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.

Impact: As a result of our robust procedures, and following support from our pastoral team, the vast majority of students now regularly attend school at least on a part time basis. A significant minority of students continue to be impacted with mental health issues and attendance will continue to be our key priority in the next academic year.

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 along with assessment procedures and we have also monitored staff development and training.

Impact: Progress for students at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 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. Assessment has been a key area for improvement throughout the year.

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. Following the announcement of the retirement of the current Head Teacher, governors successfully recruited and appointed a new Head Teacher to begin in the new academic year. 

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 fully met as far as possible. A new Head Teacher will begin with effect from 1 September 2024.

4. Further Improving Transition Arrangements: We have further improved our transition arrangements with open evenings, transition days and taster days taking place as frequently as possible at relevant times throughout the year. 

Impact: The school continues to be oversubscribed and numbers on roll have further increased to 855 (September 2024) from 847 (September 2023).

5. Responding to National Education Policy Reforms: Throughout the last academic year, there have been changes to national policies in education. Governors have ensured that the School meets all statutory requirements and are aware of the 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 did not take place. It is the aim that all governors will make at least two “link area” visits 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. 

Impact: The budget is managed effectively and financial resources are used appropriately. As a result of this, we have been able to employ additional members of teaching and support staff across the school. We have also been able to enhance the learning environment for our students in various curriculum areas across the school.

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’ under the Ofsted framework.

Composition of the Governing Board

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

Committees of the Governing Board

• Curriculum, Assessment and Learning
• Finance and Human Resources
• School Community
• Complaints and Appeals Panel

Chair of Governors

Mr M Adamson

Vice Chair of Governors

Mrs D Ewart

 

Name	Category	Appointing Body	Terms of Office	Committees	Official Responsibility
Mark Adamson	Foundation	Trust Board	10/12/2023 – 09/12/2027	Curriculum, Assessment and Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Chair Governing Board
Ian Dalziel	Co-opted	Governing Board	05/10/2023 – 04/10/2027	Curriculum, Assessment and Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community
Hayley Alcock	Foundation	Trust Board	20/06/2023 – 19/06/2027
Jason Ali	Foundation	Trust Board	11/10/2022 – 10/10/2026	Curriculum, Assessment and Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Chair of Finance & Human Resources
Denise Ewart	Foundation	Trust Board	05/02/2024 – 04/02/2028	Curriculum, Assessment and Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Vice Chair Governing Board Chair of Curriculum Assessment & Learning
Margaret Henderson	Foundation	Trust Board	17/01/2022 – 16/01/2026	Finance & Human Resources School Community
Julie Hogg	Foundation	Trust Board	10/12/2023 – 09/12/2027	School Community
Fay Scullion	Foundation	Trust Board	08/02/2022 – 07/02/2026	Curriculum, Assessment and Learning
Allyson Poole	Foundation	Trust Board	03/10/2023 – 02/10/2027
Miss Jill Gillies	Head Teacher	By virtue of position	01/01/2013 –	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & Human Resources
Bridget McCulla	LEA	Local Authority	26/07/2024 – 25/06/2028	Curriculum, Assessment & Learning Finance & Human Resources School Community	Chair School Community
Sara-Joy Brown	Parent	Parents	03/10/2022 – 02/10/2026	School Community
Vikki Lawlor	Parent	Parents	15/12/2023 – 14/12/2027
Dawn Lyon	Parent	Parents	11/12/2019 – 10/12/2023	School Community	TOO Ended 10/12/2023
Joseph Farthing	Staff	Staff	08/11/2021 - 07/11/2025		Left the school 01/05/2024
Kevin Garrick	Staff	Staff	01/05/2024 – 30/04/2028

 

Attendance 2023/24

 

 

Register of Governor Interests

Name	Position	Nature of Interest	Date Interest Registered	Date Interest Ceased	Notes
Mark Adamson	Foundation	Child in Year 11 Work for insurance company but different sector	09/05/2024
Hayley Alcock	Foundation	Nil	09/05/2024
Jason Ali	Foundation	Nil	09/05/2024
Denise Ewart	Foundation	Nil	20/06/2024
Margaret Henderson	Foundation	Nil	09/05/2024
Julie Hogg	Foundation	Nil	20/06/2024
Allyson Poole	Foundation	Nil	20/06/2024
Fay Scullion	Foundation	Nil
Miss Jill Gillies	Head Teacher	Nil	09/05/2024
Bridget McCulla	LEA	Catering contract for school meals	09/05/2024		Governor at Forest View Primary School
Ian Dalziel	Co-opted	Nil
Vikki Lawlor	Parent	Nil	09/05/2024
Sara-Joy Brown	Parent	Nil	09/05/2024		Chair of West Boldon Primary
Kevin Garrick	Staff	Nil

 Date of Review: 6^th September 2024

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