primary School and Nursery is classified as a Foundation School and, therefore, the Governing Board is the Admissions Authority, the employer of all staff and the owner of the land and buildings in addition to the normal responsibilities of school governance.
Governing Board meetings are convened six times a year. In order to carry out its duties more efficiently and to ensure the expertise of individual Governors is used in an effective manner, some functions of the Governing Board have been delegated to two sub-committees, Resources and the teaching and learning committees, who meet regularly and report back to the full Governing Board.
The Governing Board of Greatstone School and Nursery is comprised of 18 members:
- 2 Partnership Governors – nominated by parents and appointed by the Governing Board
- 1 Parent Governors – elected by parents
- 1 Local Authority Governor – nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the Governing Board
- 1 Staff Governor – elected by the School Staff
- The Headteacher – an ex-officio Governor
- 8 Co-opted Governors – appointed by the Governing Board
- 3 Associate Members
Associate members may vote on committees, if agreed by the Governing Board, but have no voting rights at full Governing Board meetings.
Current Members of the Governing Board
Name | Governor Type | Term From | Term To | Roles |
Mr David Lea | Co-opted governor (Governing Board) | 24 Feb 2021 | 23 Feb 2025 | Chair of Governors |
Ms Sam Adam | Associate Member | 29 Nov 2017 | 28 Nov 2021 | |
Mrs Caroline Allen | Co-opted governor | 21 Dec 2020 | 20 Dec 2024 | Vice Chair, Safeguarding, Staff Well -Being EYFS |
Mr Boualem Bouderba | Parent governor | 30 Jan 2019 | 29 Jan 2023 | |
Mrs Sue Butterworth | Partnership governor | 24 Mar 2021 | 23 Mar 2025 | Pupil Premium Governor |
Ms Kelly Horsburgh | Co-opted governor | 24 Mar 2021 | 23 Mar 2025 | |
Mrs Glynn Hukins | Co-opted governor | 03 Feb 2021 | 2 Feb 2025 | Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee |
Mr Thomas Jepps-Finn | Staff governor | 13 May 2019 | 12 May 2023 | |
Mrs Jaclyn Kay | Head of School (Ex-officio) | |||
Mr Michel La Rue | Local Authority Governor | 09 Feb 2020 | 8 Feb 2024 | Training & Development Governor Chair of Resources Committee |
Mrs Wendy May | Co-opted governor | 09 Sep 2020 | 8 Sep 2024 | SEND Governor |
Mr Phil Morgan-John | Associate Member | 24 Mar 2021 | 23 Mar 2025 | |
Mrs Ann Morrin | Partnership governor | 24 Mar 2021 | 23 Mar 2025 | |
Mrs Fiona Roberts | Associate Member | 23 Nov 2020 | 22 Nov 2024 | |
Mrs Rachel Sharman | Co-opted governor | 24 Mar 2021 | 23 Mar 2025 | Health & Safety Governor |
Mrs Carole Simpson | Co-opted governor | 23 Jun 2019 | 22 Jun 2023 | EYFS SMSC |
Mrs Claire Southen | Co-opted governor | 09 Sep 2020 | 8 Sep 2024 | SEND Governor |
Mrs Ursula Wooding | Clerk |
- Katie Brabham – Parent Governor 01/2019 – 01/2020
- Carly Oliver – Staff Governor 23/11/16 – 09/2019
- Nicolas Brooks – Co-Opted Governor 09/02/2017 – 09/2019
- Louise Harkins – Parent Governor 02/12/2014 – 01/12/2018
- Clive Wire – Local Authority Governor 07/10/15 – 07/2019
- Paul Black – Partnership Governor 14/10/2014 – 13/10/2018
- Darren Sharp – Co-opted Governor 17/09/2013 – 16/09/2018
- Nicola Stace – Co-opted Governor 21/02/18
- Neil Powney – Co-opted Governor 12/11/2013 – 21/02/2017
- Sarah Challis – Parent Governor 09/02/16 – 5/16
- Elaine Warne – Staff Governor
- Liza Cayley – Parent Governor
The Resources Committee
Terms of Reference and Standing Order for Resources Committee
The Committee is expected to work within the following terms of reference with a focus on monitoring the School Improvement Plan.
