East Wickham Primary Academy Local Governing Body (LGB)

The Local Governing Body of each of the Academies is responsible for fulfilling the strategic and operational governance role in the conduct of the Academy.

Mission Statement

The governing body is the school’s accountable body. It is responsible for the conduct of the school and for promoting high standards. The governing body aims to ensure that children are attending a successful school, which provides them with a good education and supports their well-being.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher and The Kemnal Academy Trust. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school the Governing Body works in conjunction with the Headteacher to ensure the school functions well and meets the needs of the school community.

In summary; we support, challenge and behave as a critical friend to school.

Membership

We currently have 8 governors:

• 2 Headteachers
• 1 staff governor
• 2 parent governors
• 4 appointed governors

Chair of Governors: Mr M Jeffers, an appointed governor

Vice-Chair of Governors: Mr R Spillet,  an appointed governor

Chair of Resource Committee Mr R Spillett, an appointed governor

Please see the below for details of our current and recent LGB members. If you wish to contact governors, please do so via the school contact details. School email: office@ewp-tkat.org

Structure

The formal meetings of the governing body are as follows:

(1) Full Governing Body & Educational Standards Four meetings are held each academic year. All governors attend these meetings, together with additional individuals invited for specific agenda items as required. This is the core meeting for the governors and is where the Head Teacher, Senior Leadership Team, School Business Manager and any other relevant individuals present reports, data and proposals for review and discussion with governors.

(2) Resources Committee. This committee, as per the Scheme of Delegation for Academies 1.1.15, meets once each term and is attended by specific governors who elect to be part of this committee. Currently 6 of the 8 governors attend. The purpose of the meeting is to oversee the finances and resources of the school and to review and discuss all matters relating to the budget and capital expenditure.

Other committees may be set up by the Governing Body throughout the year should it be deemed necessary to have a specific group oversee a particular matter.

Why do schools need governors?

Every school has a governing body to represent the public in the running of schools. School governors bring perspectives from ordinary life and work with the staff and the Kemnal Academy Trust to help secure the best possible education for the children in the school. They have important responsibilities like managing the school budget, overseeing the curriculum and appointing staff.

What do governors do?

• Promote high standards of educational attainment
• Set targets for pupil achievement
• Take general responsibility for the conduct of the school
• Manage the school's budget, including deciding how many staff will work be employed and set their pay
• Make sure that the curriculum is balanced and broadly based, in particular that the National Curriculum and religious education are taught, and report on pupils' achievement in National Curriculum assessments and examination results.
• Participate in the appointment of senior staff (including appointing the head teacher) and regulate staff conduct and discipline; and
• Draw up an action plan after an inspection by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)

How do they do it?

• All governors attend a series of formal meetings with agreed agendas throughout the school year to discuss matters critical to the running and monitoring of the school
• Individual governors visit the school to meet with staff and pupils to discuss specific topics and report back on their findings through written visit reports
• Individual governors attend various classes to observe education in action and to speak with pupils about what they are learning, how they are learning and how they are progressing
• Meet with parents on an ad hoc basis to get feedback from them on the school and how their children are getting on
• Attend meetings with TKAT and / or other external parties to represent the school and discuss the approach and progress being made
• Act as an independent escalation point in the event of complaints or disputes