Governors Terms of Reference

The Governors must follow statutory guidance with regard to Disqualification from Membership.

The Governors shall grant to the Bishop of Salford and to the Chief Education Officer of Oldham Education Authority and to their nominees or delegates, the right to attend meetings of the appropriate committees.

The Governors reserve the right to appoint to the committees, non-governing members as they see fit, subject to the Governors being in the majority. Such members however shall not be entitled to vote in any decision making of the Governing Body.

When a person ceases to be a governor, the person duly appointed to succeed that governor shall take their place on whatever committees that governor served, until such a time as a review of the membership of all the committees shall be undertaken by the full governing body.

In all references to the model Catholic Education Services procedures and other such documents, the most recently issued version shall be considered to be the model, replacing previous versions that have been changed due to new legislation, or for whatever other reason.

Diocese of Salford

INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT

The name of the school is Ss Aidan & Oswald’s Roman Catholic Primary School.

The school was founded by and is part of the Catholic Church. The school is to be conducted as a Catholic School in accordance with Canon Law and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and in accordance with the Trust Deed of the Diocese of Salford and in particular:

religious education is to be in accordance with the teachings, doctrines, discipline and general particular norms of the Catholic Church;

b) religious worship is to be in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church;

and at all times the school is to serve as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The school is a Voluntary Aided school.

The name of the governing body is "the governing body of Ss Aidan & Oswald’s Roman Catholic Primary School”

The governing body shall consist of:
Two parent governors
One LA governor
One staff governor
One headteacher

Seven foundation governors
Total number of governors 12

Foundation governors shall be appointed and may be removed by the Bishop of Salford (or any other person exercising jurisdiction on his behalf).

a) the holder of the following office shall be a foundation governor ex officio:

The parish priest of Ss Aidan & Oswald’s Roman Catholic Primary School.

b) The foundation body or person named in paragraph 7 shall be entitled to appoint a foundation governor to act in the place of the ex officio foundation governor whose governorship derives from the office named in (a) above, in the event that that ex officio foundation governor is unable or unwilling to act as a foundation governor, or has been removed from office under regulation 21(1) of the Regulations.

This instrument of government comes into effect on 1 September 2015.

This Instrument of Government was approved by the Diocese of Salford on 20July 2015 and made by order of Oldham Council.

A copy of the instrument must be supplied to every member of the governor body (and the headteacher if not a governor), any trustees and to the appropriate religious body.

The Role of the Chair of the Governing Body

v To ensure the business of the Governing Body is conducted properly, in accordance with legal requirements.

v To ensure meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of time available, and to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate in discussion and decision-making

v To establish and foster an effective relationship with the Headteacher based on trust and mutual respect for each other’s roles. The Chair has an important role in ensuring that the Governing Body acts as a sounding board to the Headteacher and provides strategic direction

Disqualification – the Headteacher, Staff Governors, Pupils, Staff Members

The Role of the Clerk to the Governing Body

v To work effectively with the Chair of Governors, the other Governors and the Headteacher to support the Governing Body

v To advise the Governing Body on Constitutional and Procedural Matters, duties and powers

v To convene meetings of the Governing Body

v To attend meetings of the Governing Body and ensure minutes are taken

v To maintain a register of members of the Governing Body and report vacancies to the Governing Body

v To give and receive notices in accordance with relevant regulations

v To perform such other functions as may be determined by the Governing Body from time to time

Disqualification – Governors, Associate Members, the Headteacher

The Role of the Chair of a Committee

v To ensure the business of the Committee is conducted properly, in accordance with legal requirements

v To ensure meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of time available, and to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate in discussion and decision-making

Disqualification – none

The Role of the Clerk to Committees

v To advise the Committee on procedural and legal matters

v To convene meetings of the Committee

v To attend meetings of the Committee and ensure minutes are taken

v To perform such other functions with respect to the Committee as may be determined by the Governing Body from time to time

Disqualification – the Headteacher

The Governing Body

The Governing Body needs to take a strategic role, act as a critical friend to the School and be accountable for its decisions. It should set aims and objectives and agree, monitor and review policies, targets and priorities

Terms of reference:

· To agree constitutional matters*, including procedures where the Governing Body has discretion

· To recruit new members as vacancies arise and to appoint new governors* where appropriate

· To hold at least three Governing Body meetings a year*

· To appoint or remove the Chair and Vice Chair*

· To appoint or remove a Clerk to the Governing Body*

· To establish the committees of the Governing Body and their terms of reference*

· To appoint the Chair of any committee (if not delegated to the committee itself)

· To appoint or remove a Clerk to each committee*

· To suspend a governor*

· To decide which functions of the Governing Body will be delegated to committees, groups and individuals*

