Introduction to the Governing Body

The Governors at Harestock School are committed to school improvement. We work closely, and in partnership, with the Head teacher and senior leadership team to ensure that every child in the school has the best possible education and skills for life.

We meet once every half term as a Full Board and also meet in committees below is a link outlining the dates for these meetings. The main committees are currently: Finance and Resources, Staffing, and Learning & Standards. Once minutes have been approved by the Full Board or relevant Subcommittee at their  next meeting, they are available for you to read by asking at the school office.

This “Governors” page is designed to:

1. keep you up to date and provide an overview of our current work;
2. let you know who we are , how we are structured and organise our work in order to carry out our role;
3. summarise the role of the Governing Body;
4. provide the required statutory information about the Governing Body; and
5. provide you with information about applying to become a Governor.

If you have any questions, are interested in becoming a governor, or have skills which you would be willing to offer to the Governing Body, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can leave a note at the school office or email us: chairofgovernors@harestock.co.uk

There is more about the role of the Governing Body, and Governors, further on in this web page.

Statutory Governor information is set out at the end of this webpage.

We aim to send out a Governors’ newsletter at least once a year to provide an update as to the activities of the governing body and its plans for the year.

We are also looking for additional ways to make sure that we keep you up to date with our work and seek your input – if you have ideas please contact us using chairofgovernors@harestock.co.uk.

Recent work of the Governing Body

The Governing Body has a full programme strategic development work, meetings (Full Governing Body and Subcommittees), formal visits to the school and training.

Thinking about becoming a Governor?

A copy of our current advertisement is below so if you are interested and either possess the skills and experience we need, or are willing and able to develop those skills (or perhaps you know someone who does), and would like to make a difference to the development of our children, then please click here for more information or contact us via chairofgovernors@harestock.co.uk for more information.

Governors wanted Harestock Primary School currently has a vacancy for a Parent Governor. We are particularly looking for governors with any of the following skills or experience (in priority order): ▪          Facilities management ▪          Financial planning / management ▪          Marketing ▪          Knowledge of primary curriculum The following are also important to the role: you must be committed to developing and safeguarding our children you must not be disqualified from being a governor want to help us achieve our Mission Aims and Vision have the time to commit to becoming a Governor knowledge of the school curriculum is helpful, but taking an interest and willingness to undergo training is more important; governors may live locally or outside of the Harestock catchment area; able to work in a team.

The role of the Governing Body

The Governing Body is responsible for directing the conduct of the school. Its obligations are set out in various Acts of Parliament, Regulations and Guidance and, in particular, the Education Act 2002 provides that:

“The governing body shall conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school.”

and that the core functions of the Governing Body are:

• Ensuring that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
• Ensuring the HT performs his/her responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
• Ensuring the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources.

In carrying out its duties, the Governing Body must:

• act with integrity, objectivity and honesty
• act in the best interests of the school
• be open about, and prepared to explain, about the decisions we make and the actions we take

More information about being a governor, including the eligibility requirements, is available from http://www3.hants.gov.uk/education/governors/governors-govrecruit.htm.

How we are organised at Harestock Primary School

A Governing Body is required to be a size appropriate for, and have the skills and experience necessary to enable the Governing Body to carry out its functions. As a Governing Body, the Harestock Governing Body is organised like this:

Full Governing Body

Some of the work of the Full Governing Body is delegated to the following Subcommittees:

• Learning & Standards
• Finance & Resources
• Staffing
• Pay Review Committee
• HT Performance Review Panel
• Complaints Panels (constituted as and when required)

The terms of reference for each sub-committee can be viewed by clicking the links below:

 

Contacting us

We would very much like to hear from you about general improvements and policy matters. You can contact us by email (chairofgovernors@harestock.co.uk), by leaving a message with the school office, putting a note in your child’s book bag or catch a parent governor or Chair of Governors in the playground in the morning.

