PYE BANK CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Pye Bank Governance

welcome to the Governors' page of the Pye Bank website

PARENT GOVERNORS
Our two new parent governors were approved by the Trust on November. Governors were thrilled to welcome Sara Godir and Khadra Dirir to the Local Governing Body. We had an excellent response to nominations and the voting so thank you to everyone who took the time to vote.

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As Governors, we are proud of our school and proud to be part of the Diocese of Sheffield Academies Trust. The children work hard and are very well behaved, but they are also recognised as being individuals and given plenty of opportunities to have fun; the teaching staff put in a huge number of hours into preparing and delivering lessons while also giving the children the care and attention they need; and the other staff ensure that everything runs smoothly (and deal with the lunchtime grazed knees!).

HMI 2018 praised the work of Governor's: 'Governors’ knowledgeable and effective support has helped to bring about changes in school culture and performance. The external review of governance initiated by the governing body has improved the reporting structure and the training of governors. The governing body is outward looking and has a strategic vision for the future development of the school.'

The Local Governing Body and DSAT Trustees work together to ensure Pye Bank CE Primary School achieves the highest standards possible and continually improves. More information regarding accountability and the areas delegated to be the responsibility of the Local Governing Body is outlined here 

 To find out more about the DSAT Board of Directors Trustees please  and 

For a copy of the pecuniary interests of the Governing Body 

For full details of all the governors please

Financial Information

Trust Financial Information can be found here 

Academies are required to publish certain information, including whether a member of staff earns more than £100,000 per annum. Currently, no members of staff at Pye Bank CE Primary Academy fulfil these criteria.

Full information of the School's Financial Benchmarking can be found if you 

For more information about our Local Governing Body, click on the links below:

 To see our Calendar of meetings for the year please 

Our Terms of Reference 

 What is a School Governor?

School governors are volunteers who help to run the school, At Pye Bank CE Primary they do this in partnership with our trust DSAT. Some are elected (staff and parent governors) and others are appointed by DSAT.

School governors play a vital role in promoting high standards of educational achievement. They share a common belief that children should receive the best possible standard of education in all areas of their development. This is in the interests of current and future pupils.

Members of governing bodies include:

• School staff
• Parents of pupils
• Member of the Church as Foundation Governors
• Members of the public from all walks of life.

Governors are committed to serving the best interests of the school. As unpaid voluntary public servants, they help to sustain their school’s identity and provide a link with the local community. An effective governing body is a source of enormous strength to the school. School governance is the most important volunteering role in education.

Being a school governor is very rewarding.

Governors help to make sure that all our children have the very best opportunities available. Being a school Governor is an opportunity to put something back into your community, to make a difference.

What we do here at Pye Bank

In partnership with DSAT, we are responsible for the conduct of the school and have to ensure that the education provided, and the way in which the children, staff and parents are treated, are in accordance with the law and with the various regulations laid down by the authorities. But that does not mean we try to interfere with the day-to-day running of the school – our role is that of, as they say, a ‘critical friend’. So we ask for reports on how English and other subjects are being taught and how this is reflected in the children’s progress; we ensure that every subject is taught for at least the minimum required hours; we set aside funding in the budget for new projects (such as the Forest School area, the Library and the Pastoral Team) – but we are not teachers nor school inspectors and do not try to behave as such.

We meet for full Local Governing Body meetings at least four times during the year, and also sit on various committees –the Strategy Group, The Standards Committee and The Finance and Resource Committee– which meet as necessary, usually at least once a term.

You can request copies of the minutes of the meetings from the school office.

Here's what some governors have said about being a school governor:

‘I like being part of a team, feeling that I am helping the school to improve and make a difference for the children in the community.’

‘Sharing the valuable experience I have gained over the years to help make a school in my area a fantastic place to learn’

Our Governing Body was judged by OFSTED to be good in February 2015. This is what OFSTED said about us….

The governance of the school:

Governors have a clear understanding of their roles and all statutory duties are carried out effectively. This includes those for safeguarding, which is robust and often leads to effective work with staff from other agencies, and promotes equality of opportunity. Direct links between individual governors and subject leaders and other key staff, including the child protection coordinator, are reflected in visits by governors to the school to find out information for themselves. This includes developing a good understanding of the performance of the school and the progress of its pupils compared to other schools in the city and across the country. This is an area that has developed since the last inspection and gives them an accurate picture of the quality of teaching. They are aware of the links between teachers’ performance and pay and are aware of the additional responsibilities taken on by those on the upper pay scale. If necessary, they are also aware of procedures for dealing with inadequate teaching. The head teacher is set challenging annual objectives, which governors monitor and evaluate throughout the year. The budget is monitored effectively and governors have a good awareness of how additional funding, the pupil premium and the sports funding, is spent and its impact on eligible pupils. Governors are committed to, and show a real pride in, the school.

