Meet the Governors

Governors

In the interests of transparency, all schools and academies should publish, including on their website, up to date details of the structure of the governing body and any committees, together with the names of their governors and their particular roles and responsibilities within that structure.  This information is required for each governor who has served at any point over the past 12 months.  They should also publish relevant business and pecuniary interests.  This information must be published in a readily accessible form which means that the information should be on a webpage without the need to download or open a separate document.

Schools and academies should also publish an annual statement setting out the key issues that have been faced and addressed by the governing body over the last year, including an assessment of the impact of the governing body on the school.

Publications of Governors Details and Register of Interests

North Tyneside – Wellfield Middle 2022/23

The Chair of the Governing Body is: Alex Giles

The Vice Chair of the Governing Body is: Lesley Griffin

The Governing Body’s structure and membership is outlined in the table below and within that structure it has the two committees: Business and Statutory and School Improvement.

There are currently vacancies on the Board.

Governors

Guidance for schools when completing the above:

The yellow sections can be populated by Governor Services. The green section is available for schools that buy into the Clerking SLA.

Governors are required to report direct and indirect interests on the school’s website a school should obtain the following information from governors:

Ownership or partnership of a company or organisation which may be used by the school to provide goods or services.
Goods or services they offer which may be used by the school.
Any close relationship they have to someone who satisfies either of the above.
Any close relationship they have to someone who is employed by the school or is within the governance structure.
Company directorships and/or charity trusteeships.
Details of any other establishments of which they are a governor, trustee or member.
Indirect interests where they might benefit by virtue of their relationship with a “connected person”. Any circumstances in which a person stands to benefit, even indirectly, is also an interest that must be recorded.

Re. Associate Members

As above, and the website should advise which committees they are a member of and what their voting rights are on those committees.

Please note, in accordance with the Governing Body’s Code of Conduct governors may be suspended for failing to provide the correct details.

Leavers

The following people have left:

Debbie Cottrell Co-opted 05/07/2017 – 04/07/2021

Andrew Clark Co-opted 05/07/2017 – 23/04/2023

Andrew Bairstow Foundation 08/11/2018 – 07/11/2022

David Darlington Parent 13/07/2018 – 12/07/2022

Peter Vesey Foundation 18/11/2018 – 17/11/2022

Lisa Cook Local Authority 24/03/2021 – 23/03/2023

Governing Board Governance Impact Statement 2020/2021

Wellfield Middle School has a Governing Board of 15 governors, comprising:

∙ Parent Governors x 2

∙ Foundation Governors x 2

∙ Co-opted Governors x 8

∙ Headteacher Governor

∙ Staff Governor

∙ Local Authority Governor

These governors bring a wide range of experience and skills. At our most recent Ofsted monitoring visit (February 2019), HMI found that:

Wellfield Middle School is a ‘Good’ school

The GB operates with a chair and one vice-chair. There are three separate chairs for the sub committees. Other governors take on the committee vice-chair and clerking roles, as part of our approach to building the capacity of the GB.

We have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

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, and the performance management of staff through support and challenge
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

In order to carry out this work we:

∙ work closely with the school staff team

∙ have six full Governing Board business meetings a year; two in each term, with an additional workshop to examine data in the Autumn term. Governors also participate in school self-evaluation meetings with staff.

∙ work on committees to which the Governing Board has delegated key areas of responsibility. These meet on a regular basis and report in writing to the full Governing Board.

∙ visit the school

∙ engage in appropriate training

• work on mentoring on an individual need, based on skill sets.

In the last year, we have:

Activity Outcomes/Impact pupils. 

Home Learning   

All students have continued to receive a broad curriculum, following Governors meetings to share ideas on PSHCE- additional resources proved helpful throughout the lockdown situation

Fulfilled all of our Safeguarding duties

All Statutory checks have been diligently carried out – including the SCR and annual local Authority Safeguarding Audit.  Governors have engaged in both whole –school training and specific governor sessions.

The Welfare report

This showed a positive impact the school had been having with pupils re home learning completion during the COVID Pandemic. A lot of work had also been completed to support vulnerable children.

Prepared and delivered joint reports with key staff covering areas such as safeguarding; SEN; Pupil premium and PE funding – these areas are evaluated for impact, to ensure that these resources are being effectively targeted and help pupils to progress and achieve.