General
- To monitor progress against the priorities of the School Improvement Plan particularly those related to finance, premises & Personnel targets.
- To undertake monitoring visits to the school.
- To make regular reports to the Full Governing Body.
- To approve relevant resources policies on behalf Full Governing Body.
- To meet at least 3 times each year.
- The Clerk to the Governing Body will normally clerk these meetings.
- To maintain an up-to-date balanced three- year budget plan which shows clear links to the School Improvement Plan and staffing plan.
- To report monitoring and rollover to the Full Governing Body, highlighting any significant variances.
- To evaluate any virement recommendations and report to the Full Governing Body.
- Analyse and report on tenders for contract services.
- To keep in-school financial procedures under review and to sign the annual statement of internal control (SIC).
- To benchmark school financial performance against similar schools and report to the Full Governing Body.
- To evaluate and present to the Full Governing Body proposed expenditure following recommendations from the Headteacher.
- To ensure that the school has, or is working towards achievement of the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).
- To ensure that all spending provides ‘Value for money’ in terms of raising standards in education and to sign the annual Best Value Statement.
- To monitor and evaluate the management of the Voluntary Fund and to receive the audited accounts.
- To monitor the expenditure of any extended services provided against pupil achievement.
Personnel
- To draft and keep under review the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher.
- To establish a Salary Policy for all categories of staff and to be responsible for its review.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To establish and review a Performance Management policy for all staff except the Headteacher, whom will be reviewed by the Headteacher Performance Management team.
- To oversee the process leading to staff reductions and report to the Full Governing Body.
- To keep under review the staff work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.
Admissions
- To monitor pupil numbers and report to the full governing body.
Premises and Insurance
- To seek advice from the LA, diocese or trustees, where appropriate to ensure adequate levels of buildings insurance and personal liability.
- To monitor and evaluate the implementation of the school buildings strategy.
- To monitor and evaluate the maintenance plan.
Health & Safety
- To monitor and evaluate the Health & Safety Policy.
Membership
- The Resources Committee shall consist of not fewer than four governors plus the Headteacher and the Chair of Governors whom have ex-officio posts. All these persons shall have voting rights.
- Membership will be confirmed at the first meeting of the Governing Body in the academic year.
- Representatives of governors serving on the Resources Committee will be made with respect to the skills matrix of the Full Governing Body overall.
- The Committee may appoint such co-opted, non-voting members, as agreed by the Governing Body:
- Relevant school financial staff (e.g. Deputy Head, Finance Officer/Bursar and School Secretary).
- Elected members of staff.
- Other persons with particular expertise.
These members will serve in an advisory capacity and may include staff nominated by the Headteacher following consultation with the Committee but will not have voting rights.
- Other members of the Governing Body may attend meetings of the Resources Committee and may contribute to discussions on matters under consideration but do not have voting rights.
Quorum
- The quorum shall be half of the compliment of the Committee.
- The quorum must remain in place for each vote taken at the meeting, not just if the required number of governors were present at the start of the meeting.
Meetings
- The Committee shall meet three times in the school year and may meet at other times as may be required.
- The meeting dates for the forthcoming school year will be agreed in the current summer term and the Committee will be mindful of school reporting and regulatory dates in setting these meeting dates.
Chairmanship
- The Chair of the Committee shall be elected annually by the Committee at the first meeting of the academic year and should be a governor other than the Headteacher or Staff Governor.
The Teaching and Learning Committee
Terms of Reference and Standing Order for Teaching and Learning Committee
The Committee is expected to work within the following terms of reference with a focus on monitoring the School Plan.
General
- To undertake monitoring visits to the school.
- To make regular reports to the Full Governing Body.
- Meet at least 3 times each year at times to suit the schools planning and data annual timeframe.
- To approve relevant Teaching and Learning policies on behalf of Full Governing body.
- The Clerk to the Governing Body will normally clerk these meetings.
Curriculum
- To monitor curriculum policies.
- To monitor and evaluate progress against the curriculum and personnel targets of the School Improvement Plan.
