Hazel Community Primary School

Governance at Hazel.

What do we do?

The Governors of Hazel Community Primary bring expertise from education, industry and the wider school community; we meet regularly at the school to provide challenge and support to the headteacher. 

We value and promote a positive and committed school atmosphere at Hazel Community Primary. We believe the school enables staff, pupils, parents and governors to work together to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to develop to their full potential and that the school is an exciting place for learning. In particular, this year we are committed to supporting the full reopening of school, the identification of lost learning and the implementation of plans to address that. 

The Governing body plays an important strategic and legal role in maintaining the success of Hazel Community Primary, helping to raise standards and ensure that all pupils receive the best possible education. We work closely with the headteacher, staff and the local authority in setting and agreeing the strategic direction of the school. 

Our core functions are: 

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction ; 

• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and 

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent 

We are a small governing body at Hazel Community Primary School and as such we prioritise the Finance and Teaching and Learning committees. All other business is dealt with via Link Governors who are assigned to key areas relating to the School Development Plan. Link governors report back to the full governing body where relevant at the regular governing body meetings. 

Link Governors meet with key staff in their area at least one per term. Their role in this meeting is to monitor and evaluate the work in their area of responsibility. They support and challenge staff to test the robustness and effectiveness of planning and the impact of their work. This autumn, all governor visits will be conducted following DfE guidance and the school's risk assessment.  

Outcomes from these interactions are reported back to the full Governing Body using the Hazel template and are discussed as a group at the regular governing body meetings. All Governors are free to enquire and further challenge the Link Governor on this. Further actions may be required or inspired, which the Link Governor will undertake and report back. 

Governors are also involved in supporting the school in making sure the education provided is the best it can be through visiting the school as well as talking with children, parents and staff on a regular basis. We all agree to fulfil these duties according to our Code of Conduct but these activities will not take place until it is safe to do so.  

       We also hold a Finance and a T+L committee.

Annual Governance Statement

As a result of a Governing Body/Senior Leadership Strategy day in the summer of 2019 the Governing Body self-evaluated and concluded:

• Governors are committed to working with the SLT and teachers to improve the quality of education and experiences that pupils receive
•  They have a growing confidence in their strategic role
• They have developed effective questioning of the SLT and holding them to account
•  Governors have a good working knowledge and understanding of schools and the education system

        However

• The Governing Body profile is not high enough and too many staff are unclear who we are and what we do.
• As  Governors find themselves responsible for new areas relevant training will be needed. 
• The skills audit highlighted areas where we would benefit from training and which would direct future recruitment.
• Whilst beneficial to individual governors, school visits are sometimes without strategic purpose
• Full Governing Body meetings are too long and often too operational

As a result of this self evaluation, and as part of our improved effectiveness, we are determined to address the issues that were highlighted during that day. These points are addressed in our governor development plan which sits within the overall school development plan for 2019-20.

Would you like to join us?

We currently have vacancies for 3 co-opted Governors and 1 Parent governor on the Governing body and would like to increase the range of skills available to support the work of the school.

We are especially seeking governors with financial management expertise, with experience of basing funding decisions on organisational priorities and the ability to interpret financial data and question financial performance against strategic priorities. Prospective  governors with HR experience and expertise would also be very welcome. Governors are vital to ensure the governing body is fully representative of school users and our local community. Being a member of our governing body is a rewarding experience and will ensure you continue to make a lasting contribution to the development of the school and the education of its pupils. 

If you would like to become involved as a Governor/Parent Governor please contact Lynda Callaghan, our Chair of Governors, for an informal discussion. We would be delighted to hear from you.  

Email lcallaghan@hazel.leicester.sch.uk or call 0116 233 8411

Alternatively contact:

Governor Services Team – Education Performance Service
Social Care and Education
Leicester City Council

Tel: 0116 454 1916

www.leicester.gov.uk/governors

Governor Blog

Check out our Governor Blog to keep up to date with what Governors do eg. 

* Governor training
* Accompanying pupils on school visits
* Walkthroughs to monitor the day to day running of the school
* Supporting initiatives in the community

Governor Responsibilities 2020 – 2021