Taken part in staff recruitment governors are involved across the range of staff appointments, as we believe that all staff are integral to the success of the school.  We are very clear that when we recruit, new staff must have the potential to take us to the next level.  Processes are robust.  This year we have made appointments to Year 5 and Year 6.

Governors have been involved with consultation with the Pay / Safeguarding Policy – having effective policies and procedures in place in accordance with guidance and compliance, continuing to promote the welfare of children.  The pay policy aims to maximise and assure the quality of teaching and learning at Wellfield taking into account any legal changes or changes in staffing structure which impacts pay decisions.

Set and monitored challenging targets for the Headteacher

Performance objective set and monitored/supported this year by Development partner.  Objectives are always linked to the school’s priorities and drive improvement.

New project Builds – Music Room/ Outdoor Pods / Pond area /Allotment

Both builds have created another area working – which has had a positive affect with regards to COVID.  The music room now accommodates a full class with all instruments.  The outdoor pods / Pond area has created an additional seating area for children during lunchtime.  Both areas are promoting the Wellness of children including the Allotment – when restrictions are lifted this will become an Enrichment club for children.

New workroom / staffroom refurbishment

Creating a separate working environment from the staffroom – promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Parent Engagement Award – LPPA

The achievement of this award has increased parent engagement and support with regards to learning and enrichment activities.  The school has embedded a sustainable working relationship between school and home.

Budget Management

Governors have helped to ensure that the school budget balances, whilst maximising resources available for the provision. In most years, there is a small surplus that governors ensure is spent to the benefit of our pupils. Last year we decided to commit £15k to school improvement. The school outturns have been increasing so further monies (which will be agreed in Budget monitoring meetings) will be committed to bring the outturn to 5% in each of the next two years to ensure whole school coverage.

Each year, the GB submits a document to the Local Authority by 31 January, showing that we meet the Schools Financial Values Standard (SFVS). This involves a process of self-assessment to ensure that all spending and budgeting decisions are based on prudent and careful housekeeping. It also assists us to ensure our resources are targeted on our identified priorities. The LA Auditor commented on this year’s submission:

“I have reviewed the content of your SFVS submission and can confirm that your comprehensive response comfortably shows enough detail to support each of the areas.” 

Governance Improvement Priorities for 2020/2021 

Due to the COVID Pandemic it was difficult to achieve the following – therefore these will continue to be key once Government guidelines are less restrictive.

Improve Engagement with Partners & Stakeholders.

Governors to be available and proactive at parent’s evenings.

Stronger links with FOG (PTA) to be established.

Increased attendance at school assemblies.

Greater interaction with School Council.

Parent Governor presence at Parents Forum meetings.

Finally we will Increase Governor Involvement in Quality Assurance Activities. All governors commit to at least one QA event across the academic year and restructuring FGB meetings to allow for more teaching and learning based activity.

Structure of the Governing Body and Committees 2023-2024

The Chair of the Governing Body is Mr A Giles and the Vice Chair of the Governing Body is Mrs L Griffin.

The Governing Body’s structure and membership is outlined in the table below and within that structure it has the following committees:

Key Leads SDP 2023/24

Child Protection & Safeguarding – Lesley Griffin

Curriculum – Caroline Kemp (Writing & Maths focus for 2023/24)

Wellbeing (Hub & Spoke) – Lesley Griffin & New School Governor TBC

Environment – Lesley Griffin & New School Governor TBC

Behaviour – Garry Milburn

Health & Safety – Alex Giles

SEND – Lesley Griffin & Fiona Ford

Finance/Pupil Premium – Ian Morton

Safer Recruitment – Lesley Griffin & Caroline Kemp

Policy Readers – Governing Body Members (through The School Bus Portal)

Assigned Governors 2023 – details to follow

School Development Plan 2023/2024

Details of the Wellfield Middle School 2023/2024 Development Plan to follow.

“ As a Governor I was proud of all the wonderful young people representing the school on a trip to Paris and Germany.  A number of the public commented on their good behaviour and manners.  For me the highlight was seeing their own personal development over the week in a number of ways including tolerance, care and respect for each other, daily sandwich making, overcoming a fear, managing money just to name a few. Overall it was seeing their confidence grow. ”