 

STATUTORY INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPOSITION AND ATTENDANCE PERCENTAGES OF THE GOVERNING BODY

Harestock Primary School

Governors’ Details

Name	Category	Appointed	Term of Office (no. of years & end date)		Committee Membership (all attend FGB meetings)	Responsibilities
Linda Gregory	Co-opted	24.11.14	4	November 2022	Pay	Chair of Governors, Forum Rep
Sue Bignell	Local Authority	01.05.17	4	30.4.2021	Pay	SEN Governor
Kelsie Learney	Co-opted	24.11.14	4	November 2022	Pay, HT Performance Management	Vice-Chair of FGB, HT Performance Management (HTPM)
Ross Mardle	Co-opted	24.11.14	4	November 2022	HT Performance Management	Resources Lead Governor
Alistair Scott	Co-opted	28.8.15	4	27.8.19	HT Performance Management	Learning & Standards Lead Governor, Chair of HTPM
Miranda Woolfenden	Co-opted	24.11.14	4	November 2022	Pay	Vice-Chair of FGB, Staff & Welfare Lead Governor, Development & Training Governor
Derek Rutherford	Co-opted	27.6.16	4	Left November 2018	N/A	N/A
Eleanor Purdue	Parent (elected)	21.5.18	4	20.5.22		HT Performance Management, EAL and Safeguarding Governor
Jackie Sankey	HT
Adam Corbin	Parent (elected)	Autumn 2018	4	Left March 2019	N/A	N/A
Elizabeth Burville	Staff	3.4.19	4	2.4.23

Register of Governors’ Interests

Name	Name of Business Including: ·         governor elsewhere (please include school name) ·         related / married to member of staff (please include staff name) ·         employed at school	Nature of Business	Nature of Interest	Date of Appointment or Acquisition	Date of Cessation of Interest	Date of Entry
Linda Gregory	Nil Return					28.1.19
Sue Bignell	Nil Return					17.1.9
Kelsie Learney	Winchester City Council	Local Government	Councillor	2.5.16		5.3.19
Ross Mardle	Nil Return					25.1.19
Alistair Scott	Designs for Lighting Ltd	Lighting Design Consultancy	Framework contract with HCC as engineering consultant	2005		24.11.18
Miranda Woolfenden	Nil Return					28.11.18
Derek Rutherford
Eleanor Purdue	Nil return					28.1.19
Jackie Sankey	Employed at school		HT			18.10.18
Adam Corbin
Elizabeth Burville	Employed at School as School Finance Officer	HCC	Husband employed in HCC Property Services Dept	Sept 2000		26.9.18

Governor Attendance Record for the Academic Year 2018/2019 (as at 22.5.19)

(NB:  Committees ceased to run after 5^th March 2019)

	Full Governing Body				Learning & Standards Committee				Resources Committee
Remit	·         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; and ·         Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.				·         Pupil attainment ·         Special Education Needs and Disability ·         Pupil/Sports Premium ·         Behaviour ·         Quality of teaching, learning and assessment.				·         Finance, ·         Staffing/personnel ·         Health and safety ·         Buildings/grounds maintenance
Name	Number of meetings the governor should have attended for the year	Number of meetings attended as at 22.5.19	Attendance rate year to date         (%)	Number of meetings the governor should have attended		Number of meetings attended	Attendance rate              (%)	Number of meetings the governor should have attended		Number of meetings attended	Attendance rate           (%)
Linda Gregory	8	6	100	2		1	50	4		4	100
Sue Bignell	8	6	100	3		3	100	4		4	100
Kelsie Learney	8	2	33	0		0	n/a	4		3	75
Ross Mardle	8	3	50	0		0	n/a	4		4	100
Alistair Scott	8	4	67	3		3	100	0		0	n/a
Miranda Woolfenden	8	4	67	0		0	n/a	4		4	100
Derek Rutherford	2	2	100	2		2	100	2		2	100
Eleanor Purdue	8	6	100	3		1	33	0		0	n/a
Jackie Sankey	8	6	100	3		3	100	4		4	100
Adam Corbin	3	1	33	0		0	n/a	0		0	n/a
Elizabeth Burville	4	2	100	0		0	n/a	0		0	n/a