Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). The school was re-awarded the Governor Mark in August 2015.
Governor Committee Structure
For further information on who our governors are and what they do, please click on each name below:
| Name | Representing | Term of Office | Commitees | Curriculum Responsibility | Special Interest | Relationship to Staff | Register of Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Rumbles | Staff – HT | 01/09/2021 - ongoing | Finance School Life including Curriculum Personnel | Headteacher All Subjects | Headteacher | None | None |
| Laura Richardson | Staff – DHT | 01/09/2021 - ongoing | Finance School Life including Curriculum Personnel | Deputy Head and Y6 Teacher All Subjects | Deputy Head Teacher Y6 & SENCO | None | None |
| Father Peter Kashouris | Diocese / Foundation | 26/05/2006 - Ongoing | Performance Management First/Pay Review School Life including Curriculum | Distinctive Christian Character / Ethos R.E. | Chair of the Governing Body Child Protection and Safeguarding Looked After Children | None | Governor at another school |
| David Duell | Local Authority | 14/07/2021 - 13/07/2025 | Finance (chair) | Maths Pupil Premium | Health and Safety | None | None |
| Angela Lee | Co-opted | 19/06/2021 - 18/06/2025 | Personnel First/Pay Review School Life including Curriculum | Phonics and Early Reading | Wellbeing | None | None |
| Helen Tait | Foundation | 01/10/2024 - 31/09/2028 | School Life including Curriculum | RE & Collective Worship | None | None | |
| Daniela Slanickova | Parent | 28/09/2023 - 28/09/2026 | School Life including Curriculum | EYFS, PSHE | Wellbeing, SEND and Vulnerable Groups | None | None |
| Lesley Kirkup | Co-opted | 20/10/2024 - 19/10/2028 | School Life including Curriculum | English | None | None | |
| Adam Henderson | Parent | 17/11/2023 - 16/11/2027 | School Life including Curriculum | PE and Sports Premium | None | None | |
| Jonathan Ayre | Parent | 28/09/2022 - 28/09/2026 | Finance School Life including Curriculum | Computing | Training and Development | None | None |
| Clair Barbour | Parent | 17/12/2021 - 16/12/2025 | Finance School Life including Curriculum | History, Geography | GDPR, Behaviour and Safety | None | None |
Shincliffe School Governors
Governors make regular visits to the school, both formally and informally. A record of the visit, completed by the Governor, is kept by the Head Teacher. Below is a document detailing specific School Governor responsibilities, terms of office and the Governing Body sub-committee representation. There is also an update from the most recent meetings.
Annual Governance Statements
Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body 2022
Governor Visit Proforma
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Shincliffe CE Primary adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the full document below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Durham Learning Gateway
If you are a school governor, you might want to try visiting the pages that have been created in the Durham Learning Gateway. Here you can view important school information such as policies.
Important: Only school governors who have been given access rights to this area will be able to view the information shown on these pages. If you are a school governor and would like access to this area, please contact the school and we will do our best to help.
How To Become A School Governor
If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.
Governor Attendance
Schools are now required to display a record of Governor’s attendance at meetings for each school academic year. As well as the Full Governing Body Meetings, members of the Governing Body meet for the School Life and Curriculum Committee (SLIC) and the Finance Committee.
KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
Record of Attendance 2024-2025
| Name | FGB Meeting 10/10/2024 | FGB Meeting - TBC | FGB Meeting - TBC | SLIC Meeting 14/11/2024 | SLIC Meeting - TBC | SLIC Meeting - TBC | Finance Meeting - TBC | Finance Meeting - TBC | Finance Meeting - TBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Rumbles | ✓ | ||||||||
| Peter Kashouris | ✓ | ||||||||
| Laura Richardson | ✓ | ||||||||
| David Duell | ✓ | ||||||||
| Angela Lee | ✓ | ||||||||
| Daniela Slanickova | ✓ | ||||||||
| Helen Tait | ✓ | ||||||||
| Clair Barbour | ✓ | ||||||||
| Jonathan Ayre | A/A | ||||||||
| Adam Henderson | ✓ | ||||||||
| Lesley Kirkup | ✓ |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
Full Governing Body
Terms of Reference
Strategic Leadership and Accountability:
- In collaboration with school leaders determine a clear and explicit vision for the future. Ensure this is communicated to the whole organisation.
- Set strong and clear values and ensure these are embedded across the organisation and adhered to.
- Determine the strategic direction for the school.
- Monitor and evaluate pupil progress and attainment by receiving reports and information from the Headteacher and other school leaders; compare against national and local benchmarks over time.
- Receive reports from committees, working parties or individuals and agree actions.
- Approve the SEF and monitor throughout the year.
- Approve the School Improvement Plan priorities and monitor throughout the year progress towards agreed actions.
- Ensure there is a transparent system for performance management of all staff which is clearly linked to the school’s priorities.
- Ensure there are mechanisms in place to listen to and respond to the views of parents/carers, pupils, staff, local communities and employers.
- Agree recruitment process to be followed in relation to Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher posts; where delegated ratify appointments.
- Final approval of the annual budget plan.
- Monitor the school’s budget throughout the year.
- Agree virement and expenditure limits for the Headteacher.
- Hold at least 3 meetings each academic year. Ensure that committee meetings are held in accordance with the agreed terms of reference.
People and Structures:
- Elect and/or remove Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors.
- Appoint Committee Chairs or delegate to each committee.
- Consider and agree delegation of functions to individuals or committees.
- Agree committee terms of reference and membership.
- Establish a register of Governors outside interests.
- Ensure Governors information on the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register and the school website is up to date and compliant with current requirements.
- Confirm the Instrument of Government and subsequent amendments.
- Appoint Co-opted, Local Authority and where necessary Parent Governors to the Board.
