GOVERNORS PORTAL

Our Governing Body

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

Governors are responsible for:

  • raising standards of academic achievement
  • recruitment of staff
  • representing the views of the local community
  • managing school budgets
  • promoting the values and ethos of our school.

Governors ask questions, gather information, act as critical friends and help to make decisions about our school.

Our Governors

Please follow the link to find further details about each Governor.

NameCategoryAppointing
Body
Term
of
Office
Starts
Term
of
Office
Ends
CommitteesResponsibilitiesDeclaration
of
Interests
Reverend Michael PeersFoundationEx Officio26/10/2006No end dateAppeals
Finance & Premises
HT’s Performance & Pay Review
Vice Chair
Worship Team
Married to Mrs Wendy Peers who runs Tea Club in school.
Mr Gareth AyreFoundationDiocese12/04/201630/03/2020Finance & Premises
First;
HT’s Performance & Pay Review
Chair
Pupil Premium
Maths
Parent of a child in school
Dr Steven BradleyFoundationDiocese04/10/201601/10/2020Finance & Premises
First
Mrs J FarreyFoundationDiocese26/04/201725/04/2021Appeals;
Finance & Premises;
HT’s Performance & Pay Review
Safeguarding
English
Parent of child in school
Mrs Jo CoxonFoundationDiocese10/06/201909/06/2023
Personnel & CurriculumHealth and Safety
P.E.
Mr Andrew ParkHeadteacherStaff01/09/2019ongoingPersonnel & Curriculum;
Finance & Premises;
First
Headteacher
Mrs Alison HilesLA RepresentativeLocal Authority24/04/201923/04/2023Appeals;
HT’s Performance & Pay Review;
Personnel & Curriculum
ScienceGrandparent of children in school.
Mrs Claire CowieParentParents
Parent of child in school
Heather WatkinsParentParents15/01/201825/01/2022First;
Personnel & Curriculum;
Parent of child in school
Mrs Alison JamesStaffStaff15/01/201827/01/2022

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.

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Esh CofE 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)

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
X  – Not a member of the committee

Record of Attendance 2020-2021

NameMeeting
[add date]
Meeting
[add date]
Meeting
[add date]
Mrs K Seed
Reverend M Peers
Dr S Bradley
Mrs J Farrey
Ms N Coia
Mrs J Coxon
Mr Chris Noon
Mr George M Sewell
Mr A Park
Mrs A Hiles
Miss R Hiles
Mr G Ayre
Mrs H Watkins
Mrs Alison James

Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.

Committee Terms of Reference

ESH CHURCH OF ENGLAND (AIDED) PRIMARY SCHOOL – No. 3406 COMMITTEES

Quorum for meetings to be 3 (except for Headteacher’s Performance Management & Pay Review, which is 2)
To be reviewed annually

Finance & Premises Committee

Chair: Rev M Peers
Terms of Reference/Areas of Responsibility

  • Consider all matters received from the LA relating to financial aspects
  • Receive actual share and agree a budget plan
  • Monitor and determine spending patterns and consider spending proposals from other committees
  • Consider and promote Income generation
  • Receive and consider budget proposals (from other committees)
  • Supplies Budget (delegate to Headteacher for report to Governors as appropriate)
  • Check the annual accounts of all voluntary funds held by the school (Friends of the School/Private School Fund etc.)
  • Ensure that buildings and the learning environment are maintained and fit for purpose
  • Oversee the use of the premises by outside users
  • Establish and keep under review an asset management/building development plan
  • Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan
  • Review of the School’s Website.

Meetings: 3 times a year plus other meetings to be held as and when necessary.

Personnel & Curriculum Committee

Chair: Miss R Hiles
Terms of Reference/Areas of Responsibility
Personnel

  • (Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher appointments will be subject to consideration by the full Governing Body and if the appointment is delegated to the Committee will need to be endorsed by the full Governing Body)
  • Supply cover and temporary posts#
  • When teaching and non teaching appointments are made by this committee, shortlisting for those appointments will also be by this committee #
  • To check that arrangements for staff appraisal are in place and are being developed
  • Consider staff Leave of Absence (only if necessary after delegation to Headteacher)
  • Staffing Structure (Budgetary implications submitted to Finance and/or Pay Review)
  • Staff disciplinary grievance and ill health matters in accordance with the procedure adopted by the Governing Body
  • Staff reductions (as the ‘first’ committee in accordance with the agreed procedure)
  • Parental Complaints
  • To make recommendations to the Governing Body and review the school’s curriculum statement and policies as required in the light of the LA curriculum statement and statutory obligations regarding the National Curriculum
  • In collaboration with the staff to provide information about how the curriculum is taught, evaluated and resourced
  • To review the policy and provision for sex education and to make recommendations where necessary
  • To review the policy and provision for collective worship and RE and to make recommendations where necessary
  • To monitor and review information about school performance and reporting to parents accordingly to statutory requirements
  • To contribute to the School Development Plan
  • Curriculum/performance review including target setting and monitoring mechanisms
  • Pupil Exclusions.

Meetings: 3 times a year
# delegated to Headteacher

Committees established in accordance with procedures relating to
“The Diocese of Durham, Board of Education, procedures accepted”

a) Staff Discipline and Grievance Matters (Diocesan procedures adopted 29.9.94 – Minute 4(b))
b) Whole School Pay Policy
c) Reducing the Staffing
d) Pupil Discipline Matters

Headteacher’s Performance Management & Pay Review Committee

(Quorum of 2)

CHAIR: Mr G Ayre
Terms of Reference:

  • To act in accordance with the Teachers’ 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 and bursaries.
  • To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
  • 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: Twice a year.
Disqualifications: the Headteacher and staff.

First Committee

Chair: Dr S Bradley
Terms of Reference:

  • To act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body.
  • To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
  • To make any decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, e.g. 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.

Meetings: to be held as and when required.

Appeals Committee

Chair: Mrs A Hiles
Terms of Reference:

  • To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the First/Pay Review Committee (or Headteacher if delegated).
  • To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (e.g. disciplinary, pay review, capability for teachers etc.)
  • To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.

Meetings: to be held as and when required.

Virement & Expenditure Limits

Virement LimitsExpenditure Limits
Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body£3,000Any items of expenditure up to£5,000
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors£10,000Above 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

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Link to school’s financial benchmarking service

https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/school/detail?urn=114251