School Governors
John Burns School has a strong and supportive governing body, made up of representatives from the Local Authority, school staff, parents and co-opted members.
The governing body work as a team to oversee our school and make sure it provides a good quality education for the pupils. It is made up of parent governors, community governors and staff governors.
The school is well led. Leaders, including those responsible for governance, recognise the school's strengths and have identified appropriate areas for improvement. Sound plans are in place to secure these priorities. (Ofsted June 2023)
John Burns governing body also welcomes senior staff to attend and act as advisers and may from time to time ask other people to attend in this capacity too.
Governance Statement 2022-23
The Governing Body has 3 core functions, as set out in the Department of Education's Governors' handbook:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school
- Ensuring financial health and value for money
The full governing body meets as a whole group once a term to approve policies, review the progress and direction of the school and vote on significant decisions. In addition, governors attend specialist committees where the groundwork, research and discussion on key issues are undertaken.
Governing Body Arrangements
To undertake the core functions, we have established the following governance structure at John Burns Primary School:
- 1 LA Governor (nominated by the LA and appointed by the governing body - 1 vacancy)
- 1 Headteacher (by right of the position they hold in the school)
- 1 Staff Governor (elected by the staff at the school)
- 2 Parent Governors (who have a child in school at the time of the election and are elected by the parents/carers of pupils at the school)
- 8 Co-opted Governors (are appointed by the governing body because they have the specialist skill set which further enhances the work of the body)
The total number of governors is 13.
All governors are elected or appointed for a four year term.
Governing Body Committees
We have 3 governing body committee meetings each term.
The 3 governing body committee meetings are:
- Resources and Personnel Committee (monitor and evaluate the school finances, building, premises, staff performance, terms, conditions and pay)
- Children, Families and Community Committee (monitor and evaluate safeguarding, personal development and behaviour and attitudes)
- Curriculum Committee (monitor and evaluate the quality of education and pupil outcomes)
Governors Register of Business Interests
Governors and staff must act and be seen to act impartially, and have a responsibility to avoid any conflict between their business and personal interests and affairs and those of the school. As such, anyone present at a meeting should declare an interest likely to lead to questions of bias when considering any item of business at a meeting.
All governing boards must set up and maintain a register of business interests.
Governors Register of Business Interests 2022-23
Governing Body Membership
Click on the following links to find out more about the governing body members and their committee membership, including term of office:
Governing Body Membership December 2022
Governing Body Committee Membership December 2022
Governing Body Term of Office December 2022
Governing Body Link Roles
Click on the link below to find out more about the assigned governing body link roles:
Governing Body Link Roles Spring 2024
Governor Attendance
The Governing Body meets on a regular basis, either in committee or as a full governing body (FGB).
Governors' attendance at meetings is monitored and recorded.
Members of the governing body are expected to attend at least a majority of meetings throughout the academic year. Failure to attend three consecutive meetings may be considered as below standard attendance.
Governors should ensure that apologies for absence are given to the Clerk, Headteacher and School Business Manager prior to the meeting date. Where apologies are not presented, the absence will be recorded as unexplained.
The attendance record for previous academic years is attached below: