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)
Governor Committee Structure
| Name | Representing | Committee | Term of Office | Responsibilities | Register of Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Bowes - Chair | Member Appointed | Pupil Outcomes Management Personnel & Discipline | 1/12/16- 30/11/2020 | Safeguarding including E-safety Special Needs | None |
| Charlie Kay - Vice Chair | Member Appointed | Appeals Premises, Personnel & Discipline, | 30/4/2014- 29/4/2018 | Personal Development, Behaviour & Welfare | None |
| Jane Richardson - Head Teacher | EX Officio | Premises, Personnel & Discipline, Pupil Outcomes | 7/1/2013 -Ongoing | None | |
| Michael Morrison | Member Appointed | Pupil Outcomes Personnel & Discipline | 9/9/2015- 8/9/2019 | Health and Safety | None |
| Anne Sawczyn | Community | Pupil Outcomes Appeals | 1/12/2016-30/11/2020 | English EYFS | None |
| Steve Rodchester | Community | Pupil Outcomes, First / Pay Review | 1/12/2016-30/11/2020 | Pupil Premium Allocations | None |
| Angela Carr | Staff | Pupil Outcomes | 16/02/2017- 06/04/2021 | English | None |
| Ann Gregg | Staff | Pupil Outcomes | 06/06/2016- 05/06/2020 | Mathematics | None |
| Paul Lawton | Parent | - | 25/06/2019 - 24/06/2023 | - | None |
| Gareth Duff | Parent | - | 25/06/2019 - 24/06/2023 | - | |
| Jim Smith - Chief Executive Officer | Observer | 1/9/2015-Ongoing | None |
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.
Please see attached information for our Record of Governor Attendance 2018-2019. Record of Governor Attendance 18-19
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:
- Coundon Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body (2018)
- Coundon Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body (2017)
- Coundon Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body (2016)
- Coundon Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body (2015)
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 now 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 2019-2020
| Name | Meeting | Meeting 19/11/19 | Meeting 17/03/20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Bowes | ✓ | ||
| Mrs Jane Richardson | ✓ | ||
| Mr Charlie Kay | A/A | ||
| Mrs Anne Sawczyn | A/A | ||
| Mr Michael Morrison | ✓ | ||
| Mr Steve Rodchester | ✓ | ||
| Mrs Angela Carr | ✓ | ||
| Mr L Blake | ✓ | ||
| Mrs Ann Gregg | A/A | ||
| 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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