Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body

Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body of

Skelton Newby Hall and Sharow CE Primary Schools

September 2021

In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies,

the three core strategic functions of the 

Skelton Newby Hall and Sharow CE Schools 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 Skelton Newby Hall and Sharow CE Schools was reconstituted in 2012. A copy of the constitution is held by the Clerk.

A broad range of skills is required to contribute to the effective governance and the success of the school. A survey is undertaken annually to confirm that the Governing Body is able to demonstrate a suitable range of skills. If new governors are required recruitment aims to fill identified gaps in skills. This year we have recruited new governors, and some governors have left. We continue to have a few positions unfilled and are working towards filling those.

The Governing body approved the ‘Governing Body Management Plan’ at the start of the school year, which sets out the work of the body for the year. The governing body has a programme of meetings throughout the school year. At times, the governing body convenes ‘working groups’ of a few governors to do a specific task.

Attendance record of Governors.

A record is kept by the clerk to the governing body, of governors attendance at meetings, details of attendance can be found on the school web-site.

Meetings need to be ‘quorate’ in order to ensure that decisions can be made, a definition is contained within the Standing Orders document.

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

During the past year we have implemented the new vision for the schools in order to guide future direction. Following on from this, we have created a detailed strategic vision for the Federation. This has fed into the School Improvement Plan. Governors monitor in accordance with our monitoring plan. We continue to attend regular trainings and to ‘upskill’ all governors.

We have continued to develop the Nursery provision at Skelton School in order to enlarge the Key Stage 1 cohort and retain the school for future generations. This year the Federation has purchased, and is implementing with significant staff training, a new phonics reading scheme.

We have considered and set budgets for each of the schools. These budgets have been examined and discussed at future strategy meetings with NYCC

School Polices are under continual review with a programme of update throughout the year.

We have suffered the effects of Covid 19, opening the schools in accordance with government guidance, providing cover for the children of key workers and offering a comprehensive remote learning package. The Federation has encountered significant staffing challenges because of staff illness and isolations.

The minutes of governing body meetings are held on the Schools web sites for 12 months following the meeting.

Strategic Planning for the future.

Along with the comprehensive strategic vision, governors regularly review the Federation’s vision, and review progress made towards it. We continue to look ahead and plan for the future.

How to contact the Governing Body.

Information about the governing body is available on the governor’s page of the school’s web-site.  Messages may be left at the Schools offices or letters may be addressed to the School Sites.

The Skelton Newby Hall and Sharow CE School Governing Body Membership