Governing Board update: July 2024
The Summer Term Full Governing Board meeting took place, 9 July 2024 in school. The meeting was chaired by myself.
Governors approved the minutes of the March 2024 meeting and the 20 June 2024 strategy meeting and reviewed agreed action points - Mr Whitehead is to put the minutes on the school website.
It is hoped to finalise the work on the strategy review before the end of term for ‘signing off’ at the September 2024 business meeting.
Governors then discussed the minutes from the April 2024 Curriculum Committee meeting, where the committee had heard about art and DT and the intervention programme - the session provided really helpful information for governors.
Governors agreed to reflect further on the approach to governor curriculum monitoring. Mr Whitehead is also to approach the Diocese adviser about a possible short training session for governors to support this monitoring process.
Governors then discussed the termly headteacher’s report and questioned Mr Whitehead on:
- Staff professional development - including plans for the next academic year;
- Free school meals;
- Health and safety - ensuring that health and safety adviser recommendations had been completed;
- Well-being - of both the children and the staff team;
- Attendance - including the data on unauthorised term-time family holidays;
- Attainment - with a particular focus on maths and the plans in school for maths fluency next academic year.
Mr Whitehead also talked about the planned focus from the autumn term on behaviour for learning.
Mr Whitehead was thanked for his work on the headteacher’s report - this is an important termly document which helps governors review the work of the school.
Governors then looked at the SEND report and the North Yorkshire School Adviser’s April 2024 report on SEND and inclusion. SEND continues to be a real strength of the school reflecting the work of Ms Akrigg, as SENCO, and the whole staff team.
Governors then discussed academisation in the light of both developments locally and the outcome of the recent general election. Governors again decided after some discussion that at this stage it was not in the schools’ best interests to pursue the academisation route but that a ‘watching brief’ on developments locally and nationally should continue to be maintained.
Governors then discussed: the safeguarding governor monitoring visit report and the online filtering and monitoring report; the plans for the parent forum and; the school website.
Governors next approved the updated home school agreement for the forthcoming academic year and ‘signed off’ the updated complaints and online safety policies, both of which were drawn up using North Yorkshire templates.
Finally, governors reviewed the school’s approach to governance through three key questions from the diocese governance review checklist - it is intended that future Full Governing Board meetings will continue this review approach.
We are currently seeking a further parent governor. Information will be circulated after the summer - please look out for this and consider the possibility of joining the governing board. Any of the governors would be happy to discuss the work of the governing board, just let Mr Whitehead or Ms Akrigg know.
Alternatively, I can be contacted through: [email protected]
Finally, the Rev Mike is stepping back from the governing board for the next year or so, to allow him to develop further his work across the KCB Parish and with the children in school - I would like to thank him for his time and continued support for the school.
Governing Board meeting minutes and further information on the work of the governors can be seen on the school website at: www.kildwickceschool.org.uk
My thanks to Mr Whitehead and all the staff team for their dedication and support for the children throughout the year.
Thank you for your continued support for the kildwick school community. I hope you enjoy the summer break.
John Perry
Chair of Governors
July 2024