Annual Governance Statement

 Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Board of Barlborough Primary School

Updated January 2024

Barlborough Primary School aims to provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment where children are motivated to learn, are valued as individuals and encouraged to reach their full potential. This is personified in our school motto – “Aiming Higher – Together”

Governance Arrangements

The Governing Board of Barlborough Primary School was re-constituted with effect from September 2015 and should consist of the following members: -

• The Headteacher
• One staff governor (appointed by the staff at the school)
• Three parent governors (elected by the parents of the children)
• One local authority governor (proposed by the local education authority and approved by the Governing Board)
• Eight co-opted governors (appointed by the Governing Board)

The term of office for each governor is three years after which time they may stand for re-election.

The Full Governing Board meet once per half term (six times per academic year) in normal circumstances.

The full makeup of the Governing Board, including profiles, declarations of interest and governors attendance at meetings etc. can be found under the governors section of the school website.

Key Issues

Throughout the year, the governors have: -

• Undertaken safeguarding training and maintained this as a regular item on the agenda of each full governors meeting. It is recognised that this is not only a key issue within school but also in daily life. They continue to focus on safeguarding and keep this at the forefront of everything.

• Undertaken various on-line training modules to improve their knowledge of governance issues.
• Monitored closely the attainment levels of all pupils. 
• Looked closely at the school budget to ensure that we do not operate in a deficit and that we obtain value for money and that the school is properly resourced.
•  Attended school to speak with staff and pupils and to look at behaviour, anti-bullying and undertake classroom visits.  Governors complete a record of the visit, which is discussed at governor meetings.
• Reviewed school policies on a regular basis, to ensure that they are kept up to date and are relevant.
• Regularly, reviewed the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and the Self Evaluation Summary (SES).
• Each term the governors have been kept fully up to date with everything that goes on in the school by the headteacher who produces a very comprehensive report, which is circulated and discussed at meetings.
• Reviewed the effectiveness of governance and decided that reform was needed, this has now taken place. All governors are now involved in all aspects of governance and all decisions are made by the Full Governing Body and not by committees.
• Produced a newsletter which can be found on the website.

Benefits to the pupils and the school

• Being more aware of safeguarding issues ensures that governors and staff are vigilant to any potential problems.
• By careful monitoring of the performance of the pupils, the governors have a better understanding of the achievements of the pupils.  Also, by careful and targeted use of pupil premium the progress of disadvantaged children can be monitored and improved.  The sports funding is also used to encourage children to participate in sport, therefore improving their health and life chances.
• By regular attendance at the school, governors get a better understanding of the daily life in school and are able to foster positive relationships with the pupils, staff and parents.

Future Plans for the Governing Board

We still have some vacancies and we are currently seeking to fill these. 

Our plans for 2023 - 2024 are to: -

• Continue to develop the skills of the Governing Board through attendance on training courses and feedback at governor meetings.
• Focus on safeguarding and related issues.
• Continue to encourage more governors, to attend school and further build relationships with parents and pupils.  Each class in school has an allocated governor and it is hoped a working relationship will develop over the academic year.
• Listen to the voice of the pupils and parents by undertaking and analysing annual surveys.
• Ensure the Governing Board runs at capacity and that new governors are fully integrated into the Governing Board.
• Support the school with identified school improvement priorities for 2023-2024.
• Ensure that the governors are up to date on what they need to know so that the school is ready for an Ofsted inspection.

Contact Details

The Governing Board welcomes any feedback, suggestions and ideas from any parent or carer.  Should you wish to contact the Chair of Governors this can be done via the school office or by email to: - asinclaircofg@barlborough.derbyshire.sch.uk

Summary

All the governors serve in order to try to improve the school experience for the children and the staff and to represent the views of the parents. They put in a huge amount of time to support the school and all this work is undertaken on a voluntary basis. We do our best to take a balanced view of the school generally and to work with the Senior Leadership Team where we perceive there to be any shortcomings. Our job is to challenge the school on its systems and performance and also to act as a critical friend to help it move forward to become an outstanding school.