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Ashmole
Primary School

Information about the Primary Governing Committee

1. The Work of the Primary Local Governing Committee

The Primary Governing Local Committee’s role is to assist in developing the strategic direction of the school.  The Primary Local Governing Committee is responsible for:

  • Advise on the admissions policy
  • Assist in developing the School’s Improvement Plan and help monitor its effectiveness
  • Assist the Trust in appointing the Head Teacher when the need arises
  • Advise on key policies that regulate how the school operates, e.g. Health & Safety
  • Ensure that the school is compliant with legal requirements
  • Assist in the Trust employment practices as the Trust is the employer of its staff

In addition, the Primary Local Governing Committee has a duty to monitor the work of the school, especially its performance, and to be a critical friend to the school through working in partnership with the Head Teacher.

The Head Teacher is responsible for the running of the school, not the Local Governing Committee.

The Primary Local Governing Committee also has a key function to perform with regard to pupil discipline:

  • In cases of suspension, the Pupil Discipline Panel may review the decision of the Head Teacher where an appeal occurs.  In cases of permanent exclusion, the Pupil Discipline Panel has to review the decision of the Head Teacher within 15 school days.  The Local Governing Committee is also responsible for establishing the independent Review Panel in permanent exclusion cases where the parent/carer wishes to appeal against the decision of the Pupil Discipline Panel to uphold the Head Teacher’s decision.

2. How Does the Primary Local Governing Committee Operate?

The Committee has three meetings a year, one per term, along with one governor engagement visits each term and individual governor visits to the school. The Head Teacher provides a report on the work of the school to the termly meetings.  At the termly meeting, the Committee will go through the report from the Head Teacher and determine the outcome of discussions on pertinent topics relevant to governance.

The LGC is constituted in accordance with the requirements set out by the Trust which shall include, as a minimum: Headteacher x1; Staff Governor x1; Parent Governor x2; LA Governor x1 and Community or Co-Opted Governor as required with no maximum.

Parent Governors and Staff Governors will be sought through the process of nomination and election procedures. The Chair of the LGC will be recommended by the LGC to the Trust Board who will appoint this position. The Chair of the LGC cannot be a staff member.

Term of Office – each Governor term of office is four years and the NGA recommends that Governors serve no more than two consecutive terms in one Local Governing Committee.

Quorum for meetings – one third of the total number of Governors or 3 if higher.

LGC Committees – There are no sub committees at LGC level.

Ashmole Trust have established Local Governing Committees (LGCs) with delegated powers agreed within the Scheme of Delegation. All decisions made therefore must be in line with the agreed Scheme of Delegation. The Board of Trustees retain the overall responsibility for governance within Ashmole Trust.

The Local Governing Committee must adhere to the Trust’s Financial Procedures document. The LGC will play a crucial role in driving forward attainment and progress in the school and offer appropriate challenge to the Head Teacher.

• To monitor assessment targets and data in line with Local and National standards;

• To monitor progress made in their individual school ensuring they are in line with Local and National standards as well as monitoring identified groups e.g. Sex, FSM, SEN etc.;

• Ensure that all pupils’ SEN requirements are being met;

• To monitor and review the information about school performance and reporting to parents according to statutory requirements;

• Through the role of Governor to monitor the implementation of the curriculum within their school.;

• To monitor the pastoral care of all pupils in line with policies related to pastoral care; and

• To provide effective support and challenge to school leaders.

• Reporting to the Trust Board on the overall performance of the school and specifically on any aspects of concern either to the LGC or Trust Board

• Dealing with the regulatory requirements of pupil exclusions through a designated panel

• Liaising with the Trust Board and CEO on all aspects of policy setting as they may respectively require

Consider and Address Complaints:

• To consider and handle complaints strictly in line with the Complaints Policy.

Consider and Address Cases of Pupil Discipline:

• To consider cases referred by the Head Teacher; and

• To consider any permanent exclusions made by the Head Teacher.

  • The Local Governing Committee also reviews the use of the school grounds and the maintenance and development of the site and its buildings.  It also reviews health & safety practices ensuring that the school and its site and buildings are fully compliant legally, as well as being very safe places to visit and work.
  • The Committee explores developments at the school with regard to the curriculum as well as monitoring the work of the school with regard to examination results and other key performances, the progress of special needs and looked after children, and the progress of the Equality Plan.

3. Parent & Staff Governors

Parents/carers and staff have the opportunity to vote for who they think will make a good governor when vacancies appear for parent or staff governor.  Parent and Staff Governors are not delegated to work specifically on behalf of or for parents. The post is chosen by ballot of parents or staff to select those who have the motivation, skills and qualities that would make a good governor in the best interest of the school.

Because the role and responsibilities of the Parent or Staff Governor are no different to other Governors, it is not the role of a Parent or Staff Governor to take up individual requests of parents or staff.  In all cases of a personal matter about what is happening at school as a parent or a member of staff, the advice from the Local Governing Committee is to take the matter to the Head Teacher, as it is the Head Teacher who is responsible for the running of the school.  If after that a parent or a member of staff feels a need to contact the Local Governing Committee, and it is not a formal complaint, then please contact the Clerk to the Local Governing Committee to discuss how best to resolve the issue.

4. Do you want to contact the Primary Local Governing Committee?

Sometimes parents/carers wish to contact the Local Governing Committee directly.  Sometimes parents/carers wish to contact Parent Governors about a school matter that is affecting them. 

The advice to parents/carers in these cases is clear.  Please contact the Head Teacher in the first instance.  The Head Teacher is operationally in charge of the school, not the Primary Local Governing Committee, so on most matters, it is the Head Teacher who can most effectively deal with the issue.  The Head Teacher is also a governor and, if the matter is more strategic, he is in the best position to bring it to the attention of the Primary Local Governing Committee.

There are formal processes to deal with admission and exclusion and parents/carers involved in those processes will be contacted directly over those matters and informed on how to appeal. 

If you are still of the view that you want to contact the Primary Local Governing Committee, please contact the Clerk, at the school for advice about how best to pursue the matter.

5. How to Contact the Primary Local Governing Committee

The Primary Local Governing Committee can be contacted via the Clerk to the Committee:

Mrs Monica Andrews

Clerk to the Primary Governing Committee
c/o Ashmole Primary School
Summit Way
Southgate
London  N14 7NP
Tel :  020 8361 1881

 

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