Welcome to our Governors’ section

Welcome from the Governing Body

At Meadow Farm Community Primary School, the Governing Body plays a vital role in supporting the school’s leadership, ensuring pupils receive a high-quality education, and helping to shape the school’s future direction.

Our governors are a dedicated team of volunteers who bring a wide range of skills and experiences to their roles. They give their time freely to help ensure Meadow Farm remains a safe, happy, and nurturing environment where children are empowered to grow into Confident, Caring and Accomplished individuals.

What We Do

The Governing Body has three core responsibilities:

• Supporting the school leadership in delivering its vision and values

• Ensuring pupils receive a high standard of education

• Strategically planning for the school’s continued development and improvement

We work closely with the Headteacher and senior leadership team to monitor the school’s performance, review progress, and ensure that legal and financial responsibilities are met.

Meetings and Committees

The Full Governing Body meets three times a year – in October, February, and July – to review the school’s strategic direction and monitor its educational and financial performance.

In addition to the full board meetings, there are two dedicated committees that also meet termly:

• Finance, Personnel, Premises and Health & Safety Committee

• Curriculum and Strategic Overview Committee

These committees examine specific areas in greater depth and meet approximately two weeks before each Full Governing Body meeting.

A message from the Chair of Governors:

Meadow Farm’s Governing Body is made up of parents, staff, local authority representatives, and other committed individuals with a strong interest in the success of our school.

As governors, we regularly visit the school to meet with Mrs Eyre and her team, ensuring that our children receive the best possible education in a safe and supportive environment. We are also involved in reviewing school projects, developments, and ensuring that all legal and safeguarding requirements are being met.

Our role is to both support and challenge the leadership team, working collaboratively to promote a clear vision and strong strategic direction.

If you would like to know more about the work we do or are interested in getting involved, please feel free to contact me via the school office or in writing at the school address.

David Allan - Chair of Governors

c/o Meadow Farm Community Primary School

Foyle Avenue

Chaddesden

Derby

DE21 6TZ

Meadow Farm’s Sub-Committees Structure

Resources Committee

Strategic Committee

Meadow Farm Governing Body Principles and Code of Conduct

The following is not a definitive statement of responsibilities but is concerned with the common understanding of broad principles by which the Governing Body and individual governors will operate.

The Governing Body accepts the following principles and procedures:

General

1. We have responsibility for determining, monitoring and keeping under review the broad policies, plans and procedures within which the school operates.

    

2. We recognise that our Head teacher is responsible for the implementation of policy and day-to-day management of the school and the implementation and operation of the curriculum.

    

3. We accept that all governors have equal status, and although appointed by different groups such as parents, staff, LA - our overriding concern will be the welfare of the school as a whole.

    

4. We have no legal authority to act individually, except when the Governing Body has given us delegated authority to do so.

    

5. We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all the legal expectations as, or on behalf of, the employer.

    

6. We will encourage open government and should be seen to be doing so.

    

7. We will consider carefully, how our decisions may affect other schools.

8. We confirm that the school does not have any employees whose gross salary exceeds £100k.

    

   Commitment

1. We acknowledge that accepting office as a governor involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.

    

2. We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the Governing Body, attend regularly and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.

    

3. We will get to know the school well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.

    

4. We will consider seriously our individual and collective needs for training and development.

    

   Relationships

1. We will strive to work as a team

    

2. We will seek to develop effective working relationships with the headteacher, staff and parents, the City Council’s Children & Young People’s Directorate and other relevant agencies and the community.

    

   Conduct

1. We will encourage the open expression of views at meetings, but accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the governing body or its delegated agents

    

2. We will only speak or act on behalf of the governing body when we have been specifically authorised to do so

    

3. In making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school we will follow the procedures established by the governing body

    

4. Our visits to school will be undertaken within the framework established by the governing body and agreed with the head teacher.

    

5. In discharging our duties we will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of our school.

    

   Confidentiality

1. Decisions reached at governing body meetings are normally made public through minutes and reports, however, governors should ensure confidentiality, when required, in respect of the discussions on which the decisions were based.

    

2. Individual governors should observe complete confidentiality in all matters discussed at governing body meetings especially in relation to matters concerning staff or pupils and also any other matters agreed by the governing body. Failure to comply can lead to disciplinary action.

    

3. Governors should exercise the highest degree of caution when involved in sensitive issues arising outside the governing body which may have an impact on the work of the governing body or the operation of the school.

    

4. On ceasing to be a governor individuals should ensure all information relating to the school is returned to either the school or governing bodies section for its effective disposal.

    

5. It is understood that if a governor is found in breach of his or her duty of confidentiality to the school, staff or to the pupils, the governing body can decide to suspend a governor for up to a period of six months.