Our Governors

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). The Clerk to the Governing Body is Richard Painter, School and Governor Support Service, Children & Young People’s Services, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UJ.

Governor Committee Structure

Name	Category	Committee	Term of Office	Responsibilities	Register of Interests
Mrs Alison Ayres	Local Authority Governor	Curriculum and Standards Appeals Behaviour and Safety	05/05/23- 04/05/27	SEND RE English	None
Mr Jamie Bond	Parent Governor	Behaviour and Safety	11/02/22-10/02/26	History Geography Science Sustainability/ECO	None
Mrs Maxine Cutmore	Parent Governor	Curriculum and Standards	21/09/22- 20/09/26	PE Sports Premium Wellbeing and Mental Health	None
Mrs Jacqueline Dubre	Cop-opted Governor	Curriculum and Standards Behaviour and Safety	14/10/23-13/10/27	OPAL	Current member of staff
Mrs Michelle Harrison (Chair)	Co-opted Governor	Curriculum and Standards Finance Behaviour and Safety First Committee		Designated Governor for Safeguarding	Community interest (Cooper Hall)
Mrs Anne Hattersley	Co-Opted Governor	Finance Committee Behaviour and Safety Committee		TBC	None
Miss Bethan Howells	Staff Governor	Curriculum and Standards Behaviour and Safety	16/06/23-15/06/27	Deputy Headteacher	None
Mrs Paula Nelson (Headteacher)	Staff		Ongoing	Headteacher	Relative of maintenance person
Miss Lucy Rowell	Parent Governor	Finance	12/05/23-11/05/27	PSHE Pupil Premium Children in Care	None
Miss Abbie Stebbings	Parent Governor	Curriculum and Standards	12/05/23-11/05/27	Early Years Phonics and Reading	None
Mrs Jill Swinbank	Co-opted Governor	Finance Behaviour and Safety Appeals Personnel	01/09/23-31/08/27	Computing Online Safety Training and Development	None
Mrs Nicola Walsh	Co-opted Governor	Finance Personnel Appeals	07/07/21-30/06/25	Vice Chair Maths	None

Governors who have resigned/reached term of office end date in the last 12 months:

Name	Category	Date of Resignation/Reached Term of Office End Date
Mr Neil Liddle	Co-Opted Governor	27/02/24
Mr Pete Robson	Co-Opted Governor

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Witton Gilbert Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the documents below:

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)

Governor Attendance

Schools are required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.

KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
n/a – Not a member of the committee

Record of Attendance 2024-2025

Name	Full Governing Body 07.10.24	Behaviour and Safety 06.11.24
Mrs Alison Ayres		n/a
Mr Jamie Bond		A/A
Mrs Maxine Cutmore	N	n/a
Mrs Jacqueline Dubre		A/A
Mrs Michelle Harrison (Chair)
Mrs Anne Hattersley
Miss Bethan Howells		n/a
Mrs Paula Nelson (HT)
Miss Lucy Rowell		n/a
Miss Abbie Stebbings	A/A	n/a
Mrs Jill Swinbank
Mrs Nicola Walsh (Vice Chair)		n/a

Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.

Committee Terms of Reference

Full Governing Body

Terms of Reference
Strategic Leadership and Accountability:

In collaboration with school leaders determine a clear and explicit vision for the future. Ensure this is communicated to the whole organisation.
Set strong and clear values and ensure these are embedded across the organisation and adhered to.
Determine the strategic direction for the school.
Monitor and evaluate pupil progress and attainment by receiving reports and information from the Headteacher and other school leaders; compare against national and local benchmarks over time.
Receive reports from committees, working parties or individuals and agree actions.
Approve the SEF and monitor throughout the year.
Approve the School Improvement Plan priorities and monitor throughout the year progress towards agreed actions.
Ensure there is a transparent system for performance management of all staff which is clearly linked to the school’s priorities. Have oversight of staff performance throughout the year.
Ensure there are mechanisms in place to listen to and respond to the views of parents/carers, pupils, staff, local communities and employers.
Agree recruitment process to be followed in relation to Senior Leader posts; where delegated ratify appointments.
Final approval of the annual budget plan.
Monitor the school’s budget throughout the year.
Agree virement and expenditure limits for the Headteacher.
Hold at least 3 meetings each academic year. Ensure that committee meetings are held in accordance with the agreed terms of reference.

People and Structures:

Elect and/or remove Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors.
Appoint Committee Chairs or delegate to each committee.
Consider and agree delegation of functions to individuals or committees.
Agree committee terms of reference and membership.
Establish a register of Governors business interests.
Ensure Governors information on the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register and the school website is up to date and compliant with current requirements.
Confirm the Instrument of Government and subsequent amendments.
Appoint Co-opted, Local Authority and where necessary Parent Governors to the Board.
Review and monitor the Governor Induction Process.
Have regard for Governors professional development.
Where necessary, suspend or remove Governors from the Board.
Appoint/dismiss the Clerk to the Governing Body.