· To receive reports from any individual or committee to whom a decision has been delegated and to consider whether any further action by the Governing Body is necessary*

· To approve the first formal budget plan of the financial year

· To keep the Health and Safety Policy and its practice under review and to make revisions where appropriate

· To review the delegation arrangements annually*

· Any items which individual governing bodies may wish to include

*these matters cannot be delegated to either a committee or an individual

Membership – As per the Instrument of Government

Disqualification – as per Schedule 6 of the Constitution Regulations

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body			03 / 11 /2009


		8^th November 2021



Chair of the Governing Board		Mr Michael Madden (Foundation)
Vice-Chair of the Governing Board		Mrs Susan Donohue (Foundation)
Clerk (s) to the Governing Board		Oldham LA Governors Services
Quorum: 6	One half of the number of Governors in post



These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body					03 / 11 /2009

Hearings Committee

Terms of reference:

· To make any determination to dismiss any member of staff (unless delegated to the headteacher)

· To make any decisions under the Governing Body’s personnel procedures e.g. disciplinary, grievance, capability where the Headteacher is the subject of the action*

· To make any decisions relating to any member of staff other than the Headteacher, under the Governing Body’s personnel procedures (unless delegated to the Headteacher)

· To make any determination or decision under the Governing Body’s General Complaints Procedure for Parents and others

· To make any determination or decision under the Governing Body’s Curriculum Complaints Procedure, in respect of National Curriculum disapplications, and the operation of the Governing Body’s charging policy:

· Additional items which individual Governing Bodies may wish to include

*cannot be delegated to an individual

Membership – not less than 3 members of the Governing Body

(NB. The number appointed to this committee directly affects the number required for an Appeal Committee)

Disqualification – The Headteacher

(It is suggested that only experienced governors be appointed to this committee and that the Chairman of Governors, due to probable prior knowledge, should not be a member)

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body		03 / 11 /2009

Appeals Committee

Terms of reference:

· To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the Hearings Committee*

· To consider any appeal against a decision short of dismissal under the Governing Body’s personnel procedures e.g. disciplinary, grievance, capability*

· To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy*

· Any items which individual governing bodies may wish to include

*cannot be delegated to an individual

Membership – no fewer members than the Hearings Committee

Disqualification – The Headteacher

Any members of the Hearings Committee

(It is suggested that only experienced governors be appointed to this committee and that the Chairman of Governors, due to probable prior knowledge, should not be a member)

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body		03 / 11 /2009



Chair of the Committee	Mr Michael Madden
Clerk to the Committee *	LA

*May be provided by LEA

Quorum (minimum of 3, committee can determine higher number)
Date Committee established		27 / 09 /2005
Date of review:	15/11/2018

Admissions Committee (Voluntary Aided Schools)

Terms of reference:

· To determine within statutory provisions and the governing body policy whether any child should be admitted to the school*

· To review admissions arrangements and to make recommendations for changes to the governing body

· Any items which individual governing bodies may wish to include

*cannot be delegated to an individual

Membership – It is considered good practice to appoint the headteacher onto any admissions committee, but headteachers cannot act in place of the governing body in determining the school’s admissions policy, or in deciding on the admission of any individual child.

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body		03 / 11 /2009

Chair of the Committee	Mr Bernard Briggs
Clerk to the Committee	LA
Quorum (minimum of 3, committee can determine higher number)

Date Committee established

27 / 09 /2005

Date of review:

15/11/2018

Pupil Discipline Committee (Statutory)

Terms of reference:

· To consider representations from parents in the case of exclusions of 5 days or less (Committee may not re-instate)

· To consider representations from parents in the case of exclusions totalling more than 5 but not more than 15 school days in one term (meeting to be held between 6^th and 50^th school days after receiving notice of the exclusion)

· To consider the appropriateness of any permanent exclusion or any exclusion where one or more fixed period exclusions total more than 15 school days in one term or where a pupil is denied the chance to take a public examination (meeting to be held between 6^th and 15^th school days after receiving notice of the exclusion)

· To review the School Behaviour and Discipline Policy, and make recommendations on changes to the Governing Body or relevant committee

· Any items which individual governing bodies may wish to include

Membership – 3 or 5

The Governing Body may nominate a pool of governors from which three or five will serve as the Discipline Committee to consider particular exclusions. If a governor has a connection with the pupil or the incident that could affect their ability to act impartially they should not serve at the hearing. If, through non-attendance of a governor, four members consider an exclusion, the chair has the casting vote.

Disqualification – The Headteacher

Any Governor with prior knowledge of the pupil or the incident.

