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: As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a significant number of students with mental health issues who started the 2021-22 academic year unable to attend school. Following support from our pastoral team, by the end of the year, the vast majority of these students regularly attended school at least on a part time basis.

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: With the number of pupils at the school significantly increasing over the last few years we have reviewed the roles and responsibilities of senior staff and pastoral staff discussing and making changes where appropriate.

Impact: There is increased accountability at all levels across the school which will lead to improved outcomes. There is a revised pastoral structure in place alongside revised procedures to ensure the variety of needs displayed by our students is now more fully met.

4. Further Improving Transition Arrangements: We have further improved our transition arrangements with Open Evenings and transition days now taking place again following changes due to COVID-19. 

Impact: The school is now oversubscribed and numbers on roll have further increased to 833 (September 2022) from 808 (September 2021)

5. Responding to National Education Policy Reforms: Throughout the last academic year, there have been changes to national policies in education both short term changes dealing with the issues from COVID-19 and longer-term changes following the publication of the Schools White Paper. Governors have ensured that the School meets all statutory requirements and are aware of the revised expectations of the 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). This was reviewed in the autumn term however unfortunately this year, some of these visits were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is the aim that all governors will make at least one “link area” visit to the school during each school year.

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 additional members of teaching and support 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 5 inspection on 14 and 15 June 2022.

Composition of the Governing Board

• 2 Parent Governors
• 1 Head Teacher
• 1 Staff Governor
• 1 Local Authority Governor
• 1 Co-opted Governor
• 8 Foundation Governors

Committees of the Governing Board

• Curriculum, Assessment and Learning
• Finance and Human Resources
• Performance Management and Pay Review
• School Community
• Complaints and Appeals

Chair of Governors

Mr M Adamson

Vice Chair of Governors

Mr IT Dalziel

 

Name	Category	Appointing Body	Terms of Office	Committees	Official Responsibility
Ian Dalziel	Co-opted	Governing Board	02/07/2019 – 01/07/2023	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Vice Chair Governing Board Chair of Finance & Human Resources Chair of Curriculum Assessment & Learning
Mark Adamson	Foundation	Trust Board	11/12/2019 – 10/12/2023	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Chair of Governing Board
Sarah Alexander	Foundation	Trust Board	08/02/2022 – 07/02/2026
Dianne Cross	Foundation	Trust Board	24/05/2022 – 23/05/2026
Denise Ewart	Foundation	Trust Board	04/02/2020 – 03/02/2024	Curriculum, Assessment and Learning School Community
Margaret Henderson	Foundation	Trust Board	17/01/2018 – 16/01/2022 17/01/2022 – 16/01/2026	Finance & Human Resources School Community
Julie Hogg	Foundation	Trust Board	11/12/2019 – 10/12/2023	Finance & Human Resources School Community
Fay Scullion	Foundation	Trust Board	08/02/2022 – 07/02/2026
Brian Stonehouse	Foundation	Trust Board	09/10/2018 – 08/10/2022	School Community
Miss Jill Gillies	Head Teacher	By virtue of position	01/01/2013 –	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community
Bridget McCulla	LEA	Local Authority	27/07/2020 – 26/07/2024	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Chair School Community Committee
Dawn Lyon	Parent	Parents	11/12/2019 – 10/12/2023	School Community
Joseph Farthing	Staff	Staff	08/11/2021 - 07/11/2025
Jane Dunford	Foundation	Trust Board	14/10/2020 – 01/01/2022
Jason Ali	Parent	Parents	15/03/2018 – 14/03/2022
Kevin Smallcombe	Foundation	Trust Board	04/11/2018 – 24/04/2022

 

Attendance 2021/22

 

 

Register of Governor Interests

Name	Position	Nature of Interest	Date Interest Registered	Date Interest Ceased	Notes
Ian Dalziel	Co-opted	Nil	29/09/2022
Mark Adamson	Foundation	Nil	29/09/2022
Sarah Alexander	Foundation	Nil	29/09/2022
Dianne Cross	Foundation	Facilities Management: Human Resources	23/06/2022
Denise Ewart	Foundation	Nil	23/06/2022
Margaret Henderson	Foundation	Nil	23/06/2022
Julie Hogg	Foundation	Nil	29/09/2022
Fay Scullion	Foundation	Nil	23/06/2022
Brian Stonehouse	Foundation	Nil	23/06/2022
Miss Jill Gillies	Head Teacher	Nil	23/06/2022
Bridget McCulla	LEA	Catering Manager STC: we provide the service to the school	23/06/2022		Governor at Forest View Primary School
Dawn Lyon	Parent	Nil	29/09/2022
Joseph Farthing	Staff	Nil	23/06/2022

 Date of Next Review: 1 September 2023

A copy of the Governors Code of Conduct document is available in PDF format here.