Victoria Lane Academy is proud to be a member of Tudhoe Learning Trust. Governance within the Trust is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, who have chosen to delegate some of their powers in relation to governance to the school’s Local Governing Body.
The Local Governing Body comprises of governors elected by parents, governors elected by staff, the Head Teacher and a number of governors appointed by the Board of Directors. The LGB meets termly and is responsible for the following functions:
- The strategic planning of the school;
- Monitoring the progress of the school’s School Improvement priorities;
- Holding the school’s senior leaders to account for the outcomes and progress of pupils;
- Monitoring the school’s budget;
- Monitoring the effectiveness of specific areas identified by Directors.
The LGB has no responsibility for making any changes to the budget once Directors have agreed it, or authorising any additional expenditure unless the Trust’s Executive Head Teacher and/or Chief Financial Officer have given prior approval.
As part of their work, governors make regular visits to the school and look at key areas of the school’s activity – pupil achievement and progress, safeguarding, use of Pupil Premium and PE grant funding, reading, attendance as well as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Through its work, the LGB promotes high standards and educational achievement for all pupils in the school.
Please read our welcome message from Mr David Bowes (Chair)
Victoria Lane Academy – LGB Information 2020-21
| Name | Representing | Monitoring Roles | Term of Office | Governor/Trustee at another school | Business Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Bowes - Chair | Director Appointed | Safeguarding including E-safety Special Needs Pupil Premium Allocations | 1/12/2016 30/11/2020 | 1 Excellence MAT – Member and Director since 1/7/17 St Francis CE Junior School Newton Aycliffe - governor Five Stones Learning Federation - governor | TLT - Member and Director since 1/12/12 |
| Charlie Kay - Vice Chair | Director Appointed | Personal Development, Behaviour & Welfare | 30/4/2018- 29/4/2022 | - | None |
| Jane Richardson - Head Teacher | EX Officio | - | 7/1/2013 -Ongoing | Stephenson Way Academy & Nursery School – governor since September 2017 | Employee - TLT |
| Michael Morrison | Director Appointed | Health and Safety | 9/9/2019- 8/9/2023 | St Francis Junior School – governor since February 2019 | None |
| Anne Sawczyn | Director Appointed | English | 1/12/2016-30/11/2020 | - | None |
| Angela Carr | Staff Elected | English | 16/02/2017- 06/04/2021 | - | Employee - TLT |
| Ann Gregg | Director Appointed | EYFS Mathematics | 06/06/2020- 05/06/2024 | Governor at St Joseph’s RCVA since 2011 Director at Coundon and Leeholme Early Years (CLEY) since 2007 | None |
| Paul Lawton | Parent Elected | PE & School Sport | 25/06/2019 - 24/06/2023 | - | None |
| Gareth Duff | Parent Elected | - | 25/06/2019 - 24/06/2023 | - | None |
Victoria Lane Academy LGB information 20-21
None of our governors have declared any financial or non-financial interests. The Governing Body meets termly and our committees meet on a needs driven basis. Meetings are well attended and we have never had to cancel a meeting because it was not quorate.
We always welcome suggestions, feedback & ideas from parents and carers. Please contact our Chair of Governors, David Bowes, via the school office if there is anything you would like to discuss. You can view further Governor information on the Tudhoe Learning Trust website.
Annual Governance Statement
Please view our Annual Governance Statement:
Trust Governance Information
- Tudhoe Learning Trust – Strategic Governance Model 2017-2018
- Tudhoe Learning Trust – Strategic Governance Resigned Directors
How To Become A School Governor
Please contact the school or the Tudhoe Learning Trust if you require further information about Governor roles and responsibilities or would like to become a School Governor at Victoria Lane Academy.
Governor Code of Conduct
TLT – Code of Conduct for Governance 2018-2019
Governor’s Attendance
Schools are required to display a record of Governor’s attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
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 2020-2021
| Name | Meeting 10/11/20 | Meeting 16/03/21 | Meeting 22/06/20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Bowes | |||
| Mrs Jane Richardson | |||
| Mr Charlie Kay | |||
| Mrs Anne Sawczyn | |||
| Mr Michael Morrison | |||
| Mrs Angela Carr | |||
| Mr L Blake | |||
| Mrs Ann Gregg | |||
| Mr Paul Lawton | |||
| Mr Gareth Duff |
Archived Attendance
You can view our archived attendance on our website.
TUDHOE LEARNING TRUST SCHOOLS
SCHEME OF DELEGATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES (LGB) – TERMS OF REFERENCE
KEY:
Approve (A)
Recommend (R)
Propose (P)
Develop (D)
Monitor and Report (M)
Consulted (C)
Implement(I)
| GOVERNANCE | LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY |
|---|---|
| Local Governing Body (LGB) Terms of Reference and review annually | R |
| LGB working groups/committees and membership of these groups and agree Terms of Reference | A |
| Appoint Chair of LGB and agree length of Term of Office | A |
| Appoint (and remove) LGB members (with approval of CEO) | A |
| Ensure LGB meets termly, is clerked by SSGS, reports from HT and subject leaders are included and governors challenge and support where appropriate | A |
| ACADEMY PERFORMANCE, CURRICULUM AND TEACHING | |
| Academy Performance Targets | R |
| Review/Discuss Academy Performance Targets e.g. SEF and School Development Plan | R |
| Discuss and agree a system of governor monitoring linked to the SDP and/or curriculum subjects | R |
| Discuss and approve both the Academy 3 year and 1 year Plans | A |
| Discuss and approve Academy Staff Development Plan | A |
| Receive reports on Teaching and Support Staff Performance Management through monitoring of targets, reviews being carried out and make recommendations for pay awards or otherwise following reports from the HT or SM | M/R |
| Discuss, approve and adopt any policies that are amended to take account of the Academy differences | A |
| STAFF MANAGEMENT. POLICIES AND PAY | |
| Discuss and staff complimenting, structure/restructure, redundancy, suspension and return to work and grades | M |
| Contribute to the appointment of the Head and Senior Management Team | R |
| Discuss, review and policies relating to these matters | M |
| FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT | |
| Discuss and Propose academy 1 year budget | P |
| Discuss and Recommend academy 3 year Budget Plan | |
| Discuss and Recommend Academy interim Year End Accounts | R |
| Discuss and Monitor Academy YTD reports | M |
| ACADEMY PROCEDURES | |
| Discuss and review Pupil and Sports Premiums ensuring VFM and legal requirements are met | C/M |
| Ensure that everything is being done to ensure pupils are attending school and absences are pursued | C/M |
| Ensure that the school website is compliant with all legal requirements and is updated on a regular basis | A |
| PREMISES AND ASSETS | |
| Discuss and review the Asset Management Plan as and when required | P |
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