Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
Governors Committee Structure
| Name | Representing | Committee | Term of Office | Business / Register of Interests * | Responsibilities | Relationships ** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon Trevor Pitt - Chair | LA Representative | School Committee Appeals (Chair) Finance Premises Grounds | 01/09/2015 - 21/05/2019 re appointed 22/05/2019 - 21/05/2023 | None | Looked After Children Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation English PSHE, PREVENT, British Values, RE, Equal Opportunities and Equal Objectives | None |
| Mr Robert Potts | Community Governor | School Committee First/Pay Review | 22/10/2015 - 21/10/2019 | None | Pupil Data (Analysis) Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation Maths, Pupil Premium (JAM) P.E. & Sports Premium | None |
| Mrs Lynn Cowans - Headteacher | Ex. Officio | School Committee Finance Premises Grounds | Headteacher | Head Teacher - all | None | |
| Ms Linda Halliday | Community Governor | School Committee Headteachers Performance (Chair) First/Pay Review (Chair) | 21/05/2016- 20/05/2020 | None | Vice Chair | None |
| Mr Mark Den Hollander | Parent Governor | School Committee; Appeals | 06/06/2016-05/06/2020 | None | Safeguarding Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation Maths, P.E. & Sports Premium | None |
| Mrs Bee Nightingale | Parent Governor | School Committee First/Pay Review Headteachers Performance | 26/05/2016-25/05/2020 | None | SEND, Creative Arts, Language and International Links | None |
| Miss Jayne Morgan | Parent Governor | School Committee First/Pay Review Headteachers Performance | 05/01/2017-04/01/2021 | None | Parent Governor | None |
| Mrs Jaqui Holloway | Community Governor | School Committee, Finance Premises Grounds Appeals | 16/02/2017- 15/02/21 | None | Community Governor | None |
| Mrs Hilary Currie | Parent Governor | School Committee Finance Premises Grounds (Chair) | 12/07/2017-11/07/2021 | None | Parent Governor | None |
| Mr Andy Houseman | Community Governor | School Committee Appeals | 31/10/2017-08/05/2019 | None | Community Governor | None |
| Mr Damian Hassan | Staff Governor | School Committee (Chair) Finance Premises Grounds | 08/05/2017-07/05/2021 | Deputy Head | Deputy Head, Pupil Voice | None |
| Mrs Laura Newby Higginbottom | Community Governor | School Committee Appeals | 07/05/2019-08.05.2023 | None | Community Governor | None |
* Relevant business interests of governors and details of any other educational establishments they governor
** Relationships between governors and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives
The Governors work in partnership with Headteacher, Staff, Parents and Local Education Authority to ensure that all pupils receive an education of the highest standard within a safe, happy and stimulating learning environment. Governing Body business is transacted through a programme of termly meetings, sub committee and, if necessary, special meetings of the full Governing Body. Governors are fully involved in the life of the school.
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Hamsterley Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the full document below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
How To Become A School Governor
If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.
Committee Governor Vacancy
Governor Vacancy Oct 2018
Governor’s News
The Governing Body can be contacted through the school number 01388 488279. Please read our Governors News.
Governor Policies
Governor Allowances Policy
Governors Code of Conduct Policy
Governor Attendance
Schools are now required to display a record of Governor’s attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
Record of Attendance 2019-2020
| Name | Meeting [add date] | Meeting [add date] | Meeting [add date] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon T Pitt - Chair | |||
| Mr A Houseman | |||
| Mr D Hassan | |||
| Mr R Potts | |||
| Mrs L Cowans - Headteacher | |||
| Ms L Halliday | |||
| Mrs B Nightingale | |||
| Mr M den Hollander | |||
| Miss A J Morgan | |||
| Mrs J Holloway | |||
| Mrs H Currie |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
School Committee
Chair: Damian Hassan
Terms of Reference
- Plan to raise standards of achievement and monitor the school’s performance.
- Monitor targets for achievement at FSP, Year 1 phonics, KS1 and KS2 and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Contribute to the monitoring of the School Improvement Plan and self evaluation of the school.
- Monitor, in general terms, the systems for teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
- Termly reports will be provided to the School Committee summarising school monitoring and evaluation (eg lesson observations, work scrutinies, tracking and learning walks).
- Monitor the provision of extra-curricular activities, including overnight stays provided to encourage recreation and social development.
- Ensure that Governors have access to training and information to support them in their roles.
- To establish and review a performance management policy for all staff.
Finance, Premises & Grounds Committee
Chair: Hilary Currie
Terms of Reference:
- In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
- To monitor income and expenditure, including virement decisions, significant anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the Governing Body.
- To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council and the requirements of the DfE Financial Management Standard for Schools.
- To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body.
- To annually review charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.
- To make decisions in respect of service level agreements.
- To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
- To prepare financial statements for inclusion in any reports to parents.
- To ensure as far as is practical that any Health and Safety (H&S) issues are appropriately funded in accordance with priorities.
- To ensure that Pay Review Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.
- Inspection/reporting repair and maintenance to Buildings & Grounds.
- Consider Improvements.
- Tendering procedures (proposals to be taken to Governing Body for agreement).
- Health & Safety issues, inspection report and action (including completion of annual risk assessment).
- Expenditure Proposals for submission to the Governing Body.
Meetings: termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with Oracle.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest. Associate Members may not vote.
First/Pay Review Committee
Chair: Linda Halliday
Terms of Reference
- To act in accordance with the Whole School Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body to include matters relating to: teaching and learning responsibility payments, SEN (Special Educational Needs) allowances, recruitment and retention payments, points for previous experience, bursaries, regradings.
- To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
- To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, eg disciplinary, grievance, ill health, Capability etc, where the Headteacher is the subject of the action.
- To make any decisions relating to a member of staff (other than the Headteacher) under the Personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (unless delegated to the Headteacher).
- Staffing Reductions.
- Parental Complaints.
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and wellbeing, including the monitoring of absence.
- To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on Personnel related expenditure.
Meetings: Autumn Term, plus as and when necessary.
Disqualifications: School Staff and Pecuniary Interest
Appeals Committee
Chair: Trevor Pitt
Terms of Reference:
- To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the Hearing/First Committee (or Headteacher if delegated).
- To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (eg disciplinary, pay review and Capability for teachers etc).
- To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
Meetings: as and when required. Must have no fewer members than the Hearing.
Disqualifications: Headteacher. Any Governor who was involved in the hearing. Spouse/partner.
Pupil Discipline Committee
- Exclusions (Fixed term)
Headteacher’s Performance Review Committee
Chair: Linda Halliday
Terms of Reference:
- To arrange to meet with the External Adviser (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.
- To decide with support from the EA or EDP whether the targets have been met and to set new targets annually.
- To monitor throughout the year the performance of the Headteacher against the targets.
- To make recommendations to the appropriate committee in respect of awards for the successful meeting of set targets.
Meetings: Autumn term, plus monitoring meetings.
Disqualifications: the Headteacher and staff.
Virement & Expenditure Levels
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £1,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £5,000 |
| Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | £5,000 | Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body. Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity. |
|
| Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity. | |||
NB Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations.
Staffing Matters
In matters of discipline and or capability, redundancy and the Ill Health for staff the delegation of the function is to the First/Pay Review Committee.
The conduct, capability, performance and discipline of staff matters when the Headteacher is the subject of any proceedings, is delegated to the Chair of the Governing Body.
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