Frequency of meetings

The full governing body meets six times per academic year, once every half-term.

The committees meet regularly throughout the year, usually once per term.

 

Composition

As per the Instrument of Government, Garden Suburb Infant & Junior Schools Governing Body has 19 governors.

The GB composition is as follows:

Two Parent Governors, one per school, elected by the parent community;

One Local Authority governor;

One Staff Governor representing both schools;

Two Head Teachers, one per school;

Thirteen co-opted governor places, including two co-opted governor places for teachers (one per school) and four co-opted governor places reserved for parents (two per school).

Governors have a four-year term.

 

Committee Structure & Terms of Reference Summary

To fulfil our responsibilities we have a Committee structure made of 2 committees. Committees are composed of 4 to 6 non-staff governors, the two Head Teachers and relevant staff.

Committee membership and Terms of Reference are ratified by the Governing Body every year.

Committees meet once per term. 

Committees are responsible for reviewing all relevant policy and ensuring that statutory requirements are fully met as per their Terms of Reference.

Committees responsibilities are detailed in the Terms of Reference for each committee but include responsibilities listed below.

 

Education Committee  

Governors have oversight of educational performance and the Education Committee is the main vehicle for their in-depth understanding of all aspects of how School ensures strong teaching and learning. 

The Committee will meet at least once a term to consider any issues within the broad areas of the agreed standing items. 

Standing Items 

The Governing Body has determined that the Education Committee will have the following standing items but keeps them under constant review: 

1. Pupils - performance, behaviour, attendance, SEND  
2. Teaching - quality, CPD, innovation 
3. Class-based staff – quality, recruitment and retention trends, attendance  
4. Curriculum  
5. Pupil premium strategy and spend 
6. SEF and SIP (educational aspects) 
7. Admissions 
8. It will be responsible for reviewing the following policies: admissions, healthcare & medicines, inclusion, behaviour 

Operations Committee 

Governors have oversight of organisational performance and the Operations Committee is the main vehicle for their in-depth understanding of all aspects of how School ensures efficient and sustainable finances and infrastructure. 

The Committee will meet at least once a term to consider any issues within the broad areas of the agreed standing items. It will often need to meet more than once a term to review and ratify budgets. 

Standing Items 

The Governing Body has determined that the Operations Committee will have the following standing items but keep them under constant review: 

1. Finance - budgeting, forecasting, performance, income development, specific spend approvals  
2. Premises - maintenance, development, safety  
3. Safeguarding - incident oversight, policy review, training oversight  
4. SEF and SIP (non-educational aspects)  
5. Leadership and non-teaching support staff - quality, recruitment and retention trends, CPD, attendance  
6. Systems performance - ICT, telecoms  
7. Promotion, reputation, outreach 
8. Staffing structure – regular reviews 
9. It will be responsible for reviewing the following policies: safeguarding, staff conduct, data protection, data retention, pay (via a subcommittee)