Compliance and Evaluation:

Consider business provided by Local Authority and other sources
Suspend or end suspension of staff members.
Ensure all statutory policies are in place and there is an effective policy review cycle.
Review and agree the Governor Code of Conduct.
Confirm arrangements for completion of a Governor Skills Audit.
Ensure there is regular self-evaluation and review of individual’s contribution to the Board as well as the Board’s overall operation and effectiveness.
As necessary, consider an external review of the Board’s effectiveness.
Ensure school website is up to date and compliant with current DfE requirements.

Personnel Committee

Chair:
Terms of Reference

Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
Carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and Finance and Premises Committee.
Ensure the school is sufficiently staffed to fulfil the effective operation of the school and the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
Oversee the recruitment and selection procedures for all staff.
Make recommendations to the Finance and Premises Committee on personnel-related expenditure.
Develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (e.g. Appraisal, Whistleblowing, Recruitment and Selection).
Keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well-being including monitoring attendance management.
Review the Single Central Record to ensure compliance with current statutory guidance.
Approve the Staff Code of Conduct and ensure all staff are aware.

MEETINGS: at least annually
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: where there may be a conflict of or pecuniary interest; any Governor whose spouse/partner is involved

Finance Committee

Chair:
Terms of Reference

Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).

Finance:

In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft and propose the first formal budget plan of the financial year for approval by the full Governing Body.
Establish and maintain an up-to-date three year financial plan, taking into account priorities in the School Improvement Plan, roll projection and signals from central government and the LA regarding future years’ budget.
Ensure that priorities detailed within the School Improvement Plan are appropriately costed and are reflected in the annual budget.
Monitor the budget position statement to identify and address any anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the full Governing Body.
Review and monitor outstanding debts and action taken.
Review and monitor Direct School Meals Provision by income and expenditure statements.
Review the year end outturn report.
Monitor and approve virements and expenditure over the Headteacher’s delegated limit.
Appraise and approve spending decisions where competitive quotations or tenders are required.
Ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the Local Authority and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).
Approve annually the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) submission prior to the 31 March deadline and monitor the implementation of any identified actions.
Monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds held on behalf of the Governing Body by review of an audited annual statement of income and expenditure.
Annually review the outcomes of the asset register stock check and approve the disposal of obsolete items.
Ensure appropriate use of the Pupil Premium, Sports Premium.
Review and monitor all financial policies including lettings, charging and remissions and expenses policies.
Consider and promote income generation.
Annually review income generated from contracts and lettings; oversee the use of premises by outside users.
Where necessary, monitor and review Wrap Around Care provision including review of annual income and expenditure statements where applicable.
Ensure all appropriate insurances are in place.
Annually review and approve the school’s Financial Procedures Manual.
Monitor service level agreements annually and make decisions in respect of service level agreements ensuring value for money.
Make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
Ensure pay decisions can be appropriately funded.
Ensure as far as is practical that health and safety issues are appropriately funded in accordance with agreed priorities.
Annually review financial benchmarking data.
Monitor the implementation of actions arising from the Internal Audit report or of a financial nature from other inspection regime reports.

MEETINGS: at least termly
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: where there may be a conflict of or a pecuniary interest

Headteacher’s Performance Review Committee

Lead Governor:
Terms of Reference

Set, with the support of the External Advisor (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) Headteacher’s annual performance objectives.
Monitor throughout the year the performance of the Headteacher against agreed performance objectives.
Review, with the support of the External Advisor (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) achievement of performance objectives.
Make recommendations to the First/Pay Review Committee in respect of the Headteacher’s annual pay progression.

MEETINGS: Autumn Term plus monitoring meetings
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Headteacher and staff

First Committee

Chair:
Terms of Reference

Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
Annually agree the Teachers’ Pay Policy.
Act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy when carrying out the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
Report to the Finance and Premises Committee on pay review related expenditure.
Consider any requests made in accordance with personnel policies e.g. flexible working, leave of absence etc. (unless delegated to the Headteacher).
Make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body e.g. disciplinary, grievance, ill-health, capability etc. (Unless delegated to the Headteacher).
Deal with matters relating to staffing reductions.

MEETINGS: at least annually
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Headteacher; Chair of Governors (if have prior knowledge); where there may be a conflict of interest; any Governor whose spouse/partner is involved; staff (annual pay review and matters relating to staffing reductions)

Appeals Committee

Chair:
Terms of Reference

Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
Consider any appeal against a decision made under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body.
Consider any appeal against a decision made by the First/Pay Review Committee during the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
Consider any appeal against selection for redundancy through a staffing reduction process.
Consider complaints against the school in accordance with the agreed school Complaints Procedure.

MEETINGS: as and when required.
QUORUM: 3 – however must have at least the same number of Governors or more then were present at the original hearing.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Headteacher; Chair of Governors (if have prior knowledge); any Governor involved in the original hearing; where there may be a conflict of interest; any Governor whose spouse/partner is involved; staff (appeals in relation to salary or staffing reduction decisions)

Delegation to the Headteacher: School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009.

