Dallam Community Primary School

Academic Year 2019-2020

In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the 3 core strategic functions of the Governing Body of Dallam Community Primary School are:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

 Governance Arrangements

The Governing Body of Dallam Community Primary consists of the following members;

• Head Teacher – Mrs Louise Atkin
• 1 staff governor – Mr Boulter
• 1 elected parent governor – Mrs Pirks and 1 vacancy
• 1 Local Authority governor – Vacant
• 5 co-opted governors – Mr Fleming, Mrs O’Rourke, Mrs Gatt, Mrs Cummings, Mrs Downey, Mrs Kendal and 1 vacancy

Total – 9 members with 3 vacancies

The Full Governing Body meets once each term and continued to do so for the full academic year, despite lockdown and partial closure die to Covid-19 pandemic. Sub committees meet, when necessary, to consider different aspects of the school in detail, and any actions or headlines are reported into the Full Governing Body meeting. Here at Dallam Community Primary School, we have a Resources Committee, a Standards 1 Committee, a Standards 2 Committee and a Head Teacher Performance Committee, which all receive regular updates from the school leadership team, as well as updates in relation to attainment, safeguarding, behaviour, attendance and special educational needs.

Our governors undertake a skills audit at the beginning of each year and attend training and refresher training to ensure the Governing Body continues to have the appropriate mix of skills and expertise to effectively undertake its functions. The new constitution allows associate governors to be appointed if there is an identified gap in the skill set.

 Attendance record of governors

Governors’ attendance at meetings is maintained. Meetings continue to be quorate (the minimum number of governors present) to ratify decisions. 

The work that we have done within our committees and in the governing body

During the first half of the academic year, the governing body monitored the school improvement plan and looked at its impact on pupil achievement and their wellbeing. We also carried out the Head Teachers performance management duty.

After schools were partially closed by the government in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Governors met virtually to support the Headteacher and staff and to consider the risk assessments relating to reopening to vulnerable and key worker children and eventually the whole school.

At the end of the summer term Governors joined the school and wider community to wish our departing Head teacher, Mrs Louise Atkin a fond farewell. She worked at Dallam for 17 years and left us a wonderful legacy of outstanding school improvement. We wish her well as she takes up her post with the Local Authority.

Governors supported the Deputy Head Teacher, Mrs Downey, to step up from her role to lead the school until we could recruit into the Head Teacher role. To ensure that we recruit the best Head Teacher to lead Dallam Primary School the governing body has delayed the recruitment until we can undertake a process with the appropriate level of due diligence and rigour. This process will therefore take place after Easter 2021. Two senior leaders will support Mrs Downey as part time interim Assistant Headteachers - Mrs Horner and Mrs Harrison.

The Resources Committee (Finance/Personnel) met in the autumn and spring terms to monitor the budget and staffing. Due to unanticipated spending to fulfil the needs of the Covid19 protective measures, school finances continue to be a challenge.

The Resources Committee includes managing the Personnel arrangements at the school and these were constantly monitored including support for staff through Covid 19 partial closure and Headteacher’ wellbeing.

The Standards 1 Committee (performance data) met in autumn term and spring term and looked at tracking performance data, which gives the results of pupil achievement and progress. At this time children remained on track. We discussed how Pupil Premium and Sports Premium funding was to be allocated and intended impact and looked at the revised RE curriculum and its assessment.

Annual assessments including SATS, phonics check and times table checks were cancelled as a result of the covid 19 pandemic. Therefore there are no 2019/20 results or any national or local comparators. Plan for 2020/21 inlcude early assessment of children on their return to full time education and a targeted catch-up programme.

Standards 1 action points are picked up by the Standards 2 committee, for the members to seek the evidence of good practice or relevant interventions.

Governors met in the autumn term with a focus on the science curriculum. This included a review of books conversation with subject leader and with children. They talked passionately about what is being taught and how is it being taught, and more importantly they were given opportunity to present their work for the Governors.

Each Class at Dallam Community Primary School has been allocated a Governor, who then visit the classroom at different intervals throughout the year, and they provide an overview of how the children are engaging for the whole Governing Body. Governors took the opportunity in late autumn and early spring to meet with their link class as part of some early work to review the vison. Governors enjoyed their visits and the feedback from children was overwhelmingly positive.

Governors have a nominated safeguarding governor (Mr Ray Fleming), who meets regular with the Safeguarding Leads. Safeguarding our most vulnerable children was a key action during lockdown and Mr Fleming met virtually with the Headteacher each week. .

Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are public documents.

 Future plans for the Governors

• To recruit a new aspirational and dynamic Head Teacher
• To support school staff and pupils as they return to school fully; mindful of their mental health and wellbeing
• To support staff as they seek to implement the ‘catch-up’ programme to ensure children are able to achieve their full potential
• To support staff as they navigate the complexities of the ne school year including the implementation of a remote education offer and the re-introduction of a full curriculum by summer term 2020

Governors are mindful of the protective measures that are in place across school and will continue to meet digitally, limiting visits in person appropriately.

On behalf of the Governors of Dallam Primary School I would like to thank Mrs Atkin, Mrs Downey and all the staff for their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm, during this difficult time. Also, may we express our special thanks to our parents and carers, for their continued support as together we help to make our school the very special and safe place that it is.

How you can contact the governing body

We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from Parents and the community - please contact the Chair of Governors, via the school office or the school website. 

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, please contact our Chair of Governors Ashlea O'Rourke on the below contact details.

Email address:  aorourke@dallamprimary.com

Alternativlty you can email our business manager Donna Kendal for more information on the below email address.

Email address: dallam_bus_man@warrington.gov.uk