Governors play a very active part in school life. The Governor role is varied, challenging and fulfilling, which needs a number of important skills to help Governors to discharge their statutory duties.
Governors provide support and challenge to the school to ensure the very best is achieved for the pupils and families that form the school community. Each Governor is assigned to subject areas. Literacy and Mathematics Subject Leaders meet with Designated Governors to discuss how their subject is being managed.
The Governing Body of Backworth Park Primary has a strong focus on its 3 core strategic functions:
The Governing Body is made up of Co-opted, Local Authority, Staff and Parent Governors. Full Governing Body meetings are held each Half Term. Governors are currently reviewing the Sub-Committee Structure for the school. Specific Sub-Committees are also convened as required, such as to investigate issues relating to disciplinary or complaints matters. Governors are invited to join staff for relevant training and also to join us for all assemblies, performances and special events.
Key Issues during 2017/18
· Raising Achievement
· New building
· Staffing requirements
Moving forward into 2018/19:
Ensuring improvements secured can now be embedded.
Supporting new staff in having strong continuous professional development opportunities.
Supporting school to continue the forward trend of school improvement.
Impact on School Improvement
· Moving into 2017/18, the Governors were aware that the school had been underperforming over time. They appointed an NLE as Headteacher and ensured that the school had a clear Action Plan for improvement which is an on-going, working document monitored half-termly by the Local Authority ensuring that all staff have appropriate opportunities to develop teaching and learning. The Governors took some decisive actions throughout 2017-18 such as:
· Appointment of NLE for 2.5 days each week as Headteacher to lead change
· Recruitment of a new teacher to create morning classes of pure year groups
· Health and Safety Audit with actions to be completed
· Purchase of a system to improve the recording and monitoring of all incidents related to protection and safeguarding of children
· Purchase of Accelerated Reader, an evidenced-based approach to reading, to secure reading improvements
· Purchase of four Interactive Televisions to support engagement in lessons
These actions resulted in school turning around the three year poor data trend to achieve improved data in all phases, much of which was well above national. This was a positive start for the physical movement into a new building in September 2018.
Governors are now moving forward with rigour and determination to ensure that school provides strong teaching and learning opportunities for all.
If you are interested in becoming a Governor at our school, please contact Mrs Holloway, Office Manager, on 0191 6434340 , to find out if there any current vacancies and to be given details of who to contact in Governor Services for further information. A variety of training is offered by the Local Authority.