Chapel Break Infant School

Governance Statement 2018 - 2019

What are School Governors and what do they do?

The School Governors are like a Board of Directors who have legal duties, powers, and responsibilities.  All governors serve for a term of four years. We are a ‘Critical Friend’ to the school, supporting its aims and values and helping it to strive and achieve the highest standards possible in all aspects of school life.

The 3 main roles of the Governing Body are:

Ensuring that the School has a clarity of Vision and strategic direction

To hold the Head Teacher to account for the school’s educational performance

To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure that its money is well and appropriately spent.

So how do the Governors do this at Chapel Break?

Meetings of the Full Governing Body are held at least once every half term where all aspects of the school are reviewed and discussed. Governors also regularly spend time at the school on an individual basis to both help with and monitor all aspects of daily school life.

We also have 3 Sub Committees who meet at least once a term:

The Finance & Personnel Committee’s main responsibility is to oversee the school budgets, staffing policies and matters relating to the buildings and grounds.

The Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee reviews the school’s curriculum to ensure that it meets the standards required, that the assessment processes in place are robust and effective and that all pupils, whatever their ability, make the required levels of progress and maximise their potential.

The Behaviour & Welfare Committee monitor and review such things as the Safeguarding of both Children and Staff, Health & Safety policy and the level and quality of extra curricular activities at the school.

The Governing Body is made up of:

• The Head teacher

• Parents (proposed and elected by other parents who have children at the school)

• An elected Member of Staff at the school

• A Local Authority Representative

• Co-Opted Community Representatives

What have the Governors achieved in 2018-19?

As part of the three main roles shown above, the Governors have been instrumental in working with the Head and staff on the following:

• Continuing to update the vision for the school and developing a five-year plan, taking into account changes that will be required moving forward

• Working with and continuing to build a network of similar thinking schools, both within Norfolk and across the country.

• Continuing to work with the Local authority to understand and plan the future school provision for Bowthorpe.

• Ensuring the school premises and equipment are fit for purpose

• Working with the Local Authority on a proactive approach to budgeting whilst ensuring that the School receive a green overall financial rating.

• Supporting the School as it, along with many other schools, lobby both Local and National Government for better school funding, particularly in terms of Special Educational Needs.

• Visiting the school regularly to monitor progress against the school’s improvement and development priorities.

What is the School’s Vision Statement and the underlying principles that support it?

Our vision is ‘To pioneer a warm-hearted hive of creativity, inspiring our community to love learning and thrive. To cultivate supportive partnerships that sustain excellence in learning.’

The underlying principles that support this vision are:

• ‘We are Partners’ • ‘We encourage and foster a happy and healthy lifestyle’

• ‘We are Participative’ • ‘We contribute to and embrace a high performance culture’

• ‘We are Curious’ • ‘We are Inclusive’

• ‘We are Pioneering’ • ‘We are all Learners’

• ‘We are Positive’

Who are the Governor’s at Chapel Break Infant School and how do I contact them? 

Chair of Governors: Kevin Hunn

Clerk to Governors: Jennie Reynolds

Chapel Break Infant School

Governing Board Attendance Record September 2018 to August 2019  

 If any parent / carer would like to contact the Governors, please telephone or leave a message with the school office.

Our school number is: 01603 749 550