Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body of St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf
September 2015
In accordance with its legal obligations, the Governing Body of St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf endeavours to operate at a strategic
level, leaving the headteacher and the senior leaders responsible and accountable to it for the operational day to day running of the school.
The three core strategic functions of the Governing Body of St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf are :
1. Ensuring clarify 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.
Canon Law (Church law) also requires that Catholic schools are “…at least as academically distinguished as that in the other schools of the
area” and the Governing Body of St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf are mindful of this requirement in all that they do.
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
Governance
arrangements
The Governing Body of St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf is made up of 7 Foundation Governors, 3 Staff
Governors (including the Headteacher), 1 elected Parent Governor, 1 Local Authority Governor.
Foundation Governors are appointed by the Bishop of Leeds, not simply because of their particular skills, but, more
importantly, for the strict purpose of ensuring, on his behalf, the Catholic character of the school. Foundation
Governors are also under important legal duties to preserve and develop the school’s religious character. In order to
ensure that the school’s religious character is protected and that the school is being conducted in accordance with the
tenets of its religious designation, Governing Bodies of Catholic schools must always have a majority of Foundation
Governors.
The full Governing Body meets once each term, and we also have a number of committees to consider different
aspects of the school in detail. At St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf, we have 4 committees. We also have
committees that meet if required to consider pupil discipline and staffing matters.
A list of serving Governors is set out at Appendix 1
Teaching and Learning Committee
Objectives :




To review and monitor the quality of pupils’ learning and achievement
To ensure a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered
To review developments in the school’s curriculum
To ensure relevant policies are up to date
Finance, Property and General Purposes Committee
Objectives :




Review and monitor the financial performance against the school development plan
Submit the annual financial plan to the main Governing Body for approval
Review the production of statutory accounts
Review property maintenance and management (in conjunction with the Diocese of Leeds)
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
Human Resources Committee
Objectives :



Formulating, setting and approving personnel policies
Reviewing staff grading and salaries
Terms and conditions of employment including disciplinary procedures
Student Care Committee
Objectives :




To review safeguarding and pupil welfare
To monitor the quality of care
To monitor arrangements for the recording, storage and administering of medication
To formulate and monitor care policies
Premises, Grounds and Health and Safety
Objectives




Governors’ attendance
record
To monitor compliance with health and safety legislation and best practice
To formulate and review policies relating to health and safety
To monitor the maintenance and development of the premises
To monitor the maintenance and development of the grounds
Governors have excellent attendance at meetings. See Appendix 2 for details of individual governors’
attendance at meetings.
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
The work that we have
done on our Committees
and in the Governing Body
Over the past year, the Governing Body has focused on improving outcomes for our ever more varied
population. This included scrutinising pupil results and records of teaching and learning grades, discussing
strategies for behaviour management and keeping pupils safe. We discussed school policies which are to be
updated and then ratified by the Governing Body. We have also responded to the findings of our recent
OFSTED report in February 2015, focusing on work in the Early Years and Primary stage, and the
development of a method of assessing progress in personal development in residential pupils. We have also
agreed that Governors may attend any committee meetings as visitors to deepen knowledge of the work of
each committee. This has been a good training development opportunity. Governors have also attended a
day’s training on “A Framework for Governance” run by the NGA, and a number of Governors have completed
the online training about Radicalisation Awareness and our Clerk has passed the Clerk’s Development
Programme.
Governors are often in school, either to meet with different members of staff, as for the Headteacher’s
performance management, to participate in recruitment, and to participate in school events like the Christmas
or Easter liturgies – a real joy!
The Teaching and Learning Committee has discussed pupils’ progress in the Primary Department, both before
and after the OFSTED inspection. Governors were updated on the way in which provision and outcomes for
children in this phase have improved, with better use of outdoor space and good curriculum development. With
a continuing focus on pupils with multi-sensory impairment, the committee was updated on using Music and
Movement together with Touch to help these pupils learn.
The Behaviour for Learning Policy was reviewed and approved. The methods of Assessment and Monitoring
were updated, to be used in such work next year. The committee discussed the Policy for Sex and
Relationships educated and decided this needed to be updated, together with a more detailed scheme of work,
mapped across Departments.
The committee learnt that all pupils are doing well at all levels in English, with a new Head of department. The
committee explored why not all children achieved Good or Better progress and learnt that those pupils have
significant additional needs and are receiving additional support to help them make good progress.
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
The Premises, Grounds and Health and Safety Committee carried out a Health and Safety audit so as to put
forward areas for development. They reviewed and approved the 2015 Health and Safety Policy. They also
consulted with experts and implemented advice on risk assessments, including appointing an Educational Visits
Co-ordinator.
The Human Resources Committee has reviewed and significantly updated a number of policies including
Managing Sickness Absence and Leave of Absence. They have overseen the introduction of the new School
teachers Pay and Conditions framework and have reviewed the appraisal process for all staff. They have
approved a number of changes to the establishment including alterations to job descriptions, pay and grading for
some posts. Together with other Governors, they have participated in the recruitment process for the Head of
Care, Speech and Language Therapists, LSAs and an IT technician.
The Care committee have reviewed child protection records, as is good practice, and been informed of any
incidents and their outcomes. The Annual Residential Care Inspection was again successful. The Independent
Visitor completes one unannounced inspection every half term. Any child protection issues are reported to the
committee and new guidance and procedures for missing pupils have been considered and included in our
policies and procedures. The committee has worked on producing a new assessment framework for skills for
independent living, and agreed Pupils’ Care targets will be agreed and shared with parents. Members of this
committee are appointed as Safeguarding Governor, and Child Protection Governor. A comprehensive audit of
safeguarding has been completed and an action plan produced which is regularly monitored. An independent
external audit was also commissioned to ensure that the school continues to be at the forefront of developments
to keep all pupils safe.
Governors were updated on the work of the school Nurse and the changes which have been introduced since her
appointment. The Health, First Aid and Medicine policy was read and approved. The policy for Parent/Carer
complaints has also been discussed and updated.
The committee has carried out an inspection of the residential accommodation which has led to a number of
improvements to the showers, bedrooms and corridors being carried out in order to make the environment safer
and more homely.
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
The Finance and General Purposes Committee has overseen the school budget, closely monitoring anticipated
pupil numbers and the effect on the budget. The end of year draft accounts were presented to the Diocesan
Trustees by the Business Manager and the Chair of Governors. Best Value was always assured by the use of
tenders and quotations where applicable. Funds were made available by this committee once curriculum needs
were identified. The committee continues to manage the school’s property portfolio, with input from the diocese
as appropriate.
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.
Governors’ future plans for
the school
The Teaching and Learning committee will review the effectiveness of the Sex and Relationships policy and
scheme of work. It will continue to be updated on pupil progress.
The Care committee will monitor the effectiveness of assessment for independent living, and continue to maintain
an oversight of safeguarding.
The Human Resources committee will review the Staff Handbook and monitor the further development of the
appraisal process in particular to ensure that objective setting is increasingly informed by the school development
plan
The Premises, Grounds, and Health and Safety committee will review the systems for monitoring, maintaining
and improving the school environment, especially the Fire Risk Assessment.
The Finance and General Purpose committee will examine the school’s systems for predicting future income and
continue to get best value for the school from the property portfolio.
How you can contact the
Governing Body
We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents, carers and the wider school community.
Please contact the Chair of Governors, Mrs Anne Winfield chairofgovernors@bostonspa.org.uk
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
Appendix 1 – Governing Body of St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf
Governor
Category
Committee
Term of Office expiry date
Rev David Arblaster
Foundation Governor
Human Resources
Student Care
October 2018
Barbara Auty
(Vice Chair)
Foundation Governor
Human Resources
Student Care
September 2018
Sandra Barlow
Staff Governor
Teaching and Learning
January 2017
Ann Bradbury
(Headteacher)
Staff Governor
N/A
Fr John Carlisle
Foundation Governor
Human Resources
Student Care
Finance, Property and General Purpose
To be arranged
Terry Forbes
Foundation Governor
Finance, Property and General Purpose
September 2018
Marie Lynch
Foundation Governor
Teaching and Learning Committee
September 2018
Graham Myers
Foundation Governor
Finance, Property and General Purpose
June 2018
Geoff Riley
Parent Governor
October 2016
Jim Snowball
LEA Governor
Teaching and Learning
Premises, Grounds and Health and Safety
Premises, Grounds and Health and Safety
Steve Tausney
Staff Governor
Premises, Grounds and Health and Safety
October 2016
Anne Winfield
(Chair)
Foundation Governor
Finance, Property and General Purpose
Teaching and Learning
September 2018
February 2017
May 2017
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)
Appendix 2 – Governors Attendance Record for 2014/2015 academic year
Governor
Full Governing Body
Premises Grounds
and Health and Safety
Committee
Teaching and
Learning Committee
Finance, Property
and General
Purpose Committee
Human Resources
Student Care
Committee
Rev David Arblaster
Attended all meetings
N/A
N/A
Voluntary attendance
at meeting
Attended all meetings
Barbara Auty
(Vice Chair)
Attended 1 out of 3 meetings
(unable to attend due to change
of date of 1 meeting)
Attended 2 out of 3 meetings
N/A
N/A
N/A
Attended all meetings
N/A
Attended all meetings
Ann Bradbury
(Headteacher)
Attended all meetings
N/A
N/A
Voluntary attendance
at meeting
Attended all meetings
Voluntary attendance at
meeting
Attended all meetings
Fr John Carlisle
1 out of 3 meetings
N/A
Attended all meetings
N/A
N/A
Terry Forbes
Attended 2 out of 3 meetings
N/A
N/A
Attended all meetings
N/A
Marie Lynch
Appointed September 2015
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Graham Myers
Attended all meetings
Voluntary attendance at
meeting
N/A
Attended all meetings
N/A
Geoff Riley
Attended all meetings
Attended all meetings
N/A
N/A
Jim Snowball
Attended 2 out of 3 meetings
Attended all meetings
N/A
N/A
Steve Tausney
2 out of 3 meetings
Attended all meetings
Unable to attend
meetings
Voluntary attendance
at meeting
N/A
N/A
N/A
Anne Winfield (Chair)
Attended all meetings
N/A
Attended all meetings
Attended all meetings
Voluntary attendance at
meeting
Sandra Barlow
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Governance Statement (Updated September 2015)