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Whinfield Primary School

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Home / Our School / Governing Body

Governing Body

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).

The Governing Body of Whinfield Primary School has a crucial role in helping to ensure that all of our children have the best learning and development opportunities possible in order to maximize their potential. They are encouraged to be the best that they can be.

​Our three core responsibilities are:

  • To hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
  • To ensure clarity of the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.
  • To oversee the financial performance of the school and ensure its money is well spent.

An additional key priority for us is Safeguarding and Child Protection which we oversee in line with the Department for Education’s guidance – “Keeping Children Safe in Education”. ​

The role of the Governing Body is, by definition, a strategic one for the ongoing development and improvement of the school. The day to day management and operational functions are delegated to the Senior Leadership Team. It should be noted therefore that the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school.

Our Governing Body has 5 committees who are responsible for  the following areas of school business.

  • Curriculum (Termly meetings)
  • Finance, Premises & Personnel (Termly meetings)
  • Pay Review (Annual meeting)
  • Head Teacher Performance Management (Annual meeting)
  • Appeals (Meet as required)

The Committees report back to the Full Governing Body twice each term.

Full details of delegated duties of committees can be found below.

Meet Our Governors

Chair of Governors
Claire Thorns
Vice Governor
Charlotte Harker
Parent Governor Tiffany Forster
Staff Governor
Andrea Graham (Year 2)

Helen Stewart, Co-Opted Governor
Co-opted Governor
Helen Stewart
Co-opted Governor
Councillor Andy Keir
Headteacher Governor
Shirley Welsh
Co-Opted Governor
Judith Vinton

NameRepresentingDate of AppointmentTerm
of
Office
Committee ResponsibilitiesRegister
of
Interests
Relationship
to
Staff
Claire ThornsChair of Governors06/05/202006/05/2020 -
05/05/2024
Finance & PersonnelNoneNone
Tiffany ForsterParent03/11/201603/11/2020 -
02/11/2024
Curriculum NoneNone
VacancyParent-
Vacancy Co-Opted
Helen StewartCo-opted01/06/202001/06/2020 - 31/05/2024CurriculumNoneNone
Councillor Andy KeirCo-opted 27/01/2021 27/01/2021 - 26/01/2025Finance & Personnel
Pay Review
Councillor DBC None
Charlotte HarkerVice Chair12/05/202112/05/2021 - 11/5/2025Finance & Personnel
Pay Review
Jane WilkinsonCo-opted29/04/202229/04/2022 -
29/04/2026
Finance
Judith VintonCo-Opted12/05/202112/05/2021 -
11/5/2025
Curriculum
Andrea GrahamStaff05/11/201804/11/2018 -
04/11/2022
CurriculumNoneStaff Member
Shirley WelshHeadteacher01/09/2012ex. officioFinance & Personnel
Curriculum
Pay Review
Director of Education
Village Academy Trust
(EVAT) (Registered no: 7748248)
Headteacher
Amanda McEwanLocal Authority Governor04/03/202204/03/2022 - 04/03/2026Curriculum

Recent Resignations

  • Christopher Johnson (Resigned 25/04/2022)
  • Suzanne Goldfinch (Resigned 1/2/2022)
  • Jason Malherbe-Smith (Resigned 10/7/2021)
  • Paula Horsford (Resigned 26/6/2021)
  • Philip Sinfield (Resigned 27/1/2021)
  • Stuart Collings (Resigned 19/06/2020)
  • Leanne Waite – (Resigned 6/05/ 2020)

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 Darlington Borough Council website School Governor section.  Our Governor vacancies are also advertised on the school newsletter.

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Governors have access to National Governors Association support, The Governors Handbook and a dedicated school email and online resource portal.  Whinfield Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for 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 documents below:

  • The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)

Governor Attendance

Schools are required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.

