Governors

Governors' Annual Report

Annual Statement of Key Issues Faced and Addressed by Governors

The Governing Board of Jarrow School works with the Head Teacher to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement. The Governing Board have prioritised the following key issues during the year. Our role is to provide the strategic direction of the School and to assist the Senior Team in continuing to improve the standards and quality of our provision.

1.    Safeguarding and Safety: This is our single most important duty. We have reviewed all our policies and procedures in this area. Attendance continues to be one of our key priorities.

Impact: We have a significant number of disadvantaged and vulnerable students and last year a nurture form class was introduced to work with year 7 students to improve attendance and ensure that disadvantaged students have the same opportunity to reach their academic potential as their peers. 

Outcomes were positive and in May 2019 at the point where students were reintegrated into mainstream form groups 100% of the students involved in this had improved attendance and were working at expected progress in all subject areas. Furthermore students were exceeding their expected progress in at least one subject area.

2.    Improving Outcomes for Students: We have challenged the Senior Team to continue to improve outcomes at both Key Stages by further improving the quality of education. We have monitored the progress of students and we have also monitored staff development and training.

Impact: Progress for students at Key Stage 3 has improved. We have challenged curriculum leaders to further review the curriculum across the school ensuring it is challenging, fulfils the needs of all individual learners and gives students the necessary skills, understanding and opportunities to successfully progress to the next stage of their lives.

3.    Further Improving Leadership and Management: We have reviewed the roles and responsibilities of all senior staff. 

Impact: There is increased accountability at all levels across the school leading to improved outcomes at Key Stage 3.

4.    Further Improving Transition Arrangements: We have further improved our transition arrangements and how the school is promoted to improve student numbers. Governors attended the School Open Evening and have also attended other events with the Senior Team to promote the School.

Impact: The school is now oversubscribed and numbers on roll have increased from 776 (September 2018) to 806 (September 2019).

5.    Responding to National Education Policy Reforms: Throughout the last academic year, there have been changes to national policies in education and other areas including the new Ofsted framework. Governors have ensured that the School meets all statutory requirements and are aware of the revised expectations of the new Ofsted framework.

Impact: Jarrow School meets its statutory requirements.

6.    Governor Monitoring and Evaluation: Governors are linked to particular subject areas and to specific themes (e.g. Special Educational Needs or Pupil Premium). Governors regularly visited the School and the areas they are linked to. As governors we talked to students and to staff and visited lessons. We also received reports about the work of the School. As governors, we also visited the school for occasions such as Harvest Festival, Remembrance, Awards and Parents’ Evenings and this gave us a more rounded perspective of how the School operates. These events also gave us further opportunities to speak to students, parents and staff.

Impact: Governors fully support the work of the School and are able to monitor and evaluate the school based on both primary and secondary evidence.

7.    Overseeing the Financial Performance of the School: Governors have worked with the School to ensure continued achievement of the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS). Governors also monitored how the Pupil Premium funding was being used We utilise regular budget monitoring reports to enable us to challenge how spending aligned with the School budget thus ensuring solvency and probity ensuring financial resources were used effectively. As a result of this we have been able to employ four additional members of teaching staff across the school.

Impact: The budget is managed effectively and financial resources are used appropriately.

8.    Holding the Senior Team to account: A critical part of the governors’ role is to support and challenge the Senior Team of the School. We did this through regular contact, visits, meetings and the work of our committees. There is a strong and robust relationship between Governors and the Senior Team.

Impact: Governors have a strong working knowledge of the School and alongside external quality assurance, have great confidence in the Senior Team. The School continues to be judged as ‘Good’ following a Section 8 inspection on 1 March 2017.

Composition of the Governing Board

• 2 parent governors
• 1 head teacher
• 1 staff governor
• 1 local authority governor
• 2 co-opted governors
• 8 foundation governors

 

Committees of the Governing Board

• Curriculum, Assessment and Learning
• Finance and Human Resources
• Performance Management and Pay Review
• School Community
• Ethics Panel – Pupil Disciplinary
• Complaints and Appeals

 

Chair of Governors

Mrs JA Stokes

Vice Chair of Governors

Mr IT Dalziel

 

Name	Appointing Body	Category	Term of Office	Committees	Official Responsibility	Financial Interest	Non-Financial Interest	Date Interest Registered
Mrs J A Stokes	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	01/04/2018 to 31/03/2022	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & HR School Community	Chair of Governing Board	Nil	Trustee of Jarrow School	15/03/2018
Mr I T Dalziel	Governing Body	Co-opted	02/07/2015 to 01/07/2019	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & HR School Community	Vice Chair of Governing Board Chair of Finance and HR Committee	Nil	Nil	10/05/2018
Mrs C Smith	Governing Body	Co-opted	02/07/2015 to 01/07/2019	School Community		Nil	Nil	17/05/2018
Mrs N Fraser	Jarrow School Trust	LEA	30/11/2015 to 29/11/2019	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning		Nil	Nil	28/06/2018
Vacancy	Jarrow School Trust	Parent				Nil
Ms B McCulla	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	10/12/2017 to 09/12/2021	Finance & HR School Community	Chair of School Community Committee	Employed by ST Catering Team	Catering Officer for Jarrow School Kitchen	02/08/2019
Mrs M Henderson	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	17/01/2018 to 16/01/2022	Finance & HR		Nil	Nil	24/01/2018
Mr K Smallcombe	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	04/11/2018 to 03/11/2022	School Community		Solicitor	Education Appeals committee	06/10/2016
Mr B Stonehouse	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	09/10/2018 to 08/10/2022			Nil	Nil	03/11/2018
Mr J Ali	Parent Body	Parent	15/03/2018 to 14/03/2022			Nil	Nil	28/06/2018
Miss J Gillies	By Virtue of Position	Head Teacher	01/01/2013	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & HR School Community		Head Teacher	Nil	01/02/2018
Mr M D Calder	Staff Body	School Staff	21/07/2016 to 20/07/2020	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning School Community		Teacher	Nil	28/03/2018
Mrs J Hogg	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	11/12/2015 to 10/12/2019	Finance & HR		Nil	Nil	16/05/2018
Mr M Adamson	Parent Body	Parent	09/10/2019 to 08/10/2023	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning		Nil	Nil	15/03/2018
Mrs J Barclay	Jarrow School Trust	Foundation	18/03/2016 to 17/03/2020			Nil	Nil	17/05/2018

 

Attendance 2018/19