Appointment: The Governing Body delegate the power to appoint outside the leadership group to:

One or more Governors and the Headteacher for:

Permanent staff

Delegate to the Headteacher as above for:

Temporary staff

Dismissals:

Governing Body retains responsibility for the dismissal of:

All staff other than Headteacher, unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Headteacher to a committee of the Governing Body.

Behaviour & Safety

Chair:

Ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements and review the schools H&S policy regularly.
Ensuring that PE is taught as part of the school curriculum and monitoring the quality and adequacy of provision.
Promoting an ethos that encourages participation in competitive sport both within the school and between schools.
Monitoring nutritional standards within the school to include school meals, snack provision and food available during wrap-around provision.
Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Equalities Act and that arrangements are made to ensure the policy is monitored and reviewed regularly. The policy is known to parents and carers.
Consider developing a whole school drugs policy.
Decide whether or not to provide sex and relationships education and consult parents (Primary). Agree the content and organisation of the school’s programme of sex and relationship education and notify parents of their right to withdraw their child (all secondary schools and primary schools that choose to provide S&R education).
Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and how other personal qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told of their right to withdraw their child.
Ensure the effective integration of children with SEN.
Consider the provision of sex and drugs education. Secondary schools: ensure sex education is provided.
Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
Ensure that buildings and the learning environment are maintained and fit for purpose.
Oversee the use of the premises by outside users.
Establish and keep under review an asset management /building development plan.
Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan.
Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
Monitor the development of pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities.
Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos.
Ensure that the school has an effective school council. The Governing Body takes account of the school council in determining the way in which the school is conducted.
The school promotes inclusive policies that allow for the achievement of all pupils.
Ensure that adequate provision is made for transition between primary and secondary education
Ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination.
Ensure each child is able to reach their potential including the gifted and talented (differentiation).
Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions.

QUORUM: 3
Meetings: At least termly or when required.
Disqualifications: conflict of interest, pecuniary interest, prior knowledge in cases of pupil discipline or complaints; any Governor whose child is involved

Curriculum and Standards Committee

Chair:
Terms of Reference

Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).

Curriculum Planning and Delivery:

Review, monitor and evaluate the curriculum offer.
Contribute to the development and monitoring of the:
Self Evaluation form
School Improvement Plan
Targets for school improvement
Develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (e.g. sex education and pupil discipline/behaviour).
Ensure that the school’s policy on SEND is consistent with the Code of Practice and Equalities Act and receive termly reports from the Headteacher/SENDCo and an annual report from the SEND Governor.
Ensure the SEND Policy is monitored and reviewed regularly and that the policy is known to parents/carers.
Ensure the school complies with the provisions of the Equalities Act 2010.
Where necessary ensure that all pupils have access to careers advice.

Assessment and Improvement:

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning and the impact on rates of pupils progress and standards of achievement
Monitor and evaluate the impact of continuing professional development on improving staff performance.
Receive pupil progress and achievement data; monitor and evaluate rates of progress and standards of achievement against agreed targets for all pupils and for all groups of pupils.
Monitor and evaluate provision for all groups of vulnerable children e.g. looked after children and ensure all their needs have been identified and addressed.
Monitor and review impact of Pupil Premium, Sports Premium and Early Years Premium.
Monitor and review pupil attendance data against attendance targets.
Monitor and review pupil exclusion information.
Set priorities for improvement and monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to the committee’s area of operation.
Regularly review the Assessment Policy and ensure that the policy is operating effectively.
Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’
Receive reports from external sources and agree actions to address recommendations; monitor and evaluate progress made.
Ensure all children have equal opportunities.
Ensure Safeguarding policies are adhered to; monitor and review all safeguarding policies/procedures within school.
Advise the Finance and Premises Committee on the relative funding priorities necessary to deliver the curriculum.
Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and development of other personal qualities within the school through the provision of R.E. and PHSCE. Ensure parents are informed of the right to withdraw their child.

Engagement:

Monitor the school’s publicity, public presentation and relationships with parents/carers and the wider community.
Identify and celebrate pupil achievements.
Oversee and monitor arrangements for out of hours provision, extra-curricular activities and educational visits including overnight stays.
Ensure that adequate provision is made for pupil transition.
Ensure all statutory requirements for reporting and publishing information are met.
Review and monitor the school’s website to ensure that it is accessible and fully compliant with current DfE requirements.
Ensure the school works well with its community, parents and other schools.

MEETINGS: at least termly
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: None

Virement and Expenditure Limits

Virement Limits		Expenditure Limits
Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair of Governing Body Where the cumulative effect of multiple virements on the same budget heading exceeds this limit, details are to be reported to the next Finance and Premises Committee meeting for information and retrospective approval	£3000	Any items of expenditure up to	£5000
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors A log of these approvals will be maintained and details reported to the next Finance and Premises Committee meeting.	£3000 to £7000	Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body.
Prior Finance and Premises Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of these limits and reported to the Finance and Premises Committee at the earliest opportunity.

NB Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedures Rules (January 2014) for quotations i.e. quotations or tenders to be invited from capable contractors based on the likely value of the procurement over its lifetime:

Between £500 and £5000 at least one quotation
Between £5001 and £50,000 at least three quotations
Over £50,000 full tender exercise

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