(It is suggested that neither the Chairman of Governors nor a member of staff, due to probable prior knowledge, should be a member)

Chair of the Committee	Mr Daniel Moore
Clerk to the Committee *	LA

*May be provided by the LEA

Quorum:

Date Committee established		27 / 09 /2005
Date of review:	15/11/2018

Finance and Resources Committee

Terms of reference:

· In consultation with the Headteacher, to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year

· To establish and maintain an up to date 2 year financial plan

· To consider a budget position statement including virement decisions at least termly and to report significant anomalies from the anticipated position to the Governing Body

· To ensure that the school operates within the Financial Regulations of the County Council

· To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body

· To annually review charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.

· To make decisions in respect of service agreements

· To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees

· To prepare financial statements for inclusion in the governing body report to parents

· To ensure, as far as is practical, that Health and Safety issues are appropriately prioritised (normally covered at Full Governing Body Meetings).

· To determine whether sufficient funds are available for pay increments as recommended by the Headteacher

· In the light of the Headteacher Performance Management Group’s recommendations, to determine whether sufficient funds are available for increments

· To advise the Governing Body on priorities, including Health and Safety, for the maintenance and development of the school’s premises (normally covered at Full Governing Body Meetings).

· To oversee arrangements for repairs and maintenance

· To make recommendations on premises-related expenditure

· In consultation with the Headteacher, to oversee premises-related funding bids

· To oversee arrangements, including Health and Safety, for the use of school premises by outside users, subject to governing body policy

· To establish and keep under review a Premises Development Plan and Accessibility plan (normally covered at Full Governing Body Meetings).

Disqualification – Any relevant person employed to work at the school other than as the Headteacher, when the subject for consideration is the pay or performance review of any person employed to work at the school

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body			03 / 11 /2009



Chair of the Committee		Mrs Susan Donohue
Clerk to the Committee		LA
Quorum (minimum of 3, committee can determine higher number)
Date Committee established		27 / 09 /2005
Date of review:	15/11/2018

School Standards and Achievement

Terms of reference:

· To consider and advise the governing body on standards and other matters relating to the school’s curriculum, including statutory requirements and the School’s Curriculum Policy

· To consider curricular issues which have implications for Finance and Personnel decisions and to make recommendations to the relevant committees or the Governing Body

· To make arrangements for the Governing Body to be represented at School Improvement discussions with the LEA and for reports to be received by the Governing Body

· To oversee arrangements for individual governors to take a leading role in specific areas of provision, eg SEN, Literacy, Numeracy. To receive regular reports from them and advise the Governing Body.

· To oversee arrangements for educational visits, including the appointment of a named co-ordinator

· Additional items which individual Governing Bodies may wish to include

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body		03 / 11 /2009

Chair of the Committee		Mrs Sarah Guy
Clerk to the Committee		LA
Quorum (minimum of 3, committee can determine higher number)
Date Committee established		27 / 09 /2005
Date of review:	15/11/2018

Human Resources

Terms of reference:

· To draft and keep under review the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee

· To establish a Salary Policy for all categories of staff and to be responsible for its administration and review

· To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff

· To establish and review a Performance Management policy for all staff*

· To oversee the process leading to staff reductions

· To keep under review staff work/life balance, working conditions and well-being, including the monitoring of absence

· To make recommendations on personnel related expenditure to the Finance Committee

· To consider any appeal against a decision on pay grading or pay awards

· Additional items which individual Governing Bodies may wish to include

Headteachers Performance Review:

· To arrange to meet with the External Adviser to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets

· To decide, with the support of the External Adviser, whether the targets have been met and to set new targets annually

· To monitor through the year the performance of the Headteacher against the targets

· To make recommendations to the Finance Committee in respect of awards for the successful meeting of targets set

· Additional items which individual Governing Bodies may wish to include

Disqualification –Any relevant person employed to work at the school other than as the Headteacher, when the subject for consideration is the pay or performance review of any person employed to work at the school

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body

03 / 11 /2009

In Aided Schools, if the membership is three, then two must be Foundation Governors

Chair of the Committee

Mr Michael Madden

Clerk to the Committee

Quorum (minimum of 3, committee can determine higher number)

Date Committee established

27 / 09 /2005

Date of review:

15/11/2018

Complaints Committee

Terms of reference: (from Governors Procedure)

Stage Three: Complaint Heard by Governing Body’s Complaints Appeal Panel

The complainant needs to write to the Chair of Governors giving details of the complaint. The Chair, or a nominated governor, will convene a Governing Body complaints panel.

The governors’ appeal hearing is the last school-based stage of the complaints process, and is not convened to merely rubber-stamp previous decisions.

Individual complaints would not be heard by the whole GB at any stage, as this could compromise the impartiality of any panel set up for a disciplinary hearing against a member of staff following a serious complaint.