All of our work is led by the school values:

LOVE, AMBITION, RESPECT, EQUALITY AND KINDNESS

The role of THE LOCAL Governing Body

In all schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Holding the Executive Headteacher (EHT) and Head of School (HOS) to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils: constantly looking to standards and quality of provision.
3. In Partnership with DSAT, overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent: ensuring accountability
    
   Governors get involved in the following

• Supporting the EHT and HOS how the budget should be spent in line with DSAT's Scheme of Delegation;
• Ensuring good value for money;
• Making sure the curriculum provides for and stretches all pupils;
• Making sure the school buildings are welcoming, safe and well used;
• Setting and monitoring the school’s values, aims and policies;
• Appointing staff and making sure the right development and reward arrangements are in place.
• Working with DSAT to appoint senior staff. 

Our Instrument of Governance shows the make-up of our Governing Body to be:

• 5 Trust Board foundation governors
• 2 elected parent governors
• 1 elected staff governor
• 1 headteacher (ex-officio)
• 1 Vicar (ex-officio)* ex officio foundation governor” means a person who is a foundation governor by virtue of an office held by the person

Types of Governor

All governing bodies have a core group of governors consisting of:-

Governors who are elected from the parent body:

- Are elected as representatives of the interests of parents of pupils currently attending the school.

- Can continue to serve as a governor until the end of their four year term of office, even if their child leaves the school during the period.

- May express their personal views at governing body meetings, however it is expected that these views would be representative of the interests of the parents at the school.

- Should keep “in tune” with the concerns and opinions of the majority of parents.

 However, it is important that when decisions are made, individual governors exercise their best judgement when contributing to the decision of the governing body.
 
Trust Board Foundation Governors:

- Trust Board Governors are invited by other governors to join the governing body. They are appointed by the PCC in consultation with the existing governors of the school based upon the advice and recommendation of the existing Governors.

- Trust Board Foundation governors usually live or work in the community of the school area and are committed to the good government and success of the school.

- Community members bring their own experience or skills to the governing body and can act as a link with the community in which the school serves. They are often selected for the skills that they are able to bring so that is a balance of skills to support the three key responsibilities outlined above; finance, health and safety experience, community or church working etc

Staff - Staff governors are elected from among the staff (all staff employed at the school)

Staff governors may give the views of the staff to the governing body, they are also free to give their own personal views and exercise their best judgement when contributing to the decisions of the governing body.

There is also the Chair of Governors, the vicar, the Headteacher and the Clerk to the Governing Body.

In addition to the Governor roles, four further individuals help to make up the Governing Body.

1. The Chair of Governors provides leadership and direction to the Governing body and provides a vital link between the Headteacher, Governors and the local community. The Chair of Governors and the Vice Chair are appointed through nomination and election by the Governing Body at the beginning of the school year.
2. The Headteacher sits on the Governing Body and provides regular updates and details of all aspects of school life and links with the local community. The Headteacher provides regular reports to the Governing Body and updates on all developments.
3. The Clerk to the Governing body fulfils a key role as both the minute taker and advisor on all matters relating to governance and assists the Chairperson in developing the agendas for the particular meetings. The Clerk is often a bought in service from either the LA Governor Services or through a Private arrangement/Provider.

How to become a Governor

There are two parent governors at Pye Bank, and when a vacancy arises all parents are notified and given the opportunity to volunteer. Elections are held if more than one person is interested for each vacancy. We have a great relationship with parents and this shows – there are always people who are prepared to give their time to join us on the governing body.

You don’t need many special skills to become a governor, apart from a wish to help the school, but if you do have any particular talents that you think might be useful then please let us know.

Keeping in touch

All the minutes of the Governing Body meetings are held in the school office. Copies of non-confidential minutes can be requested from Reception. The website is a good way of keeping up to date with all aspects of school life. If you have a concern or a point of view to share, please come and speak to us.

There are lots of ways of sharing your views with us. As many of our governors are also parents of children at school,  we can often be found around at the beginning and end of the school day. We will also be arranging specific opportunities and times throughout the school year to hear from you and keep in touch. There is our weekly coffee morning and our new Parent Forums (See the calendar for dates)

Alternatively, you can always leave us a note at the school office or drop us an e-mail to the above address and we will get in touch with you.

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