Dallam Community Primary School

Academic Year 2020-2021

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 Amanda Downey (from May 2021)
• 1 staff governor – Mr Geoff Boulter
• 1 elected parent governor – Mrs Jenny Pirks together with 1 vacancy
• 1 Local Authority governor – Vacant
• 5 co-opted governors – Ms Ashlea O’Rourke,  Mrs Mary Cummings, Mrs Ann Harrison, Mrs Donna Kendal and Dr Margaret Emsley

Total – 8 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 due 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 Management 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, as appropriate, 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.

Governors supported the Deputy Head Teacher, Mrs Downey, to step up from her role to lead the school as acting Head following the promotion of the previous Headteacher, Mrs Atkin, until we could recruit into the Head Teacher role. To ensure that we recruited the best Head Teacher to lead Dallam Primary School the governing body delayed the recruitment until we could undertake a process with the appropriate level of due diligence and rigour. This process took place after Easter 2021 when Mrs Downey was appointed as Headteacher of Dallam Primary School. 

The Resources Committee (Finance/Personnel) met in the autumn and spring terms to monitor the budget and staffing. Due to continued 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 catch-up programmes were supporting the children to get back on track. We discussed how Pupil Premium and Sports Premium funding was to be allocated and intended impact and looked at the revised RSE curriculum and its assessment.

Annual assessments including SATS, phonics check and times table checks were once again cancelled as a result of the covid 19 pandemic. Therefore there are no 2020/21 results or any national or local comparators. 

Standards 1 action points and any lines of enquiry 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 summer term with a focus on the reading curriculum. This included discussion with subject leader and with children. They talked passionately about what is being taught and how they enjoy reading a variety of different books. Children of all abilities spoke with confidence and enthusiasm about the books and authors that they enjoy and about how they tackle challenge in their reading.

Each Class at Dallam Community Primary School has been allocated a Governor. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions around COVID-19, visits have not been possible as they have in previous years.

Governors have a nominated safeguarding governor (Mrs Donna Kendal), who meets regularly with the Safeguarding Leads. Safeguarding our most vulnerable children was a prioority during lockdown and Mrs Kendal discussed this with the Headteacher each week. 

Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are public documents.

 Future plans for the Governors

• To work with the headteacher to review and articulate the aims, vision and values of the school
• 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 new school year including the remote education offer and the re-introduction of a broad curriculum by summer term as appropriate to cohorts.
• to develop links with subject leaders and a wider understanding of teaching and learning in those subjects

Governors are mindful of the protective measures that are in place in response to changing guidelines and may meet digitally, limiting visits in person as appropriate.

On behalf of the Governors of Dallam Primary School I would like to thank Mrs Downey, Mrs Horner 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 the email address below. 

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

Email address:  aorourke@dallamprimary.com

Alternativlty you can contact our business manager, Mrs. Kendal for more information on 01925 633927 or by email at dallam_bus_man@sch.warrington.gov.uk