Our Governors
Welcome to Melbourne Primary School Governors' page. The most important thing about our school is the people in it. At Melbourne we are very proud of both our staff and the children and the way they contribute to the calm, positive and productive atmosphere that visitors always comment on.
We believe that children are happy at Melbourne and see our school as a place where they can achieve and succeed. The Local Governing Body (LGB) is a strong working group committed to the welfare of the school. It is responsible for the appointment of the Headteacher and in legal terms is the “responsible authority” with employer responsibility for all staff.
It currently comprises:
- Six trust-appointed governors
- One staff governor plus the Headteacher (ex officio)
- Two parent governors (elected by a ballot for which all parents and guardians are eligible to vote)
The Governing Body
Category of governor | Appointing body | Governor's name | Term of office | Committee Membership | Additional responsibilities |
Headteacher | In post by virtue of their office | Claire Fielding | 01/09/2018 | ||
Staff | Staff body | Jo Brosenitz | 12/10/2018-11/10/2022 | ||
Parent | Parent body | Joanna Whelan | 01/01/2018-31/08/2022 |
Staff Performance and Pay Committee |
Pupil Premium |
Parent | Parent body | Stuart Winchester | 01/01/2018-31/08/2022 |
Staff Performance and Pay - Pay Appeal Working Party |
Safeguarding |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board | Jane Henley | 01/01/2018-31/08/2022 |
Headteacher Performance Management Review Group Staff Performance and Pay Committee |
Chair of LGB SEN |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board | Eddy Dawson | 01/01/2018-31/08/2022 | Headteacher Performance Management Review Group | |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board | Martin Braidley | 01/01/2018-31/08/2022 |
Headteacher Performance Management Review Group Staff Performance and Pay Committee |
Joint Vice-Chair EYFS Assessment |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board |
Nicky Elvidge (Parent) |
01/01/2018-31/08/2022 |
Staff Performance and Pay - Pay Appeal Working Party |
School Council |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board | Paul Markham (Parent) | 01/01/2018-31/08/2022 | Health & Safety | |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board | Claire Holden (Parent) | 22/10/2018-21/10/2022 |
Staff Performance and Pay - Pay Appeal Working Party |
Website Compliance |
Trust-Appointed | LGB &Trust Board | Joseph Holland | 13/05/2019-12/05/2023 |
The Register of Business Interests is available to view here.
The LGB attendance record for 2018-19 is available to view here.
Governors meet twice every term for a full Local Governing Body meeting. Governors also sit on one or two committees which also meet regularly (eg Pay/Performance Review).
The most important quality we seek in a governor is the desire to make a difference to children’s lives through education. In addition to this, attributes that a make a good school governor include:
- A desire to help the local community
- An external perspective
- A willingness to change assumptions
- The time to get involved
- The ability to work as part of a team
What do governors do?
Among other responsibilities they:
- Set appropriate targets for pupil achievement
- Develop and review the School Improvement Plan
- Manage the school’s budget
- Review curriculum
- Act as a “critical friend” to Headteacher and other professionals
- Appoint Headteacher
- Establish and review performance management
- Manage legal duties e.g. to pupils with Special Educational Needs
- Self evaluate school’s strengths and weaknesses, prepare for Ofsted inspections and draw up action plan post Ofsted visit
- Hear exclusion and disciplinary appeals
- Governors do not get involved in the day to day operational aspects of school – this is the job of the Headteacher and her staff. Their role is more strategic and long term
Why does it matter?
According to Ofsted, “…where governance is good, standards of attainment are more likely to be higher than in other schools. The quality of teaching, the behaviour of the pupils, and leadership and management are also more likely to be good. Where governance is weak, schools are more likely to be less successful overall.”
'Governors have a wide range of skills and expertise to support the school’s work and do so effectively. They, too, are ambitious for the school and are confident in asking searching questions about the school’s performance, any proposed actions to make improvements and the impact of these actions to accelerate pupils’ progress. They are astute in recruiting high-calibre staff because they want the best for the school, and hold leaders to account effectively for the progress pupils make.' OFSTED October 2017
How might I become involved?
If you’d like to have an informal discussion about the possibility of becoming a Governor, do contact Jane Henley Chair of the Local Governing Body, via the school.
Governing Body Meeting Dates 2018 - 2019
|
Date |
Overall School Effectiveness Reports |
Cycle 1 |
2nd Oct 2018 |
Quality of Education |
Cycle 2 |
28th Nov 2018 |
Behaviour and Attitudes |
Cycle 3 |
29th Jan 2019 |
Personal Development |
Cycle 4 |
23rd Apr 2019 |
Leadership and Management |
Cycle 5 |
26th Jun 2019 |
Early Years |
Cycle 6 |
10th Jul 2019 |
|
Any issues concerning pupils at the school should, in the first instance, be discussed with the class teacher and thereafter with Mrs Fielding, the Headteacher. If you do not feel the matter has been resolved to your satisfaction, then you can write to Mrs Henley c/o the school.