KEY
✓   – Attended meeting
A/A   – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N   – Did not attend
n/a  – Not a member of the committee

Record of Attendance 2021-2022

NameFull Governing Body
29/09/2021
Full Governing Body 24/11/2021Full Governing Body 26/01/2022Full Governing Body
16/03/2022
Full Governing Body
11/05/2022
Full Governing Body
29/06/2022
Tiffany Forster
✔A/A✔✔A/A
Suzanne Goldfinch✔A/A✔resigned with effect from 1st February 2022
Andrea Graham✔✔✔✔✔
Shirley Welsh✔✔✔✔✔
Claire Thorns ✔✔✔✔A/A
Helen Stewart✔✔A/AA/A✔
Andy KeirNNN✔✔
Charlotte Harker✔✔✔✔✔
Judith Vinton✔✔✔✔✔
Emma Calvert✔resigned with effect from 1st January 2022
Christopher Johnson✔A/AA/A✔resigned with effect from 25th April 2022
Jane WilkinsonA/A
Carol Haughton✔
Trisha Bittlestone✔✔✔
Amanda McEwan✔

Record of Attendance 2020-2021

NameFull
Governing
Body
30/9/2020
Full
Governing
Body
25/11/
2020
Full
Governing
Body
27/1/2021
Full
Governing
Body
8/3/2021
Full
Governing
Body
12/5/2021
Full
Governing
Body
07/07/2021
Councillor Jamie Bartch✔N✔✔✔N
Tiffany Forster
✔✔✔✔A/A✔
Suzanne Goldfinch✔✔✔✔✔✔
Andrea Graham✔✔✔✔✔N
Paula HorsfordA/AA/AA/AN✔✔
Jason Malherbe-Smith✔✔✔A/A✔✔
Shirley Welsh✔✔✔✔✔✔
Michelle Charlton
(associate member)
✔✔✔✔✔N
Claire Thorns ✔✔✔✔✔N
Helen Stewart✔A/A✔✔✔✔
Philip
Sinfield
✔✔resigned with effect from 27 January 2021
Andy Kierappointed with effect from 27 January 2021 ✔✔A/A✔
Charlotte Harkerappointed with effect from 12 May 2021✔✔
Judith Vintonappointed with effect from 12 May 2021✔✔

Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance here.


Governor Committee Structure & Terms of Reference

Governor are responsible for the strategic vision of the school . They manage these functions through delegated committees detailed below:

Finance, Premises & Personnel Committee

​Membership: The Committee will consist of a minimum of 4 governors. ​

2021-22 Membership:

  • Claire Thorns (Chair of Committee)
  • Charlotte Harker 
  • Andy Keir  
  • Jane Wilkinson  
  • Shirley Welsh  
  • Tricia Bittlestone  

Meeting: Termly

Finance functions

  • To provide guidance and assistance to the Head Teacher, Senior Management Team and governing body in all matters relating to budget setting and finance
  • To oversee the sound financial management of the school and ensure that the school’s funds are properly and prudently managed
  • To consider the budget plan, taking account of priorities in the School Development Plan, and recommend the first formal plan of the year to the full Governing Body for their approval
  • To receive regular reports on the school’s income and expenditure, ensure that expenditure is authorised in accordance with the school’s financial procedures and monitor performance against budget
  • To receive regular accounts for voluntary funds held by the school and monitor the performance of these funds
  • To examine any contracts and either approve or refer to the full governing body as appropriate
  • To ensure that audit recommendations are actioned
  • To establish a charging and remissions policy (N.B. the Head Teacher has delegated power to approve the charging and remissions policy for curriculum activities)
  • To approve and annually review the Pay Policy and ensure consultation is carried out with staff
  • To set up and approve a Governors’ Expenses Scheme

Premises functions

  • To ensure the school’s premises are maintained to a high standard
  • To receive regular reports on the state of the school’s property and buildings and approve any recommendations for work
  • To approve and review a maintenance plan
  • To contribute to and approve any capital bids for work that is outside the school’s annual revenue
  • To ensure that buildings insurance and personal liability insurance is in place, after seeking advice from the Local Authority

Miscellaneous

  • To appeal against LA directions to admit pupils

Personnel functions

  • To agree the staffing structure, following liaison with the Curriculum Committee
  • To approve and regularly review all procedures relating to the recruitment, selection and appointment of staff
  • To approve and regularly review all policies and procedures relating to human resources management (including, but not limited to, Equal Opportunities, Conditions of Service, Grievance Procedures, Capability Procedures, Disciplinary Procedures, Flexible Working Procedures, Leave of Absence, Human Rights, Health & Safety)
  • To approve the performance management policy and annually review the implementation of performance management arrangements
  • To receive reports from the Head Teacher on the dismissal or suspension of staff
  • To agree to end a suspension of any member of staff other than the Head Teacher
  • To approve dismissal / early retirement payments
  • To agree to staff leave of absence beyond Head Teacher’s delegated power

Curriculum Committee

Membership: The Committee will consist of a minimum of 4 governors.

