Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
Governor Committee Structure
Click on the names below the find out more about our Governors
| Name | Representing | Term of Office | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationships in school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Veronica Kelsey | Diocese | 10/03/25 | Headteacher Performance Review Hearings First Committee incorporating Pay Review | Chair of Governing Body Safeguarding, Prevent and FGM Governor | None | None |
| Mrs Lauren Blakey | Staff | 10/03/25 | Admissions Committee | E-Safety and Child Sexual Exploitation Governor | Employed by St Michael's School | Teacher at St Michael's School |
| Mrs Jo Bruton | School | ongoing | All | Whole school | Employed by St Michael's School | Headteacher of St Michael's School |
| Mrs Elizabeth Hidson | Diocese | 10/03/25 | Hearings First Committee incorporating Pay Review | Pupil Premium and LAC children Governor | Employed by Sunderland University | None |
| Fr David Coxon | Diocese | 10/03/25 | Admissions Committee | Vice Chair of Governors Religious Life of School Governor | Foundation Governor at Federation of St Joseph's and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School | Parish Priest |
| Mrs Gemma Spence | Parent | 10/03/25 | Admissions Committee | Remote Learning Governor | Relax Kids Coach Employed at St Bede's School | Parent at the school |
| Cllr Bev Coult | Associate Governor | 10/03/25 | Headteachers Performance Review | Vice Chair of Governors SEND Governor | Local Authority Councillor LA Governor at Langley Park Primary School Treasurer of Langley Park Primary School Secretary of Langley Park Allotments Secretary of Langley Park and Bear Park Cricket Club | None |
| Mrs Bev Rochester | Diocese | 10/03/25 | Hearings First Committee incorporating Pay Review | Sports Premium Governor | None | Parent at the School |
Recent Resignations
- Mrs Ruth Veitch (Foundation) Resigned from post October 2020
- Mr Jonathan Yates (Diocese) Resigned from post June 2020
- Mrs Kate Turner (Parent) Resigned from post February 2020
- Mrs Kim Ivory (Parent) Resigned from post May 2019
- Cllr Mike McGaun (LA) Resigned from post December 2018
- Mrs Jude Gallagher (Diocese) Resigned from post August 2018
- Mrs Tanya Watson (Parent) Resigned from post May 2018
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.
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
St Michael’s RC Primary School, 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)
Annual Governance Statement
Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body 2020
Governor Attendance
Schools are required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
x – Did not attend
N/A – Not a member of the committee
Record of Governor Attendance 2020–2021
| Name | Full Governing Body Meeting 13/10/20 | Full Governing Body Meeting 23/03/21 | Full Governing Body Meeting 08/06/21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Veronica Kelsey | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mrs Lauren Blakey | ✓ | AA | AA |
| Mrs Jo Bruton | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fr David Coxon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mrs Gemma Spence | ✓ | AA | ✓ |
| Cllr Bev Coult | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mrs Bev Rochester | Joined in May 2021 | Joined in May 2021 | ✓ |
| Mrs Elizabeth Hidson | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mrs Rosaleen Palmer | ✓ | Resigned January 2021 | Resigned January 2021 |
| Mrs Ruth Veitch | ✓ | Resigned December 2020 | Resigned December 2020 |
| Mrs Christina Harrison | ✓ | Resigned December 2020 | Resigned December 2020 |
| Mrs Julia Brown | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
Finance & Premises Committee (incorporating village hall)
CHAIR:
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 Financial Management Standard for Schools.
- 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.
- To ensure that Pay Review Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.
Meetings: Termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with Oracle.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest. Associate members may not vote.
Personnel Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To establish and review a performance management policy for all staff.
- To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.
- To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on Personnel-related expenditure.
Meetings: As and when required.
Pecuniary interest.
Delegation to the Headteacher
School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009.
Appointment: 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.
Delegate to the Headteacher as above for:
- Permanent teaching staff posts
- Permanent support staff posts
- Temporary staff
Dismissals: Governing Body delegates to Headteacher responsibility for up to and including first written warning/first and final warning:
- All staff other than Headteacher, unless exceptional circumstances exist
- Headteacher to a committee of the Governing Body
Governing Body delegates to the Hearings/First Committee for the dismissal of all staff unless exceptional circumstance exist.
Headteacher’s Performance Review Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To arrange to meet with the Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.
- To decide with support from the EA or EDP whether the targets have been met and to set new targets annually.
- To monitor throughout the year the performance of the Headteacher against the targets.
- To make recommendations to the appropriate committee in respect of awards for the successful meeting of set targets.
Meetings: Autumn term, plus monitoring meetings.
Disqualifications: the Headteacher and staff.
Hearings/First Committee (incorporating Pay Review)
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, e.g. disciplinary, grievance, ill health etc where the Headteacher is the subject of the action.
- To make any decisions relating to a member of staff (other than the Headteacher) under the Personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (unless delegated to the Headteacher).
- Reducing the staffing.
- To act in accordance with the Whole School Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body to include matters relating to: teaching and learning responsibility payments, SEN (Special Educational Needs) allowances, recruitment and retention payments, points for previous experience, bursaries, regradings.
- To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
Meetings: Autumn term, plus monitoring meetings.
Disqualifications: The Headteacher; School Staff; the Chair of Governors (if he/she has prior knowledge or involvement); Spouse/partner; Pecuniary interest
Delegation to the Headteacher
Under the 2003 Staffing Regulations the Governing Body determines the extent to which it delegates to the Headteacher responsibility, up to and including initial dismissal decisions for school staff.
Appeals Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the Hearing/First Committee (or Headteacher if delegated).
- To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body. (eg disciplinary, pay review etc).
- To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
Meetings: As and when required. Must have no fewer members than the Hearing.
Disqualifications: Headteacher. Any Governor who was involved in the hearing. Spouse/partner.
Admissions Committee (Voluntary Aided Schools only)
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference:
- To determine within statutory provisions and the Governing Body policy whether any child shall be admitted to the school.
- To review admission arrangements and to make recommendations for changes to the Governing Body.
Meetings: As and when required.
Disqualifications: Associate members may not vote.
Raising Standards Committee
Terms of Reference:
- To make recommendations to the Governing Body and review the school’s curriculum statement and policies as required in the light of the LA curriculum statement and statutory obligations regarding the National Curriculum.
- In collaboration with the staff to provide information about how the curriculum is taught, evaluated and resourced.
- To review the policy and provision for sex education and to make recommendations where necessary.
- To review the policy and provision for collective worship and RE and to make recommendations where necessary.
- To monitor and review information about school performance and reporting to parents accordingly to statutory requirements.
- To contribute to the School Development Plan.
- Curriculum/performance review including target setting and monitoring mechanisms.
Meetings: Half termly.
Virement & Expenditure Limits
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £5,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £5,000 |
| Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | £5,000 to £10,000 | Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body. Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity. |
|
| Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity. | |||
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