Governing Board- Annual Governance Statement
Purpose of this Governance Statement
This governance statement has been prepared and published by the Governing Board of St James’ Catholic High School (hereafter referred to as the Governing Board) in compliance with our duty to report on the ways in which we have fulfilled our obligations and responsibilities relating to (i) our overarching duty to conduct the school in accordance with its Catholic character and (ii) our core functions (which are explained below) during the 2021/22 academic year.
Role of the Governing Board
As the Governing Board of a Catholic school, our overarching responsibility lies in ensuring that the School is conducted in accordance with its Catholic character at all times, and this overriding duty (which is also a legal duty) permeates everything that we do. Further, in accordance with our legal obligations, the Governing Board endeavours to operate at a strategic level leaving the Headteacher and senior school leaders responsible and accountable to us for the operational day-to-day running of the School. It is by achieving these aims that we can be sure that our School has effective governance.
The three core functions of the Governing Board:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
As an integral part of the vision for the holistic formation of children and young people, Canon law (Church law) also requires that Catholic schools are “…at least as academically distinguished as that in the other schools of the area” and the Governing Board are mindful of this requirement in all that we do.
Scope of Governing Board’s Responsibilities
The Governing Board acknowledges that we have overall responsibility for ensuring that St James’ has an effective and appropriate system of control, financial and otherwise. However, such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve our objectives, and can provide only a reasonable (as opposed to absolute) assurance against material misstatement or loss.
The Governing Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility to the Headteacher for ensuring financial controls conform with the requirements of both propriety and good financial management.
Governance Arrangements
Composition of the Governing Board
The Governing Board is made up of six Foundation Governors, two Staff Governors (including the Headteacher), two Parent Governor(s), one Local Authority Governor.
Roles & Responsibilities of a Foundation Governor of a Catholic School
Foundation Governors form the majority on a Catholic school’s Governing board. They have the responsibility of assisting the Bishop by sustaining and developing the Catholic ethos and distinctive Catholic nature of the school in which they serve. Foundation Governors have a specific commission to ensure that the school, is at all times conducted in accord with the provisions of the Diocese of Shrewsbury Trust Deed. Foundation Governors follow these principles:
- To give clear witness to the teaching of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and assume responsibility for governing the School according to Canon Law, the Catechism, and the teachings of the Catholic Church in general and Diocesan norms in particular
- To comply with the guidance on admissions, staffing, building maintenance and curriculum as published by the Bishop or his delegate through the Diocesan Schools Commission and convey this to the other members of the governing board
- To seek to appoint Catholic teachers who combine personal conviction and practice of the Faith with the qualities and experience required by particular posts
- To represent the Bishop or his delegate on the Governing Body with particular reference to the Catholic ethos of the school by ensuring that the whole curriculum of the school is rooted in an understanding of life in conformity with the teaching of the Gospel and the Catholic Church
- To achieve this, they must ensure that the general religious and liturgical life of the school conforms to Diocesan guidelines. To take particular care that Religious Education has first place in the curriculum, and embraces and enlivens every subject; and that the school follows a truly Catholic programme of religious and moral education approved by the Diocese
- To consider not only the interests of the school in which they serve as Foundation Governor, along with its pupils, staff and parents, but to comply with Diocesan policy and the interests of other Catholic schools and the interests of Catholic education throughout the Diocese
- To be eligible for appointment, enquirers must be practising and committed Catholics. Since holding the office of Foundation Governor is a form of service or ministry in the Church, enquirers have to confirm that they are eligible and willing to serve in accordance with the commission from the Bishop
- The appointment of Foundation Governors is entirely at the discretion of the Bishop of Shrewsbury, or his delegate (Director of Schools), for schools within his jurisdiction
Governor Committees and Governors attendance at meetings
Quality of Education Committee (QofE)
The Governors’ Quality of Education Committee meets termly where current progress is analysed and leaders throughout the school are held to account. Robust questioning and challenge ensure that actions are focused around areas for development. The Quality of Education committee scrutinise:
- Intent; curriculum design, coverage and appropriateness
- Implementation; curriculum delivery, teaching and assessment
- Impact; achievement, knowledge and skill development and destinations
Personal Development & Behaviour Committee (PDB)
The Governors’ Personal Development & Behaviour Committee meets termly where items below are analysed and leaders throughout the school are held to account. Robust questioning and challenge ensure that actions are focused around areas for development. The areas that are scrutinised are:
- Behaviour and attitudes; behaviour, attendance and punctuality and safeguarding
- Personal development; careers guidance, citizenship, health and well-being as well as the
- Catholic ethos; denominational self-evaluation and improvement planning
Leadership & Strategies Committee (L&S)
The Governors’ Leadership & Strategies Committee meets to ensure the Headteacher and School Business manager are held to account for the vision and ethos of the school, student experience, Health and Safety and financial aspects of the school including recruitment. Vigorous discussion ensures value for money and that the deployment of resources is linked directly to the school improvement plan.
Headteacher’s Performance Management
Three non-staff Governors will have responsibility for conducting the Headteacher’s Performance Review. The review will be carried out with the support of an independent advisor.
Pay Committee
This consists of a minimum of 3 non-staff governors who have no interest in the pay proceedings and have declared any such interests.
Pay Committee Appeals
This consists of a minimum of 3 non-staff governors who have no interest in the pay proceedings and have declared any such interests.
Staff Grievance and Complaints, Staff Absence, Staff Disciplinary and Dismissals and Appeals against Grievance, Absence and Dismissal procedures and Admissions Committee
The Chair of Governors shall nominate any eligible Governor who has had no prior involvement in the case.
Governor Attendance
Individual Governors’ attendance during the year at Governing Board meetings and committee meetings can be found by clicking on the attendance links at the bottom of this page.
Minutes of Governing Board and Committee meetings
Minutes of Governing Board and Committee meetings are public documents. You can request copies of the documents by contacting headteacherpa@stjamescheadle.co.uk.
Review of Value for Money
The Governing Board has used its resources to provide good value for money during the academic year and has assessed where value for money can be improved including the use of benchmarking data where available.
The Risk and Control Framework
The School’s system of internal financial control is based on a framework of regular management information and administrative procedures including the segregation of duties and a system of delegation and accountability, where appropriate. In particular it includes: –
- Comprehensive budgeting and monitoring systems with an annual budget and periodic financial reports which are reviewed and agreed by the Governing Board
- Regular reviews by the Leadership and Strategy Committee of reports which indicate financial performance against the forecast and of major purchase plans, capital works and expenditure programmes
- Setting targets to measure financial and other performance
- Clearly defined purchasing (asset purchase or capital investment) guidelines
- Delegation of authority and segregation of duties
- Identification and management of risks
Capacity to handle risk
The Governing Board regularly reviews the key risks to which the School is exposed together with the operating, financial and compliance controls that have been implemented to mitigate those risks.
Review of effectiveness
The Governing Board has responsibility for reviewing the effectiveness of the systems in place in the School to identify and manage risk and plan to address any weaknesses (if relevant) and ensure continuous improvement of the system is in place.
How to contact the Governing Board
We always welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents, carers and the wider school community. Please contact the Chair of Governors, Patricia Adams via the Headteacher’s PA email; headteacherpa@stjamescheadle.co.uk