2021-22 Membership:

  • Tiffany Forster (Chair of Committee)
  • Judith Vinton 
  • Andrea Graham 
  • Shirley Welsh 
  • Helen Stewart 
  • Amanda McEwan 

Meeting: Termly

Terms of Reference:

  • To agree or reject and regularly monitor the school’s curriculum policy
  • To receive regular reports on curriculum issues within the school
  • To ensure that the school is fulfilling its statutory responsibilities for delivery of the national curriculum and teaching hours
  • To approve the School Development Plan and regularly review progress against the identified priorities
  • To approve and regularly review all school policy statements relating to curriculum issues
  • To approve and review home-school agreements
  • To ensure that a ‘responsible person’ is appointed to discharge duties in respect of pupils with special needs
  • To receive reports from the Head Teacher on the delivery of extended services activities and ensure the school is fulfilling statutory requirements in relation to extended schools
  • To consider all permanent exclusions and fixed term exclusions totaling more than 15 days in a term and decide whether to uphold the exclusion or reinstate the pupil
  • To consider other fixed term exclusions in accordance with DCSF regulations
  • To monitor, review and make representation to the governing body on the school’s Behaviour and Pupil Discipline policies

Pay Review Committee

Membership: The Committee will consist of a minimum of 3 governors, including the Head Teacher but excluding staff governors

2021-22 Membership:

  • Claire Thorns 
  • Charlotte Harker 
  • Andy Keir  
  • Jane Wilkinson  
  • Shirley Welsh  
  • Tricia Bittlestone 

Meeting: Annually

Terms of Reference:

  • To annually review all staff salaries and, following consideration of the Head Teacher’s recommendations, approve any changes to teachers’ pay
  • To take discretionary pay decisions, including, but not limited to:

a. regrading
b. award of recruitment and retention points

  • To ensure all decisions are taken in accordance with relevant legislation, including the Race Relations, Sex Discrimination, Equal Pay, Disability Discrimination and Employment Regulations Acts, the Part-Time Workers Regulations and the Fixed Term Employees’ Regulations
  • To ensure that every qualified teacher is provided with a formal statement of their salary by no later than 31 October each year

Head Teacher Pay Review Committee

Membership: The Committee will consist of a minimum of 2 governors (staff governors, including the Head Teacher, cannot be appointed to:

2021-22 Membership:

  • Charlotte Harker
  • Claire Thorns

Meeting: Annually

Terms of Reference:

  • In conjunction with the School Improvement Partner, to annually review the Head Teacher’s performance against targets set the previous year
  • To approve any increase to the Head Teacher’s pay, based on the performance review
  • In conjunction with the School Improvement Partner, to set targets for the Head Teacher’s performance for the forthcoming year
  • To meet regularly with the Head Teacher to review progress against the targets

Committee A & B

Committee A (As Required)

Membership: The Committee will consist of 5 governors (the Head Teacher and staff governors cannot be appointed to this committee)

Any three governors (Chair to be appointed)

Meetings: As required

Terms of Reference:

  • To take decisions under the disciplinary, capability, redundancy, grievance and other related procedures where the Head Teacher is unable to do so because of prior involvement.
  • To act as the first stage of appeal to the Governing Body, in accordance with the school’s policies or where the Head Teacher is unable to hear appeals because of prior involvement.
  • To act as the Complaints Committee and hear parental complaints that have not been resolved at an earlier stage of the Complaints Procedure

Committee B (As required)

Membership: The Committee will consist of all members of the Governing Body not appointed to Committee A (excluding the Head Teacher and staff governors) To be appointed from the remainder of the governing body not involved in the original decision.

Meetings: As required

Terms of Reference:

  • To hear second stage appeals in accordance with the school’s policies. This includes, but is not limited to, appeals under the disciplinary, capability, redundancy, grievance and pay procedures

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Whinfield Primary School
Augusta Close
Darlington
DL1 3HT

Contact us:

Tel: 01325 240 499
Email: admin@whinfield.net

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