Welcome to the Governing Board

Strategic leadership, accountability and a shared commitment to every child

Welcome to the Governing Board of Haslam Park Primary School.

Our governors are proud to serve a diverse, inclusive and ambitious school community where every child is valued, supported and encouraged to achieve their potential.

Working in partnership with the Headteacher, Mrs Roughley, and the school's leadership team, we help shape the strategic direction of Haslam Park, maintain high expectations and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of pupils.

Our school motto, “Together we explore, learn and grow,” reflects our commitment to working collaboratively with children, families, staff and the wider community.

Our context does not lower our expectations. It increases our responsibility.

Our Role and Responsibilities

The Governing Board has three core functions:

1. Setting strategic direction: Ensuring the school has a clear vision, ethos, values and priorities for improvement.

2. Holding school leaders to account: Providing constructive support and challenge about educational performance, pupil outcomes and the effectiveness of school improvement.

3. Overseeing financial performance: Ensuring that public funding and school resources are used effectively, responsibly and in the best interests of pupils.

Governors also provide strategic oversight of safeguarding, SEND, equality, staff wellbeing, health and safety and statutory responsibilities.

The Governing Board operates strategically. The Headteacher and senior leaders are responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of the school.

High Expectations, Inclusion and Equity

At Haslam Park, governors recognise that children have different starting points, experiences and needs. We are committed to ensuring that these differences do not limit their opportunities or aspirations.

Our strategic oversight places particular emphasis on:

• An ambitious and inclusive curriculum for all pupils.

• The achievement and progress of children with SEND and disadvantaged pupils.

• Effective support for attendance, behaviour, relationships and wellbeing.

• Safeguarding and a culture in which children feel safe, respected and listened to.

• Meaningful access to enrichment, pupil leadership and personal development.

• Positive partnerships with parents, carers and the wider community.

We expect leaders to identify barriers, evaluate the effectiveness of provision and take action where improvements are needed.

Inclusion is not simply access; it is meaningful participation, contribution, leadership and achievement.

How Governors Monitor School Improvement

Governors work with school leaders to review progress against the School Improvement Plan and agreed strategic priorities.

Our monitoring and accountability arrangements include scrutiny of school performance information, governor visits, discussions with leaders, policy review and consideration of pupil, parent and staff feedback.

Governors use this evidence to ask informed questions, challenge assumptions, consider risks and review whether actions are making the intended difference.

We are particularly interested in understanding:

• What are we trying to improve, and why?

• What action has been taken?

• How do we know it is working?

• Are all groups of pupils benefiting?

• What needs to happen next?

Governor monitoring is not about duplicating the work of school leaders. It is about providing independent strategic oversight, asking the right questions and ensuring that agreed actions are followed through.

Governor Monitoring and Impact

We believe effective governance should be visible through its decisions, challenge and contribution to school improvement.

Our separate Governor Monitoring and Impact page provides examples of governance activity, priorities, decisions and follow-up actions, together with evidence of impact where this has been evaluated.

Governor Monitoring and Impact

You can also read about the school's wider priorities on our School Improvement Plan Summary page.

School Improvement Plan Summary

Meet Our Governing Board

Chair of Governors: Ms Danielle Findlay

The Chair leads the Governing Board, supports effective governance and ensures that governors carry out their responsibilities with integrity, openness and appropriate challenge.

The Chair can be contacted through the school office.

Our Governing Board includes:

• Parent governors, elected by parents.

• Staff governors, elected by school staff.

• Co-opted governors, appointed by the Governing Board for the skills and experience they bring.

• Local authority governors, nominated by the local authority and appointed by the Governing Board.

• The Headteacher, who serves as a governor by virtue of the role.

The usual term of office for governors is four years, subject to the applicable category and governing arrangements.

The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected by the Governing Board in accordance with its procedures.

The full Governing Board meets three times each year, with committee meetings providing additional opportunities for detailed scrutiny.

Our Committees

The Governing Board operates through two main committees, each working within responsibilities delegated by the full board.

HR and Finance Committee

Chair: Firoza Vahed

This committee considers delegated matters relating to:

• School finance, budgets and the effective use of resources.

• Premises, facilities and health and safety.

• Staffing, personnel and pay matters, where delegated.

The committee provides scrutiny and makes recommendations or decisions within its agreed terms of reference.

Welfare and Standards Committee

Chair: Danielle Findlay

This committee considers delegated matters relating to:

• Educational standards, curriculum and pupil achievement.

• School improvement priorities and the quality of provision.

• Pupil welfare and related strategic priorities within its remit.

Both committees meet at least once each term and report to the full Governing Board.

Transparency and Accountability

We believe families and the wider community should be able to understand who governs the school, how decisions are made and how governors fulfil their responsibilities.

Information about governor membership, categories, responsibilities, terms of office, attendance and relevant declarations of interests is available through our published governance information below.

Term of Office

 

Governor Attendance At Meetings 25-26

Governor Attendance at Meetings 23- 24

Governors undertake relevant training, maintain appropriate professional standards and review the effectiveness of governance to support continuous improvement.

Contacting the Governing Board

We welcome appropriate questions and feedback from parents, carers and members of the school community.

You can contact the Chair of Governors, Ms Danielle Findlay, through the school office.

Telephone: 01204 333393

Our Governor Question Box is also located in the school foyer. Parents and carers may use this to submit questions for governors.

Questions will be handled sensitively and in accordance with the school's confidentiality and information-handling procedures. Individual complaints or concerns will be directed through the appropriate school processes.

Further Information

• Governor Monitoring and Impact — how governors provide strategic challenge, monitor priorities and review the difference made.

• School Improvement Plan Summary — the school's strategic improvement priorities.

• Governor Membership, Attendance and Declarations — current governance information and statutory disclosures.

• Committee Terms of Reference — the responsibilities delegated to each committee.

• Department for Education: Maintained Schools Governance Guide — national guidance on the responsibilities of school governing bodies.

Together we explore, learn and grow.