Governing Board update: April 2025
The spring term Full Governing Board meeting took place 27 March 2025, in school. The meeting was chaired by myself.
Governors approved the minutes from the December 2024 full governing board meeting and reviewed agreed actions - governing board minutes can be found on the school website.
Governors also ‘appointed’ both Health and Safety and Pupil Premium (additional funding provided by the government for vulnerable learners) lead governors, to help ensure that the full governing board has appropriate oversight of these important areas of school - Ceri Marrow will lead on Health and Safety and Anna Fisher on the Pupil Premium.
Governors then heard updates from both the spring term curriculum and finance and resource committee meetings.
Reflecting on the finance and resource meeting, governors noted the current budget situation, and the need for considered discussion at the forthcoming budget meeting which will approve the 2025-2026 budget.
Governors approved the School Financial Value Standard return, as recommended by the finance and resource committee - Mr Whitehead has submitted this to the local authority.
Governors then heard an update from myself, as Chair, including information on the roll-out of the government’s Breakfast Club initiative, and reflection from the recent Diocese SIAMS (the inspection framework for CE and Methodist schools) training.
Mr Whitehead will be monitoring the roll-out of the Breakfast Club initiative through contact with local pilot schools.
Governors were then able to discuss the spring term Headteacher’s report with Mr Whitehead.
Discussion points included:
- Attainment data - notably EYFS, KS1 phonics and KS2, with reflection on school, local and national data;
- Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - with a focus on Education, Health and Care Plan provision;
- Attendance - with reflection on absence rates for different year groups and other identified cohorts;
- Behaviour - with a focus on current staff training and the ‘Paul Dix’ approach - Governors were reassured that communication with parents is planned;
- The number on the school roll and its implications for day-to-day management - including the likely roll for September 2025.
Governors passed on thanks to the staff team for their time and commitment, including their ongoing investment in CPD.
Governors then noted the North Yorkshire school advisors SEND visit report and SEND governor monitoring, and briefly discussed the latest government guidance on governance and SEND.
Governors next discussed safeguarding, including: the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Audit return; the governor safeguarding monitoring report; Prevent (the government multi-agency anti-terroism programme); and the results from the Growing Up in North Yorkshire survey, carried out across schools in North Yorkshire with children.
A discussion took place about the use of mobile phones, social media and online safety. Governors recognise the risks for children associated with access at a young age to mobile phones and will continue to look at approaches to support children - it is acknowledged that any move to a ‘mobile free community’ approach would have to be parent-led.
Safeguarding is a key consideration for governors - governors will continue to ensure that safeguarding responsibilities are central to all work in school.
Governors then looked briefly at parental engagement. The Parent Forum is seen as an important part of the overall parental engagement approach - governors aim to ensure that there is governor attendance at all forum meetings.
Governors then approved a range of school policy documents, including: the Before and After School Club policy; the Equality policy; the Managing Medicines policy; and the privacy notices.
Governors next looked at staff well-being, a key consideration for the governing board.
Governors finally reflected on three governance self-evaluation questions - strong governance remains key to ensuring that the school continues to provide a high quality education for all Kildwick children, alongside a focus on safety and well-being for all staff and children.
The next governors meeting is the summer term curriculum meeting in late April 2025.
I am happy to discuss the work of governors and can be contacted through: [email protected]
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
Apologies for the slight delay in circulating this update - the Easter break intervened.
John Perry
Chair of Governors
April 2025