Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body of Barnham Broom C of E VA Primary School 

September 2021

In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the 3 core strategic functions of Barnham Broom C of E VA Primary School Governing Body are:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; 

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Governance arrangements 

The Governing Body of Barnham Broom C of E VA Primary School was reconstituted in February 2015 and is now made up of 2 staff Governors (including the Headteacher), 2 elected Parent Governors, 1 Local Authority Governor and 7 Foundation Governors. Foundation Governors are appointed to ensure that the school’s character (including religious character) is preserved and developed. The Bishop of Norwich appoints one Foundation Governor. The Norwich Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) appoints three Foundation Governors and three Foundation Governors are appointed by the Parochial Parish Council (PCC) of Barnham Broom SS Peter and Paul with Bickerston St Andrew.  In Voluntary Aided (VA) schools, there will always be a majority of Foundation Governors. 

The full Governing Body meets once each half term, and in the 2020-2021 school year we also had a number of committees to consider different aspects of the school in detail. At Barnham Broom C of E VA Primary School we have had a Resources Committee, which focuses on finance, premises and some personnel matters; a School Improvement & Development Committee, and a Christian Distinctiveness Group. 

See school website for a full list of Governors and their roles and responsibilities.

Attendance record of governors 

Governors have good attendance at meetings - see school website for details of individual governors’ attendance at meetings.

The work that we have done on our committees and in the governing body

The Governing Body has had a particularly busy year, focusing on 

• School improvement 

• Recruitment of staff

• Ensuring value for money

• Strengthening links with teaching staff

• The opening of the new Classroom

• Ensuring the gaps in learning, that have emerged during lockdown, are addressed

• Introducing and developing a blended learning offer in response to COVID lockdowns and self-isolation

• Meeting virtually under the Covid restrictions and continuing to support the school remotely.

The School Improvement & Development Committee (SIDC) has spent time considering the impact of the School Improvement and Development Plan (SIDP), the more focused half term ‘Rapid Improvement Plans’ to evaluate the main priorities and progress made as well as the cost implications.  The committee discussed key data including the results of pupil achievement and progress across the school each term, to monitor and evaluate progress.  The committee was kept informed and up to date with key groups and the progress that these groups were making.  Using internal data (there was no externally provided data for the results from the end of Key Stage assessments) the SIDC evaluated the outcomes for children and ensured that the priorities have fed into the SIDP. This helps us ensure that the school is on track to fulfil its ambitious targets for all pupils. We also focus on our “vulnerable groups” of children in particular, how the Pupil Premium and Sports Premium grants are being spent by the school, and what impact this has on the children’s outcomes.

The SIDC reviews policies pertaining to the curriculum,  safeguarding, SEN, pupil wellbeing, admissions, complaints, health and safety and equality

The Resources Committee looks at the maintenance and development of the school premises, and makes decisions about how the school should use the budget.  Towards the end of the Spring term, the Resources Committee approved the 2021/22, 3-year budget plan for the school and we can report that the school is in a tight but stable position financially despite all the government cuts and changes within school budgets regarding pay, pensions and SEN.

The Resources Committee has reviewed the policies pertaining to Pay, HR, GDPR. 

In total we have over 50 documents to analyse. Governors take an active interest in ensuring our pupils remain safe. Our safeguarding procedures are constantly under review and closely monitored to ensure this. Our Health and Safety Governor carries out an annual check and risk assessment of the premises with the Head Teacher.

Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are public documents – you can ask at the school office if you would like to see any of the minutes of our meetings.

Future plans for the Governors 

The Governing Body, along with the staff team, will be focussing on the following over the next academic year -

• Ensuring the gaps in learning that emerge following lockdown are addressed

• Monitoring the newly introduced Monster Phonics

• Raising attainment across the school in writing using ‘The Write Stuff’ approaches

• Monitoring the curriculum for depth, breadth and compliance.

• Planning the Library Refurbishment.

How you can contact the governing body

We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents – please contact the Chair of Governors, via the school office. You can see the full list of governors; their attendance at meetings; minutes of governing body meetings and more information about what we do, on the Governor’s page of the school website.