Terms of Reference

Aspirations & Achievements – Terms of Reference  

Membership

The committee will have a membership of at least three governors plus the Headteacher or member of staff nominated by the Headteacher.

The Committee will elect a Chair from amongst its numbers on an annual basis.

Quorum for the committee will be three governors (NB the GB may decide that quorum is more than 3 governors but 3 is the statutory minimum.

Areas of Responsibility

  • Raise achievement for all pupils
  • Teaching & Learning Standards
  • Curriculum matches statutory requirements
  • Concerns & Complains are dealt with
  • Educational Visits / Outdoor Learning
  • Safeguarding
  • Pupil Behaviour
  • Attendance
  • Equality
  • Parental Engagement
  • Community Cohesion

Raising Attainment

  • Agree targets (statutory and non-statutory), for attainment and progress in consultation with the Headteacher.
  • Monitor progress towards these targets, especially any underperforming groups.
  • Monitor actions in school development plan.
  • Consider the schools’ analysis of all pupil’s achievement during the year, reading, writing, maths.
  • Monitor progress of Gifted & Talented, SEND pupils, Ethnic Minority, EAL, FSM, LAC pupils, boys/girls, vulnerable or previously under performing groups.
  • Explore pupil progress in foundation subjects and science by a rolling programme.

Teaching and Learning

  • Consider termly monitoring report on teaching and learning.
  • Consider SEF Section on the quality of teaching.
  • Consider termly tracking for all year groups and monitor against targets.

Curriculum

  • Review curriculum policy (including policies on sex and relationships education, RE and collective worship, PHSCE, EYFS) and revise in line with any new legislation or guidance.
  • To review the timings for the school day and lunchtime arrangements to ensure that they are appropriate and meet statutory requirements.
  • Devise a schedule for subject leaders to give short presentations on aspects of curriculum with the opportunity for discussion.
  • Ask Headteacher to demonstrate the school is meeting statutory requirement on curriculum, including Sex and Drugs Education, RE and collective worship, equalities and community cohesion.
  • Review the provision for SEND, EAL; G&T and any other underperforming group.
  • Consider report on pupil’s participation in extension and enrichment activities.
  • Review extended school’s actions and provision in relation to the local offer and receive a termly analysis of provision.

Concerns & Complaints

  • Consider and respond to concerns.

Educational Visits and Learning Outside the Classroom

  • Review the school’s policy on school visits and learning outside the classroom on a yearly basis.

Safeguarding

  • Check that the school has audited its safeguarding procedures using the latest LA audit and Ofsted Single Central Record.
  • Check that safeguarding policies and procedures are in place and statutory training has taken place including school visit policy.
  • Appoint link governor to monitor safeguarding practices.
  • Monitor the impact of the Safeguarding policy and e-safety policy.
  • Check that applicants / volunteers are vetted following appropriate procedures.
  • Check that the single central record list is accurate and updated regularly.
  • Confirm that a member of SMT is designated to take the lead on Safeguarding and work with other agencies.
  • A member of the committee and Headteacher complete the national accredited training course on safer recruitment.

Behaviour

  • Review regularly school behaviour and anti-bullying and exclusion policies.
  • Monitor the impact of the above including exclusion data and agree any further actions.
  • Commission a school survey of pupils’ and parental attitudes.
  • Review survey finding and agree action.
  • Consider school’s report on pupil’s voice.
  • Consult with the school council termly.
  • When appropriate, act as pupil discipline panel (excluding Headteacher).

Attendance

  • Check termly attendance reports including reports on persistent offenders.

Equalities

  • Ensure how equality of opportunity is embedded across the range of school policies and procedures.
  • A link governor for equalities.
  • Review the schools’ single Equality Policy to ensure that it complies with codes of practice and equalities legislation.
  • Review procedures under the above policies ensuring consistent and equitable application.
  • Respond to complaints regarding SEN and Equalities issues in accordance with school’s complaints procedure.

Parental Engagement

  • Check the schools Policy on engagement with parents and carers.
  • Check that every child receives a report of their achievement.
  • Approve an appropriate prospectus which fulfils all statutory requirements.
  • Prepare school profile which fulfils all statutory requirements.
  • Review schools’ procedures for communicating and engaging parents.
  • Review communication channels – including live channel and school website for parents, Considering home school planners, newsletters, curriculum and home learning information on transitions.

Community Cohesion

  • Consider school reports on community cohesion.
  • Review the school’s strategies for promoting interaction with the local/national and global community.
Business Resource & Wellbeing Terms of Reference  

Membership

The committee will have a membership of at least three governors plus the Headteacher or member of staff nominated by the Headteacher.