The governing body has nominated a number of members with delegated powers to hear complaints at that stage, and set out its terms of reference. These can include:

drawing up its procedures;
hearing individual appeals;
making recommendations on policy as a result of complaints.

The procedure adopted by the panel for hearing appeals would normally be part of the school’s complaints procedure. The panel can be drawn from the nominated members and must consist of three people. The panel may choose their own chair.

The Remit of The Complaints Appeal Panel

The panel can:

dismiss the complaint in whole or in part;

uphold the complaint in whole or in part;

decide on the appropriate action to be taken to resolve the complaint;

recommend changes to the school’s systems or procedures to ensure that problems of a similar nature do not recur.

There are several points which any governor sitting on a complaints panel needs to remember:

a. It is important that the appeal hearing is independent and impartial and that it is seen to be so. No governor may sit on the panel if they have had a prior involvement in the complaint or in the circumstances surrounding it. In deciding the make-up of the panel, governors need to try and ensure that it is a cross-section of the categories of governor and sensitive to the issues of race, gender and religious affiliation.

b. The aim of the hearing, which needs to be held in private, will always be to resolve the complaint and achieve reconciliation between the school and the complainant. However, it has to be recognised the complainant might not be satisfied with the outcome if the hearing does not find in their favour. It may only be possible to establish the facts and make recommendations which will satisfy the complainant that his or her complaint has been taken seriously.

c. An effective panel will acknowledge that many complainants feel nervous and inhibited in a formal setting. Parents often feel emotional when discussing an issue that affects their child. The panel chair will ensure that the proceedings are as welcoming as possible. The layout of the room will set the tone and care is needed to ensure the setting is informal and not adversarial.

d. Extra care needs to be taken when the complainant is a child. Careful consideration of the atmosphere and proceedings will ensure that the child does not feel intimidated. The panel needs to be aware of the views of the child and give them equal consideration to those of adults. Where the child’s parent is the complainant, it would be helpful to give the parent the opportunity to say which parts of the hearing, if any, the child needs to attend.

e. The governors sitting on the panel need to be aware of the complaints procedure.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Role of the Clerk

The Department strongly recommends that any panel or group of governors considering complaints be clerked. The clerk would be the contact point for the complainant and be required to:

set the date, time and venue of the hearing, ensuring that the dates are convenient to all parties and that the venue and proceedings are accessible;

collate any written material and send it to the parties in advance of the hearing;

meet and welcome the parties as they arrive at the hearing;

record the proceedings;

notify all parties of the panel’s decision.

The Role of the Chair of the Governing Body or the Nominated Governor

The nominated governor role:

check that the correct procedure has been followed;

if a hearing is appropriate, notify the clerk to arrange the panel;

The Role of the Chair of the Panel

The Chair of the Panel has a key role, ensuring that:

· the remit of the panel is explained to the parties and each party has the opportunity of putting their case without undue interruption;

· the issues are addressed;

· key findings of fact are made;

· parents and others who may not be used to speaking at such a hearing are put at ease;

· the hearing is conducted in an informal manner with each party treating the other with respect and courtesy;

· the panel is open minded and acting independently;

· no member of the panel has a vested interest in the outcome of the proceedings or any involvement in an earlier stage of the procedure;

· each side is given the opportunity to state their case and ask questions;

· written material is seen by all parties. If a new issue arises it would be useful to give all parties the opportunity to consider and comment on it.

Notification of the Panel’s Decision

The chair of the panel needs to ensure that the complainant is notified of the panel’s decision, in writing, with the panel’s response; this is usually within a set deadline which is publicised in the procedure. The letter needs to explain if there are any further rights of appeal and, if so, to whom they need to be addressed.

Disqualification –Any relevant person employed to work at the school other than as the Headteacher, when the subject for consideration is the pay or performance review of any person employed to work at the school

These terms of reference agreed by the Governing Body

03 / 11 /2009

In Aided Schools, if the membership is three, then two must be Foundation Governors

Chair of the Committee		Mr Daniel Moore
Clerk to the Committee		LA
Quorum (minimum of 3, committee can determine higher number)
Date Committee established		27 / 09 /2005
Date of review:	15/11/2018

Delegation of Responsibility to Individuals

Terms of reference:

· To liaise with the appropriate member(s) of staff

· To visit the school with the purpose of gathering information concerning their area of responsibility and to increase their knowledge of the School

· To regularly report to the Governing Body, the Curriculum Committee or the Steering Group, whichever the Governing Body deems most appropriate, on developments and progress within their area of responsibility

· To raise the profile of the area of responsibility when related matters are considered by the Governing Body

· To attend training as appropriate

· Any items which individual governing bodies may wish to include

Disqualification – The following functions CANNOT be delegated to an individual: