Governing Body Remit
The purpose of the Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Its three core strategic functions are:
- 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;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Welcome message from Chair of Governors – Mr Bob Woods
Annual Governance Statement – 23/24
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
NGA Code of Conduct & Guidance 2021
Governor Diversity
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
- target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
- develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
- prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
- address potential ‘blind spots’ through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risk
Our Governors are drawn from the local area and provide a wide and varied level of experience. The group has a high level of educational experience, from nursery through to Primary school. This is complemented with others bringing experience from working outside of education. Experience is further helped by the age profile of governors ranging from 30-34 band through to the 65-69 band. All governors have a minimum degree level education.
Compared to Bishop Auckland demographics*, (noted in brackets) our board is made up of: 29% Male : 71% Female (48:52) with 50% (61%) describing themselves as Christian. We have a 100% ‘White’ ethnicity (97%)
*Data taken from UK Office for National Statistics (web) 2021
Governors Activity Log
Governors Activity Log – 2021-22
Governors Activity Log – 2022-23
Timetable for Governing Body meetings
| Term | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn | 23rd October 2023 |
| Spring | 18th March 2024 |
| Summer | 17th June 2024 |
| Autumn | 21st October 2024 |
Committee Meetings
| Committee | Term | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | Autumn | 23rd October 2023 |
| First Pay Review | Autumn | 18th October 2023 |
| Finance | Spring | 18th March 2024 |
| Finance | Summer | 17th June 2024 |
| First Pay Review | Autumn | 16th October 2024 |
| Finance | Autumn | 21st October 2024 |
Members of the Governing Body
| Type of Governor | Name |
|---|---|
| Co-opted | Mr R Woods (Chair) |
| Co-opted | Mrs Y Etherington |
| Co-opted | Miss J Bruce |
| Co-opted | Mrs L Jenkins |
| Staff | Mr T Cuthbertson (Headteacher) |
| Staff | Miss C Smith |
| Parent | Mrs B Corrigan |
| Parent | Miss K Tallentire |
| Parent | Mr A Soppitt (Vice Chair) |
| LA | Cllr C Hunt |
| Associate (has voting rights) | Mrs J Harnaman |