The Business Manager/Bursar officer has the right to attend BRW committee meetings to bring reports and advise the governors.

The committee will elect a Chair from amongst its number on an annual basis.

Quorum for the committee will be three governors (NB the GB may decide that quorum is more than 3 governors but 3 is that statutory minimum).

Areas of Responsibility

  • Set and Review Budget
  • Monitor the Budget
  • Ensure Compliance
  • Personnel
  • Wellbeing / Pastoral Care
  • Health and Safety
  • Premises

Set & Review the Budget

  • Ensure that the budget is re-profiled and confirmed, affordable and achievable.
  • Set and review 3-year budget planning forecast.
  • Approve recommendations of HT regarding staff salaries.
  • Consider requests to vire monies between budget headings.

Monitor the Budget

  • Monitor budget reports.
  • Audit the school fund.

Compliance

  • All decisions are informed by best value guidance.
  • Authorise expenditure in line with The Scheme of Financial Delegation.
  • Participate in staffing reviews and implement accordance to the school’s performance management and pay policy.
  • Oversee the preparation and implementation of contracts ensuring they meet all the current regulations and guidelines and make recommendations to FGB in line with LA guidance.
  • Approve expenditure, monitor expenditure.
  • Ensure finance is spent in areas that ensure pupil progress as outlined in the SIP.
  • Approve expenditure, monitor expenditure.  Receive reports on pupil progress related to spending.
  • To write and review the Internal Financial Procedures Manual for school staff and to ensure that this is adhered through regular audits.
  • Update FSVS in line with LA audit recommendations
  • Review annually the school policies on:
    • Charging and remissions
    • Curriculum
    • Extended schools charging
    • Lettings
    • Bad debt
    • Whistle blowing
    • Environmental development

Personnel

  • Review staffing structure annually in relation to SDP.
  • Consider termly updates on staffing and contract end dates.
  • Appoint a Governor to support the HT with appointments below SLT.
  • To delegate to the Headteacher the appointment of supply, part time and temporary teaching posts and support staff.
  • Annually review the school’s policies on:-
    • Staff Appraisal Policy
    • Pay Policy
    • Performance Management by 31st October
    • Pay increments
    • Pay panel decisions & appeals
  • To check that the performance management governors carry out the performance management of the Headteacher, supported by the SIP by 31st December.
  • Confirm that the schools’ CPD plan supports the SDP and training needs of staff, governors, and succession planning.
  • To maintain an up-to-date skills audit for governors.
  • Review policies and procedures on personnel issues
    • Secondment
    • Supply
    • Leave of absence
    • Staff discipline
    • Grievance
    • Capability
    • Performance Management
    • Pay Policy
    • Redundancy and early retirement
  • Delegate responsibility for grievance and disciplinary hearings to the Headteacher.
  • Hear grievance cases at first stage hearing, where appropriate.
  • Select panel to hear appeals from members of staff against dismissal (or other) decisions made by the Headteacher.
  • Draft and review, in consultation with staff and professional associations criteria for redundancy if required.


Wellbeing

  • Consider school’s report on nutritional standards (to include school meals, snacks, and food available during wrap around provision), and agree any further actions.
  • Check that pupils entitled to FSM have access to this provision.
  • Review the schools’ policy on healthy lifestyles.
  • Check that effective arrangements are in place for the identification and support of vulnerable pupils (including LAC and young carers) and strong partnerships with relevant agencies.
  • Monitor and review staff wellbeing, including head teacher’s

Health & Safety

  • Review school’s health and safety policy to ensure it is in line with LA and national current guidance.
  • Check that school procedures and risk assessments are in line with policy and actions from yearly H&S audit.
  • Ensure that appropriate external technical professionals are consulted where necessary.

Premises

  • Use the LA Asset Management Plan to draw up/revise a school asset development plan.
  • To review strategy for spending Devolved Capital within context of the school asset development plan.
  • Conduct an inspection of premises and grounds.
  • Following the inspection above the bursar will prepare a statement of priorities of maintenance and development.
  • Present the statement to the full governing body.
  • Ensure that the school budget contains sufficient funds to address proactive and reactive maintenance.
  • Approve costs and arrangements for maintenance, repairs and redecoration with the budget allocation.
  • Ensure that appropriate liaison is made with the LA contracts and school organization section who have responsibility for school premises.
  • Develop and review policy for school security and monitor security implementation.
  • Approve costs of cleaning contract and monitors effectiveness.
  • Review service contracts on annual basis to monitor value for money.