Our Governing Body - The Grove Primary School

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).

Our School Governors are responsible for raising school standards by:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

To find out more information about each governor you can click on their name in the table below.

Governor Committee Structure

Name of Governor	Category	Appointed By	Committees served on	Term of Office	Special Interest Area	Register of Interest	Business, Financial & Governance Interests
Ms Bernadette Atkinson	Headteacher	Not Applicable		N/A		No interests to declare.	Employee of the school in the role of Headteacher.
Mrs Michelle Thompson	Local Authority	Governing Body	Curriculum & Standards, Finance and Premises and First/Pay Review and Staffing	08.12.2024- 07.12.2028	SEND Pupil Premium Child in care	No interests to declare.	Employee of Natwest PLC
Miss Lesley Kendall	Co-Opted	Governing Body	Curriculum & Standards, First/Pay Review and Staffing and Appeals	27.09.2023- 26.09.2027	Modern Foreign Languages Mathematics Sports Premium	No interest to declare.	Employee of Durham University.
Mrs Carly Grundy	Staff	Staff	Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises Committee	23.01.2026- 22.01.2030		No interest to declare.	Employee of the school in the role of Deputy Headteacher and SENCO
Mrs Victoria Thompson	Parent	Governing Body	Curriculum and Standards, Appeals and Complaint Appeals	04.07.2025- 03.07.2029	Safeguarding GDPR Website	Child attends school.	Employee at WF Leisure LTD
Mr Dale Checksfield	Co-Opted	Governing Body	Finance and Premises and Appeals	03.04.2025- 02.04.2026	Safeguarding	No interests to declare.	Employee of the school in the role of Deputy Headteacher and SENCO
Mrs Rachael Wilkinson	Co-Opted	Governing Body	Curriculum and Standards and Appeals	04.11.2022- 03.11.2026	Curriculum	No interests to declare.
Mr Richard Lowe	Co-Opted	Governing Body		02.07.2026- 01.07.2030
Mr Lee Bramley	Parent	Governing Body	Finance and Premises and Appeals	16.03.2026- 15.03.2030		Child attends school.
Ms Jayne Baker	Co-Opted	Governing Body	Finance and Premises and First/Pay review and Appeals	19.07.2025- 18.07.2029	Health and Safety	No interests to date.

Responsibility of the Governing Body

Terms of Reference

Strategic Leadership and Accountability:

Work with school leaders to set a clear vision with a focus on pupil progress, achievement, and well-being. Ensure this is communicated to the whole organisation and reviewed regularly.
Set the values for the organisation and ensure these are embedded throughout the organisation and adhered to.
Determine the strategic direction and vision for the school.
Monitor that school leaders are keeping up with their statutory duties in relation to the maintenance of the Single Central Record (SCR).
Monitor and evaluate pupil progress and attainment by receiving reports and information from the Headteacher, other school leaders and external sources; 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 progress towards agreed actions throughout the year.
Review and agree the school’s Business Continuity Plan annually.
Ensure the well-being of staff and that staff workload is managed.
Ensure there is a transparent system for performance management of all staff which is clearly linked to the school’s priorities. Have oversight of staff performance throughout the year.
Ensure there are mechanisms in place to listen to and respond to the views of parents/carers, pupils, staff, local communities and employers.
Agree the recruitment process to be followed in relation to Senior Leader posts; where delegated ratify appointments.
Approve the annual budget plan.
Monitor the school’s budget throughout the year.
Agree 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 Governance Structures:

Elect and/or remove Chair of Governos and Vice Chair of Governors.
Annually appoint Committee Chairs or delegate to each committee.
Consider and agree delegation of functions to individuals or committees.
Agree annually the committee terms of reference and membership.
Agree annually the quorums for committee meetings.
Agree annually the voting rights for Associate Members.
Establish and maintain a register of Governors business interests.
Confirm the Instrument of Government and subsequent amendments.
Appoint Co-opted, Local Authority and where necessary Parent Governors to the Governing Board.
Review and monitor the pre-appointment interviews and Governor Induction Process.
Have regard for Governors professional development i.e. development of an annual training plan.
Where necessary, suspend or remove Governors from the Governing Board.
Appoint/dismiss the Clerk to the Governing Board.

