Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the Eden Learning Trust, a County Durham based multi-academy trust of which we are a founding member school. .
Governor Committee Structure
Click on each name for further information about our Governors. School and Governor Support can be contacted on: 0191 383 3000
| Name | Position | Representing | Term of Office | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katie Walsh | Co-opted | Co-opted | 09.12.22 | Appeals Every Child Matters (Chair) | Pupil Premium / disadvantaged students SEND | Learn Teach Develop | None |
| Mrs Laura Adamson | Parent Governor | Parent Governor | 16.06.23 | Finance & Resources First / Pay Review | Reading / Writing KS2 History Pupil Voice | None | None |
| Cllr Christine Potts | Co-opted | Co-opted | 11.02.23 | First/Pay Review Personnel Standards (Chair) Appeals | Community Maths KS2 British Values Rule of Law | LA Councillor | None |
| Mr Guy Somerville | Co-opted | Co-opted | 28.02.20 | Appeals Finance & Resources (Chair) Personnel First/Pay Review | Maths Pupil Premium / disadvantaged students Geography Eco-Club Music | Chair Chilton Energy/Eco Fund | None |
| Mrs Vicky Cornwell | Acting Deputy Headteacher | Teaching Representative | 06.03.20 | Every Child Matters | Deputy Headteacher Art Curriculum T&L | None | None |
| Mrs Elizabeth C Bruce (Chair) | Co-opted | Co-opted | 07.06.23 | Appeals (Chair) Personnel (Chair) Standards First/Pay Review | Chair of Governors EYFS Reading / Writing Rights Respecting SRE RE | None | None |
| Mrs Victoria Jones | Teaching Staff | Teaching Representative | 28.02.20 | Every Child Matters Standards (Chair) | SEND SMSC Reading/Writing Standards | None | None |
| C Dodsworth (Headteacher) | Headteacher | School | 01.09.23- | - | Headteacher | - | |
| A Laking | Co-opted | Co-opted | 24.03.23 | ||||
| Christine Clough | Co-opted | Co-opted | 24.03.23 | ||||
| Lisa McGee | Co-opted | Co-opted | 24.03.23 |
Declarations of Pecuniary & Personal Interests
| Name of Governor/ ULT Staff Member / Finance Team | Current Employer including position | Businesses (of which I am a partner or sole proprietor | Company directorships - details of all companies of which I am a trustee | Charity trusteeships - details of all companies of which I am a director | Membership of professional bodies, members organisations, public bodies or special interest groups of which I am a member and have a position of general control or management | Are you elected, cop-opted or appointed member of a Local Authority in Co Durham | Gifts or hospitality offered to you by external bodies while acting in your position as a Governor and whether this was declined or accepted in the last 12 months | Contracts offered by you for the supply of goods and/or services to the School/Trust | Any other conflict | Immediate family/close connections to you | Company directorships or trusteeships of family/close connections to you | Date form completed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOVERNORS | |||||||||||||||
| Mrs Elizabeth Bruce | Governor | n/a | None | Chilton Miners Welfare | None | Chilton Town Council | None | None | None | None | None | 10.05.21 | |||
| Mrs L Adamson | FBEC | n/a | None | None | None | No | None | None | employed by FBEC | None | None | 11.05.21 | |||
| Mr Guy Somerville | Self Employed | Digital Coyote | None | Chilton Green Energy Foundation CIC | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 19.05.21 | |||
| Ms A Laking | n/a | ||||||||||||||
| Mrs C Clough | Retired | n/a | None | None | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 12.05.21 | |||
| Mrs L McGee | n/a | ||||||||||||||
| Mrs C Dodsworth | Eden Learning Trust | No | None | None | NAHT | No | None | None | None | None | None | 29.04.21 | |||
| Mrs A Caine | Eden Learning Trust | No | None | None | NPQH | No | None | None | None | None | None | 27.04.21 | |||
| Mrs V Jones | Eden Learning Trust | None | None | None | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 10.05.21 | |||
| Mrs S Dickenson | Eden Learning Trust | None | None | None | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 08.04.21 | |||
| Mrs V Cornwell | Eden Learning Trust | None | None | None | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 18.03.21 | |||
| Mrs C Samways | Eden Learning Trust | None | None | None | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 18.03.21 | |||
| Mrs C Fitzgerald | Eden Learning Trust | None | None | None | No | No | None | None | None | None | None | 18.03.21 | |||
| Mr M Roberts | Eden Learning Trust | None | None | None | No | No | None | No | None | None | None | 13.04.21 | |||
| Mrs Katie Walsh | Governor | Learn Teach Develop | None | None | No | No | None | SLA for Emotional Well Being | None | None | None | 11.05.21 | |||
| Mrs Christine Potts | Governor |
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Chilton Academy 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.
- The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
- Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body (2018)
- Eden Learning Trust – Articles
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.