- Review and monitor the Governor Induction Process.
- Have regard for Governors professional development.
- Where necessary, suspend or remove Governors from the Board.
- Appoint/dismiss the Clerk to the Governing Body.
Compliance and Evaluation:
- Consider business provided by Local Authority and other sources
- Suspend or end suspension of staff members.
- Ensure all statutory policies are in place and there is an effective policy review cycle.
- Review and agree the Governor Code of Conduct.
- Confirm arrangements for completion of a Governor Skills Audit.
- Ensure there is regular self-evaluation and review of individual’s contribution to the Board as well as the Board’s overall operation and effectiveness.
- As necessary, consider an external review of the Board’s effectiveness.
- Ensure school website is up to date and compliant with current DfE requirements.
SCHOOL LIFE INCLUDING CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
- Ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements and review the schools H&S policy regularly.
- Ensuring that PE is taught as part of the school curriculum and monitoring the quality and adequacy of provision.
- Promoting an ethos that encourages participation in competitive sport both within the school and between schools.
- Monitoring nutritional standards within the school to include school meals, snack provision and food available during wrap-around provision.
- Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Equality Act and that arrangements are made to ensure the policy is monitored and reviewed regularly. The policy is known to parents and carers.
- Consider developing a whole school drugs policy.
- Decide whether or not to provide sex and relationships education and consult parents (Primary). Agree the content and organisation of the school’s programme of sex and relationship education and notify parents of their right to withdraw their child (all schools that choose to provide S&R education).
- Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and how other personal qualities are developed within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE and that parents are told of their right to withdraw their child.
- Ensure the effective integration of children with SEN.
- Consider the provision of sex and drugs education.
- Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
- Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
- Anti-Bullying and Behaviour Policies.
- Ensure that buildings and the learning environment are maintained and fit for purpose.
- Oversee the use of the premises by outside users.
- Establish and keep under review an asset management /building development plan.
- Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan.
- Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement (SSFA 1998).
- Set targets for achievement at KS1and KS2. Monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of policies on race, SEN, Looked After Children and Disability on pupils, parents and communities.
- Contribute to the development and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan and the SEF.
- Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide.
- Ensure that a report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to their parents/ guardians annually.
- Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
- Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs.
- Ensure the school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination.
- In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
- Monitor the provision of extra-curricular activities including overnight stays provided to encourage recreation and social development.
- Ensure the quality of education, teaching and learning (see Enjoy and Achieve re promoting high standards).
- Plan to raise standards of achievement and monitor the school’s performance.
- Consider out-of-hours provision (wrap around provision, study support, extended schools).
- Ensure the school works well with its community, parents and other schools.
- Ensure the school meets the requirements of the SEN and relevant disability legislation.
- Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.
- Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
- Monitor the development of pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities.
- Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos.
- Ensure that the school has an effective school council. The Governing Body takes account of the school council in determining the way in which the school is conducted.
- The school promotes inclusive policies that allow for the achievement of all pupils.
- Ensure that adequate provision is made for transition between primary and secondary education.
- Ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities in terms of Race discrimination.
- Ensure each child is able to reach their potential including the gifted and talented (differentiation).
- Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term exclusions.
The Finance Committee
Terms of Reference:
- In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
- To establish and maintain an up to date 3 year financial plan.
- To monitor income and expenditure, including virement decisions, significant anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the Governing Body.
- To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standards
- 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 level agreements.
- To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
- To prepare financial statements for inclusion in any reports to parents.
- To ensure as far as is practical that any Health and Safety (H&S) issues are appropriately funded in accordance with priorities.
Pupil Discipline Committee
Terms of Reference
- Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
- Consider representations from parents/carers in the case of fixed term exclusions in line with statutory guidance.
- 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 in line with statutory guidance.
First / Pay Review Committee
Terms of Reference
- Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
- Annually agree the Teachers’ Pay Policy.
- Act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy when carrying out the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
- Report to the Finance and Premises Committee on pay review related expenditure.
- Requests made in accordance with personnel policies e.g. flexible working, leave of absence etc. are delegated to the Headteacher.
- Make decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body e.g. disciplinary, grievance, ill-health, capability etc. (Unless delegated to the Headteacher).
- Deal with matters relating to staffing reductions.
Appeals Committee
Terms of Reference
- Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
- Consider any appeal against a decision made under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body.
- Consider any appeal against a decision made by the First/Pay Review Committee during the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
- Consider any appeal against selection for redundancy through a staffing reduction process.
- Consider complaints against the school in accordance with the agreed school Complaints Procedure.
Headteacher’s Performance Review Committee
Terms of Reference
- Set, with the support of the External Advisor (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) Headteacher’s annual performance objectives.
- Monitor throughout the year the performance of the Headteacher against agreed performance objectives.
- Review, with the support of the External Advisor (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) achievement of performance objectives.
- Make recommendations to the First/Pay Review Committee in respect of the Headteacher’s annual pay progression.
Personnel Committee
Terms of Reference
- Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
- Carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and Finance and Premises Committee.
- Ensure the school is sufficiently staffed to fulfil the effective operation of the school and the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
- Oversee the recruitment and selection procedures for all staff.
- Make recommendations to the Finance and Premises Committee on personnel-related expenditure.
- Develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (e.g. Appraisal, Whistleblowing, Recruitment and Selection).
- Keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well-being including monitoring attendance management.
- Review the Single Central Record to ensure compliance with current statutory guidance.
- Approve the Staff Code of Conduct and ensure all staff are aware.
Delegation to the Headteacher
School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009
The Governing Body can delegate the power to appoint outside the leadership group to:
- The Headteacher
- One or more Governors with the right of the Headteacher to advise
- One or more Governors and the Headteacher
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