Compliance and Evaluation:

Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding safeguarding and child protection and the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
Ensure Safeguarding policies are adhered to; monitor and review all safeguarding policies/procedures within school.
Monitor and review data on behaviour, bullying, child on child abuse, attendance and exclusions.
Ensure all statutory requirements for reporting and publishing information are met.
Ensure that adequate provision is made for pupil transition.
Ensure the school complies with the provisions of the Equalities Act 2010.
Where necessary ensure that all pupils have access to independent careers advice.
Agree annually the School Financial Value Standard (SFVS) Self-Assessment Checklist prior to the 31 March deadline and monitor the implementation of any identified actions.
Consider business provided by the Local Authority and other sources.
Ensure all statutory and non-statutory polices are in place and there is an effective policy review cycle.
Review and agree the Governor Code of Conduct.
Ensure Governors’ information on the Get Information About School (GIAS) register and the school website is up to date and compliant with current DfE requirements.
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.

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 Privacy Notice

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

The Grove 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

Clerk to the governors is the Assistant Area Education Officer based at County Hall in Durham.

Governor 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
N/A – Not a member of the committee

EDGS Governor Virtual Meeting Attendance Policy

Record of Attendance 2023-2024

Name	Full Governing Body Meeting 13th November 2026	Standards and Curriculum Meeting 12th December 2026	First Pay Review Meeting 13th November 2026	Finance Committee Meeting 6th February 2026	Standards and Curriculum Meeting 20th March 2026	Full Governing Body Meeting 19 March 2026	Finance Committee Meeting 9th July 2026
Ms Bernadette Atkinson	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Miss Lesley Kendall	✓	AA	✓	N/A	AA	✓	N/A
Ms Rachael Wilkinson	✓	✓	N/A	N/A	AA	✓	N/A
Mrs Carly Grundy	✓	✓	N/A	AA	✓	✓	AA
Mrs Victoria Thompson	✓	✓	N/A	N/A	✓	✓	N/A
Mrs Michelle Thompson	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Ms Jayne Baker	AA	N/A	✓	✓	N/A	AA	✓
Mr Dale Checksfield	✓	N/A	N/A	AA	N/A	✓	AA
Mr Lee Bramley	Appointed 16.03.2026	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mr Richard Lowe	Appointed 02.07.2026	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Archived Attendance

You can also view previous year’s attendance on our website.

Committee Terms of Reference

The Finance & Premises Committee

Terms of Reference
Chair: Jayne Baker
Meetings: Termly, 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.

Finance:

Review and agree the first formal budget plan of the financial year for approval by the full Governing Board.
Establish and maintain an up-to-date three-year budget plan, taking into account priorities in the school Improvement Plan, roll projections and signals from central Government and the Local Authority regarding future years’ budget.
Ensure that priorities detailed within the School Improvement Plan are appropriately costed and are reflected in the annual budget.
Monitor the capital and revenue budget position statements to identify and address any anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the full Governing Board.
Review and monitor outstanding debts and action taken.
Review the Quarterly Written Report and Financial Report.
Monitor and authorise expenditure including those over the Headteacher’s delegated limit.
Consider and approve spending decisions where competitive quotations or tenders are required in accordance with the current Contract Procedures Rules.
Ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the Local Authority and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).
Monitor the implementation of any actions identified in the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).
Monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds held on behalf of the Governing Board and receive an audited annual statement of income and expenditure.
Annually review the outcomes of the Asset Register stock check and approve the disposal of obsolete items.
Oversee use and monitor impact of all additional grant funding e.g. Pupil Premium.
Consider and promote income generation.
Annually review income generated from lettings, fees and charges, funding raising activities and the sale of assets.
Monitor Extended Care provision including review of annual income and expenditure statements where applicable.
Ensure the school has appropriate insurance cover in place.
Annually review and adopt the school’s Financial Procedures Manual and all other finance related policies.
Annually review and make decisions in respect of service level agreements and other contracts and lettings.
Make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
Ensure as far as is practical that health and safety issues are appropriately funded in accordance with agreed priorities.
Annually review financial benchmarking data.
Monitor the implementation of actions arising from the Internal Audit report or of a financial nature from other inspection regime reports.
Ensure any instances of fraud or financial irregularity are reported immediately to the Head of Education and Skills and Chief Internal Auditor and Corporate Fraud Manager.

Delegation to the Headteacher

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998

The Governing Board can delegate to the Headteacher responsibility for deploying resources, subject to the provisions in the Scheme for the Financing of Schools in County Durham.

Expenditure

Any item of expenditure up to £5000

Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Board

Prior Finance and Premises Committee of Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of these limits and reported to the Finance and Premises Committee at the earliest opportunity.

NOTE:

Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to the latest Durham County Council Contract Procedures Rules as published on the School Portal.

