Governing Body

The Governing Body of a school is responsible for ensuring that it is run to promote pupil progress and achievement. Its duties include:

• Setting strategic direction, policies and objectives.
• Approving the school budget, and reviewing progress against the school's budget and objectives as set out in the school improvement plan.
• Appointing, challenging and supporting the head teacher.

Repton Manor primary School Governing Body is dedicated to working in partnership with the management of the school in order to ensure that all children have access to an excellent education and that the school always strives for continued progress in all areas for all children and groups of children.

The governing body is proud of the schools ethos towards learning but also it's dynamic attitude towards community inclusion and involvement with helping our children learn, have fun learning and improving social and physical awareness.

The Governing Body constitution from 1st September 2015 is:

• 2 parent governors (elected by parent nomination process and appointed by the governing body)
• 1 Head Teacher (appointed by the governing body)
• 1 staff representative (elected by school staff and appointed by the governing body)
• 1 local authority governor (appointed by the governing body and elected by the local authority)
• 8 co-opted governors (appointed by the governing body as members with skills useful to the governing body)
• 2 partnership governors (members of the local community appointed by the governing body).

The Governing body deligates some responsibilities for monitoring of the Full Governing body to the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Resources Committee:

Teaching and Learning Committee (chair Rebecca Smith) - Responsible for monitoring pupils and groups progress and acheivement, against School Improvment plan and national targets as well as understanding the needs of the children within the school and ensuring the school meets those educational needs as best it can.  Agree school policies relevant to the committee.

Resources Committee (chair Simon Tilby) - To monitor and agree the school 3 year budget annually, ensuring spending complies with national and local requirements. Benchmark spending to ensure best value as well as spending in line with school improvement plan targets.  To monitor the staffing structure and ensure efficient and well managed personnel to maximise school results with well established well being of the staff mantained.  Agree school policies relevant to the committee.

Attendance in school

During the last academic year 2015/16 the Governing Body met 11 times where the Head teacher reported to Governors on the Curriculum, Finance, Health and Safety, Premises and Staffing matters to be challenged, discussed and reviewed.

In addition to meetings the Governors visited the school last year to:

• take part in training,
• observe curriculum leaders, pupils and staff,
• Carry out health and safety walks
• confirm the implementation of school policies,
• become acquainted with the school,
• monitor attendance, child protection and school financial procedures,
• meet local residents, community groups and parent forums
• take part in school events and support the school, staff and volunteers
• Engage in Learning walks during the school day to monitor the school Improvement Plan,
• Visit the school, talk to parents, staff and discuus/investigate our ethos statement to ensure it still represents the school,
• Visit the school, talk to parents, staff and discuss/investigate our committment to British Values and how the school curriculum and ethos represents this. 

From our first Ofsted and beyond

We received our first Ofsted inspection in December 2013 with at least good in all categories and outstanding for behaviour of our students with an overall rating of good.  This represents an excellent start to our academic history and is testament to the hard work and dedication of our leadership team, teachers and all the staff whom have embraced our ethos for learning and values.  During 2014/15 we have worked to improve on the Ofsted areas together with our school improvement plan targets with vigour and commitment to our young learners with some very pleasing progress data overall for the year end.  Additionally to our work load the governing body during 2015/16 have investigated by consultion with the school, community, parents and pupils whether our school represents its stated ethos and how to establish a curriculum and school environment that encapsulates British Values but benefits the children and their learning in line with our school ethos and vision.  It was pleasing to hear the parents views on this subject and confirm after the time since our inception that the school still holds and encapulates its vision statement. Since the curriculum changes during 2015/16 we continue to embed outstanding practice within the classroom and ensure that all indivdual pupils progress in an accelerated rate and continue the positive Repton story felt by all our pupils whether they have been with us since Reception or joined us later.  

Health, Safeguarding and Wellbeing

The Governing Body and school are committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people, and require staff and volunteers to demonstrate this commitment in every aspect of their work.

We have extensive Safeguarding, Child Protection, Behaviour Management policies and procedures in place to safeguard our students from harm. Throughout the year staff and the Governing Body received Child Protection and Safeguarding training to up date on existing skills and this is kept under review annually or earlier if there are changes to government legislation.

Our security and access systems have been designed to ensure the safety of the children whilst on the school premises.  All visitors to the school are also issued with visitor badges with signing in and out procedures in place.

The school continues to carry out DBS checks for staff and volunteers to the site in order to safeguard our pupils. The school reports annually to Governors on Safeguarding and Child Protection processes which are in place at the school.

The school carries out regular health and safety risk assessments for the premises. Fire drills take place each half term and rigorous risk assessments are also carried out for all visits and trips.

Wayne Wills

Chair of Governors

Clerk to the Governing Body

Jacqui Wapshott as a member of KCC Clerking Service has supported the school since inception and continues to be a valued member of our team                                                                    

If you would like to contact the Governing body, please write to the school or email chair@reptonmanor.kent.sch.uk.

edited March 2017