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 2021-2022
| Name | Meeting [add date] | Meeting [add date] | Meeting [add date] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs E C Bruce (Chair) | |||
| C Dodsworth (Headteacher) | |||
| Mrs A Caine (Deputy Headteacher) | |||
| Mrs V Jones | |||
| Mr L Adamson | |||
| Cllr C Potts | |||
| Mrs K Walsh | |||
| Mr G Somerville | |||
| Ms A Laking | |||
| Mrs C Clough | |||
| Ms L McGee | |||
| Mrs C Samways SBM |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
Finance & Resources Committee
CHAIR: Mr G Somerville
Terms of Reference:
- In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
- To establish and maintain an up to date 3 year financial plan.
- To monitor income and expenditure, including virement decisions, significant anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the Governing Body.
- To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standard.
- To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body.
- To annually review charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.
- To make decisions in respect of service level agreements.
- To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
- To prepare financial statements for inclusion in any reports to parents.
- To ensure as far as is practical that any Health and Safety (H&S) issues are appropriately funded in accordance with priorities.
- To ensure that Pay Review Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.
Finance Meetings: termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with Oracle.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest. Associate Members may not vote.
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £5,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £10,000 |
| Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | £10,000 | Above 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. | |||
NB: Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations.
Personnel Committee
CHAIR: Mrs E C Bruce
Terms of Reference:
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To establish and review an Appraisal Policy for all staff.
- To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.
- To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on Personnel-related expenditure.
- Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions.
- Complaints.
Personnel Meetings: Half Termly
Disqualifications: Pecuniary interest.
Delegation to the Headteacher
School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009.
Appointment:
- Permanent teaching staff posts and posts attracting a TLR payment
- Permanent support staff posts
- Temporary staff or supply.
Delegation to the Headteacher
Under the 2009 Staffing Regulations the Governing Body determines the extent to which it delegates to the Headteacher responsibility, up to and including initial dismissal decisions for school staff.
Dismissals: Not delegated to the Headteacher.
Discipline Meetings: as and when necessary.
Disqualifications: The Headteacher; the Chair
First / Pay Review Committee
CHAIR: Mr A Coultard
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, recruitment and retention payments, points for previous experience, bursaries.
- To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
- To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, eg 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
- Reducing the staffing.
Appeals Committee
CHAIR: Mrs E Bruce
Terms of Reference:
- To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the First/Pay Review Committee.
- To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (eg disciplinary, pay review, capability etc).
- To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
Every Child Matters Committee
ECM areas- Be Healthy – Staying Safe
CHAIR: Mrs K Walsh
Terms of Reference
- Ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements and review the schools H&S policy regularly.
- Ensuring that PE is taught as part of the school curriculum and monitoring the quality and adequacy of provision.
- Promoting an ethos that encourages participation in competitive sport both within the school and between schools.
- Monitoring nutritional standards within the school to include school meals, snack provision and food available during wrap-around provision.
- Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Equalities Act and that arrangements are made to ensure the policy is monitored and reviewed regularly. The policy is known to parents and carers.
- Consider developing a whole school drugs policy.
- Decide whether or not to provide sex and relationships education and consult parents. Agree the content and organisation of the school’s programme of sex and relationship education and notify parents of their right to withdraw their child.
- Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and how other personal qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told of their right to withdraw their child.
- Ensure the effective integration of children with SEN.
- Consider the provision of sex and drugs education. Secondary schools: ensure sex education is provided.
- Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
- Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
- Anti-Bullying and Behaviour Policies.
- 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.
- Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
- Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos.
- Ensure that the school has an effective school council. The Governing Body takes account of the school council in determining the way in which the school is conducted.
- Ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination.
- Ensure each child is able to reach their potential including the gifted and talented (differentiation).
Meetings: at least termly.
Disqualifications: conflict of interest, pecuniary interest.
Standards Committee
ECM areas- Enjoy and Achieve
Economic Wellbeing
CHAIR: Mrs V Jones
Terms of Reference:
- Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement (SSFA 1998).
- Set targets for achievement at KS1, KS2. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of policies on race, SEN, Looked After Children and Disability on pupils, parents and communities.
- Contribute to the development and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan and the SEF.
- Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide.
- Ensure that a report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to their parents/ guardians annually.
- Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs.
- Ensure the school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination.
- In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
- Monitor the provision of extra-curricular activities including overnight stays provided to encourage recreation and social development.
- Ensure the quality of education, teaching and learning (see Enjoy and Achieve re promoting high standards).
- Plan to raise standards of achievement and monitor the school’s performance.
- Consider out-of-hours provision (wrap around provision, study support, extended schools).
- Ensure that all pupils have access to careers advice.
- Ensure the school works well with its community, parents and other schools.
- Ensure the school meets the requirements of the SEN and relevant disability legislation.
- Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.
- Monitor the development of pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities.
- The school promotes inclusive policies that allow for the achievement of all pupils.
Meetings: At least termly.
Disqualifications: None.
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