Staffing Committee

Terms of Reference
Chair: Michelle Thompson
Meetings: Termly, and as required to meet recruitment needs.
Disqualifications: When there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest. Associate Members may not vote.

(Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher appointments will be subject to consideration by the full Governing Body and if the appointment is delegated to the Committee will need to be endorsed by the full Governing Body)
Supply cover (delegation to Headteacher)
When teaching and non-teaching appointments are made by this committee, shortlisting for those appointments will also be by this committee
To check that arrangements for staff appraisal are in place and are being developed
Consider staff Leave of Absence (only if necessary after delegation to Headteacher)
Staffing Structure (Budgetary implications submitted to Finance and/or Pay Review)
Pupil Exclusions (the 1999 regulations require that Pupil Exclusions are dealt with by a Committee of Governors)
Parental Complaints
Review temporary contracts on an annual basis.

Responsibilities delegated to Headteacher:

Up to leadership level
Dismissals to First Written Warning

Curriculum and Standards Committee

Terms of Reference
Chair: Carly Grundy
Meetings: Termly, 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.

Strategic direction and statutory areas:

Contribute to the development and monitoring of the SEF and School Improvement Plan Priorities
Review and adopt policies in accordance with the programme of review as delegated by the Full Governing Board
Ensure that the school’s policy on SEND is consistent with the Code of Practice, Equalities Act and most recent KCSIE updates.
Receive termly reports from the Headteacher/SENDCo and termly monitoring reports from the SEND Governor.

Curriculum and Teaching:

Ensure that the school curriculum is of high-quality and ambitious for all pupils (the intent), particularly `those who are disadvantaged, those with SEND, those who are known (or previously known) to children’s social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or well-being.
Ensure that the curriculum is designed to give pupils, including those detailed above with the knowledge they need to take advantage of opportunities, responsibilities and experiences in later life.
Monitor the effective delivery of the curriculum (the implementation) across all subjects, year groups and key stages.
Receive assurance that all pupils build strong foundations for accessing the curriculum and for later success, including academic achievement, good health and well-being.
Ensure the school’s curriculum covers the statutory requirements set out in the basic curriculum (which includes the national curriculum, and relationships, sex and health education, and religious education).
Ensure that the curriculum contributes to pupils’ personal development and SMSC.

Achievement

Ensure that the school provides a high-quality education for all pupils (the impact), especially disadvantaged pupils, those with SEND, those who are known (or previously known) to children’s social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or well-being, that gives them the necessary knowledge, skills and qualifications to succeed in life, and equips them for the next stage of their education, training or employment.
Receive assurance that pupils make progress from their starting points in all subjects across the curriculum.
Receive assurance that all pupils are reading fluently at an age-appropriate level.
Review internal assessment data to understand what this indicates about pupil achievement and what decisions leaders have made as a result.
Consider published data (e.g. the IDSR) and understand what this indicates about achievement over time.
Receive assurance that pupils are, on the whole, achieving well and this is evidenced in their attainment and progress in national tests and examinations, which are broadly in line with national averages, including for disadvantaged pupils.
Monitor and review impact of additional grant funding e.g., Pupils Premium.

First / Pay Review Committee

Terms of Reference
Chair: Lesley Kendall

Agree the Teachers’ Pay Policy.
In accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy, ensure that a robust performance management process is in place, consider recommendations in relation to any UPR applications received or other payments or allowances and note the automatic pay progression of Teachers.
In accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy receive an update from the Performance Management Governors regarding the pay progression of the Headteacher.
Consider any requests made in accordance with HR policies (unless delegation is to the Headteacher).
Make any decisions under HR procedures adopted by the Governing Board e.g. disciplinary, attendance, capability etc. (unless delegation is to the Headteacher)
Lifting of Headteacher’s suspension (lifting of all other staff suspensions delegated to the Chair of Governors).
Deal with matters relating to staffing reductions, restructures and changes to the permanent school staffing structure.

Appeals Committee

Terms of Reference
Meetings: When required

To hear appeals relating to Pay, discipline, grievance, capability, ill-health and staff reduction matters.

Must have no fewer members than the Hearing.

Disqualifications: Headteacher; any Governor involved in the Hearing; spouse/partner; member of staff in relation to pay related matters.

Virement & Expenditure Limits

Virement Limits		Expenditure Limits
Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body	£5000	Any items of expenditure up to	£10,000
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors or Chair of Finance Committee	£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.

NB Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations

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