- To monitor pupil achievement against targets.
- To monitor the performance data for the school.
- To meet with the lead professionals within the school to gain an understanding of the scope of the curriculum targets and the activities the school is conducting to achieve success.
- To undertake any training (in or out of school) necessary to enable effective monitoring of targets.
Target Setting
- Representatives of governors serving on the Teaching & Learning Committee will be made with respect to the skills matrix of the governing body overall.
- The Committee may appoint such co-opted, non-voting members, as agreed by the Governing Body:
- Relevant school financial staff (e.g. Deputy Head, Finance Officer/Bursar and School Secretary).
- Elected members of staff.
iii. Other persons with particular expertise.
These members will serve in an advisory capacity and may include staff nominated by the Headteacher following consultation with the Committee but will not have voting rights.
- Other members of the Governing Body may attend meetings of the Teaching & Learning Committee and may contribute to discussions on matters under consideration but do not have voting rights.
Quorum
- The quorum shall be half of the compliment of the Committee.
- The quorum must remain in place for each vote taken at the meeting, not just if the required number of governors were present at the start of the meeting.
Meetings
- The Committee shall meet three times in the school year and may meet at other times as may be required.
- The meeting dates for the forthcoming school year will be agreed in the current summer term and the Committee will be mindful of school reporting and regulatory dates in setting these meeting dates.
Chairmanship
- The Chair of the Committee shall be elected annually by the Committee at the first meeting of the academic year and should be a governor other than the Headteacher or Staff Governor.
Extended Services
- To monitor the impact of any extended services provided against pupil achievement.
Membership
- The Committee shall consist of not fewer than four governors plus the Head teacher and the Chair of Governors whom have ex-officio posts. All these persons shall have voting rights.
- Membership will be confirmed at the first meeting of the Governing Body in the academic year.
Updated: 28.04.21
Register of Business Interest
The following Governors have Registered Business Interests in relation to the School:
- Mr David Lea (Chair of governors)- Vice Chair at Repton Primary School
- Mr Jepps- Finn- staff governor
Governing Board Meeting Attendance
Full Governing Board | Full Governing Board | Full Governing Board | Full Governing Board | Personnel Committee | Finance Committee | Full Governing Board | Personnel Committee Meeting | Full Governing Board | Finance Committee | Full Governing Board | Full Governing Board | Full Governing Board | Full Governing Board | Teaching & Learning Committee | Resources Committee | Full Governing Board | ||
Governor | Governor Type | 09 Sep 2020 | 23 Sep 2020 | 30 Sep 2020 | 19 Oct 2020 | 21 Oct 2020 | 17 Nov 2020 | 25 Nov 2020 | 04 Dec 2020 | 09 Dec 2020 | 26 Jan 2021 | 01 Feb 2021 | 03 Feb 2021 | 24 Feb 2021 | 24 Mar 2021 | 28 Apr 2021 | 05 May 2021 | 19 May 2021 |
Ms Sam Adam | Associate Member | NS | Y | NS | Y | N | Y | Y | NS | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||
Mrs Caroline Allen | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
Mr Boualem Bouderba | Parent governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
Mrs Sue Butterworth | Partnership governor | Y | ||||||||||||||||
Ms Kelly Horsburgh | Co-opted governor | Y | ||||||||||||||||
Mr Matthew Howgego | Y | NS | NS | N | N | |||||||||||||
Mrs Glynn Hukins | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||||
Mr Thomas Jepps-Finn | Staff governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Mrs Jaclyn Kay | Associate Member | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Mr Michel La Rue | Local Authority Governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
Mr David Lea | Co-opted governor | ? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||||
Sharon Lewis | Headteacher | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Mrs Wendy May | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | |||||
Mr Phil Morgan-John | Associate Member | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | |||
Mrs Ann Morrin | Partnership governor | N | ||||||||||||||||
Mrs Fiona Roberts | Associate Member | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Mrs Rachel Sharman | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||
Carole Simpson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | ||||||||||
Mrs Carole Simpson | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||||
Mrs Claire Southen | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||
Mr Brian Sullivan | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
Mrs Ursula Wooding | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |