Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body of
South Shields School 2017
The Governing Body of South Shields School lead the strategic direction of the school and work closely with the school leadership team.
Our Mission Statement
South Shields School endeavours to provide our students with a family away from home that supports and nurtures their development to unlock their academic and personal potential; which will in turn prepare them for leadership, community participation and lifelong fulfilment, in an ever changing world.
Through the work of the school, the Governing Body strive to promote our core values:
·Every child – no excuses - develop a growth mindset and grit in every student
·High expectations – traditional values of behaviour, attendance, punctuality, uniform standards and safety
·Lead learning – high engagement, high challenge, expert questioning, expert feedback
·No islands – leadership development programmes, opportunities beyond school, parental engagement
Instrument of Government
1. The name of the school is South Shields School.
2. The school is a community school.
3. The name of the Governing Body is “The Governing Body of South Shields School”
4. The Governing Body shall consist of:
a)3 parent governors
b)1 head teacher
c)1 staff governor
d)1 local authority governor
e)8 co-opted governors
5. Total number of Governors: 14
6. This Instrument of Government came into effect on1 September 2016.
7. This instrument was made by order of South Tyneside Local Authority on 1 September 2016.
Governance arrangements
The Governing Body of South Shields School have recently adopted a new committee structure to better focus its work on the school’s development priorities. There are five key sub-committees that consider and monitor different areas of school life.
The Governing Body regularly reviews its composition and during 2016/17 conducted a skills audit to identify any deficiencies in knowledge and experience in the Governing Body. The audit confirmed that the Governing Body comprised of governors with a broad range of skills, experience and community interestto adequately meet the demands of governing a school. The Governing Body currently has only one vacancy for a staff governor. As and when a vacancy arises, the Governing Body will try and appoint a governor who brings additional attributes to further strengthen the Governing Body.
Governors have excellent attendance at meetings and as a result there were no occasions in academic year 2016/17 when a meeting was cancelled because it was not ‘quorate’ (the number of Governors needed to ensure that legal decisions can be made).
Full Governing body
The full governing meets at least once each term, whilst there are occasions when school business demands additional
meetings.
Name / Designation / Appointed by / Date of appointment / Term of office expires / Specific roleMr Graham Fells / Co-opted / Governing Body / 02.06.2016 / 01.06.2020
Mrs Ellen Armstrong / Co-opted / Governing Body / 22.09.2015 / 21.09.2019 / Vice Chair
Chair of Safeguarding, Behaviour and Attendance Committee
Mr Shah Amin / Co-opted / Governing Body / 02.06.2016 / 01.06.2020 / Chair of Partnerships and Community Committee
Mr Andrew Hayday / Co-opted / Governing Body / 22.09.2015 / 21.09.2019 / Chair of Finance and Pupil Premium Committee
Mr Karl Jessen / Co-opted / Governing Body / 04.12.2015 / 03.12.2019
Ms Yvonne Baker / Co-opted / Governing Body / 04.12.2015 / 03.12.2019
Mr Bill Brady / LEA / Local Authority / 27.08.2015 / 26.08.2019
Mrs Gillian Moore / Co-opted / Governing Body / 22.09.2015 / 21.09.2019 / Chair
Chair of Outcomes for Students and Curriculum Committee
Mrs Maggie Burns / Co-opted / Governing Body / 13.12.2016 / 12.12.2020
Ms Allie Denholm / Head Teacher / By virtue of position / 01-09-2015
Mrs Pamela Elliott / Parent / Parents / 09.12.2015 / 08.12.2019
Mr Mo Abuzahra / Parent / Parents / 30.11.2016 / 29.11.2020
Mrs Gill Perry / Parent / Parents / 19.12.2013 / 18.12.2017 / Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee
Sub Committee Information
In addition to full governing body meetings each governor may also sit on one or more sub committees. Governors are selected for sub committees based upon their skills, experience and interest in the work of the sub committee.
Name / Finance and Pupil Premium Committee / Partnerships and Community Committee / Teaching and Learning Committee / SafeguardingBehaviour and Attendance Committee / Outcomes for Students and Curriculum CommitteeMr Graham Fells / /
Mrs Ellen Armstrong / / Chair
Mr Shah Amin / Chair /
Mr Andrew Hayday / Chair /
Mr Karl Jessen / /
Ms Yvonne Baker / /
Mr Bill Brady /
Mrs Gillian Moore / / / Chair
Ms Allie Denholm / / / / /
Mrs Pamela Elliott /
Mrs Gill Perry / Chair /
Mr Mo Abuzahra / /
Mrs Maggie Burns /
Governor monitoring responsibilities
In addition to attendance at full Governing Body and sub committee meetings Governors also take responsibility todirectly monitor aspects of the work of the school or may be linked to a particular subject area. This may involve visiting the school and observing activities and listening to staff, students and parents to provide feedback to the full Governing Body.
The Governing Body are currently in the process of assigning specific responsibilities to governors for the 2017/18 academic year.
Register of Governors’ Interests
Name / Business/Pecuniary Interest / Material Interest / Governance roles in other educational settingsMr Graham Fells / None / None / None
Mrs Ellen Armstrong / None / None / None
Mr Shah Amin / Managing Director of Inspire Me North East Community Interest Company / None / None
Mr Andrew Hayday / None / None / Trust Governor – Discovery Academy
Trustee – Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade
Mr Karl Jessen / Associate member of staff / None / None
Ms Yvonne Baker / None / None
Mr Bill Brady / None / None / Chair of Governors – Forest View Primary School
Mrs Gillian Moore / None / None / None
Ms Allie Denholm / Headteacher / None / None
Mrs Pamela Elliott / None / None / None
Mr Mo Abuzahra / None / None / None
Mrs Gill Perry / None / None / None
Mrs Maggie Burns / None / None / None
Key Issues faced and addressed by the Governing Body 2016/17
The items listed below should not be considered an exhaustive list of issues that school governors have addressed in 2016/17 but rather are an indication of the range of challenges that the Governing Body have been involved with.
Strengthening of school leadership
Governors have worked alongside the new Headteacher to introduce a leadership and staffing structure that better serves the needs of the school, increases accountability at all levels and provides an environment for staff progression and development. The new staffing structure was in place for the beginning of the 2016/17 academic year and has been embedded during the academic year.
Change of school uniform
Governors agreed to adopt a new school uniform for students to reflect the increased aspirations and pride for our students. The uniform was developed in consultation with students, staff and parents and will be in place from September 2017.
School culture (Behaviour and Attendance)
Governors have continued to actively support the development of a positive school ethos by actively promoting the school’s mission statement. Governors have supported school leadership in enforcing the behaviour, attendance and punctuality strategy to ensure students come to school to engage in learning.
Ensuring high quality teaching and learning
Governors routinely monitored standards of teaching and learning across the school. In 2016/17, governors actively engaged with school leadership to provide quality assurance of student’s work.
Student academic progress
Each year governors aim to support and challenge the school to further improve student performance. Governors specifically focused upon the following areas;
·Improving the proportion of students achieving greater than expected progress in Maths and English.
·Improving the proportion of students achieving A*-C GCSE grades.
·Improving literacy skills throughout the school.
·Addressing in-school variation in the performance of identified subjects.
·Further improving the performance of disadvantaged students when compared against students nationally.
·Creating an environment of aspiration and high expectations.
Safeguarding and Safety
Governors believe that providing a safe and secure school is our single most important duty. We continuously review our policies and procedures to ensure we always safeguard and promote the welfare of the young people in our care.
Students’ Welfare
South Shields School endeavours to provide strong pastoral support to our students. The introduction and embedding of Place2Be to provide support for students and parents during challenging times was an integral feature of the services offered to our students.
Students’ Wider Experience
Governors believe that our school should provide a range of enrichment activities for our students that go beyond the academic curriculum. The school now supports the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.
South Shields School has been successful in becoming a centre for the Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force. This will provide an excellent opportunity for our students todevelop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance.
Transition arrangements
We have further improved our transition arrangements and how the school is promoted to our primary partners and local community to improve student numbers. Students from local primary schools are regular visitors to our school.We held a very successful school Open Evening to promote the school to Year 5 and 6 students.
Key Issues to be addressed by the Governing Body in 2017/18
The items listed below should not be considered an exhaustive list of issues that school governors will consider in 2017/18 but rather are a selection of items included in the college development plan and therefore a focus forconsideration.
School leadership and accountability
Governors will support the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure leadership and staffing within the school is effective and enables rapid and significant impact on school improvement.
School culture
Governors will promote the new school uniform and ensure uniform items can be purchased easily and at value for money. Governors will continue to support school leadership to develop a positive and respectful ethos within the school.
Ensuring high quality teaching and learning
Governors routinely monitor standards of teaching and learning across the school. It is this issue that governors see as an ongoing, and vitally important part of their work. The school has worked extremely hard to ensure that it is fully staffed with teachers in specialist areas ready for the start of the new academic year in September. At a time when many schools are finding it increasingly difficult to attract suitable applicants to vacancies across most curriculum areas and particularly Maths, Science and MFL, it is pleasing that South Shields has once again filled all vacancies with high quality teachers. The challenge for governors over the coming academic year is toensure consistency in teaching and learning is maintained throughout the school with a focus on helping teachers to teach better through a varied and targeted CPD programme. Support will be provided to those teachers who fall below the expected professional expectations. Governors will continue to link with subject leaders to gain an in depth understanding of the challenges faced by particular subject areas and monitor the impact of whole school initiatives on teaching and learning.
Student academic progress
Once again, ensuring all students, regardless of circumstances, make outstanding academic progress is an ongoing keyfocus for governors. Governors have analysed school data fully to identify and monitor specific areas for further improvement in 2017/18 and ensure directed and robust interventions are in place to for those students at risk of falling behind in academic progress. Governors are mindful that new, challenging GCSE specifications are being taught for the first time and the requirement for strong leadership, high quality teaching and secure monitoring standards are paramount.
Student aspirations will be raised by the introduction of a Careers Programme for all students across the school through which students will be able to access high quality careers advice along with inspirational experiences to inform their decision making.
Literacy standards
Further develop a consistent whole school literacy strategy and intervention programme to improve literacy standards of students generally and increase chronological reading ages.
Student Welfare
Governors understand the complex needsof some of our students. Governors are keen to embed the school’s key initiatives to support student welfare that were adopted in 2016/17.
Behaviour and attendance of all students will continue to be a key focus for governors.
Parent and Community Engagement
Governors will look to further improve communication and interaction with parents. Liaison with local primary schools will continue in 2017/18 to further build the reputation of South Shields School.
Contact details
If you would like to correspond with the Chair of the Governing Body you may do so by contacting the school either by telephone (01914568929), email: or by post to Kirsty Gordon, South Shields School, Nevinson Avenue, South Shields, NE34 8BT.