We have four Governing Body Committees at Camelsdale, terms of reference for each of these committees are set out below.

Curriculum Committee - Chair Susanna Colwood

Curriculum Committee Terms of Reference

The curriculum committee is established to debate issues in detail and to provide information and recommendation for final decisions by the Governing Body.

1) Membership
    The Committee shall consist of at least four governors, the Chair of Governors and the Headteacher.  In addition, teachers may be co- opted or attend as observers but they will not have voting rights. The Committee will appoint a Chairman from within its members.

2) Quorum
     A Quorum shall consist of four members.

3) Meetings
    The committee shall meet as required and usually twice per term. Two weeks notice of a meeting shall be given.

4) Function
     The function of the Committee is to assist and support the Headteacher in planning the school’s curriculum.

5)  Terms of Reference
      The Committee shall advise the Governing Body in relation to it’s statutory obligations.  In particular it shall:

i)  Advise on a regular basis:

a)  the school’s curricular aims
b)  the school’s policy and provision for sex and relationship education
c)  the school’s policy and provisions for daily collective worship and religious education
d)  the statement of general principles for pupil behaviour and discipline, including managing drug incidents
e)  timing of school sessions
f)  charging policy for school activities
g)  approval and review of the Home School Agreement

ii)  The Committee is delegated to:

a)  review the effectiveness of the pupil behaviour and discipline policy
b)  monitor and review the progress of the school priorities in the school development Plan and Ofsted Action Plan
c)  agree the annual statutory and non-statutory pupil performance targets and monitor and review progress
d)  monitor and review pupil attendance
e)  prepare, in partnership with the Headteacher, for an Ofsted inspection
f)  approve the curriculum policy for children with special educational needs and monitor it’s implementation
g)  prepare information on the school profile
h)  review procedures for parent’s complaints
i)  approve off-site visits and activities of more than 24 hours or which involves a hazardous pursuit or journey by air of sea

Date:          Autumn 2006

Review      Autumn 2006

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Development Committee - Chair Lisa Lye

Development Committee Terms of Reference

The objectives of the Development Committee are:-

1. To act as a strategic and creative “think tank” for the future direction and development of the school beyond the most immediate 1 – 2 years.

2. To support quality teaching and learning for the benefit of the present and future children of the school by providing essential input into the School Development Plan.

3. To encourage shared ownership of the development of the school by staff, parents, governors and pupils – particularly through links with the School Council.

4. To interpret and develop the wishes of staff, parents, governors and pupils in so far as they impact on raising standards at Camelsdale.

5. To explore ways of maximising the utilisation of the premises to support both school extra curricular activities and community use. 

6. To plan the development of the premises to support the school.

7. To oversee the work of the School Travel Plan.

8. To oversee the Extended Schools activities. 

The Committee shall be composed of representation from the Governing Body, the Staff and the PTA and other interested parties.  The Headteacher may also choose to be a member of the Committee. 

The Committee chairman shall be elected from the members of the committee who are also members of the Governing Body. 

This Committee links closely with the School Council.

The Committee shall meet at least once per school term.

Voting – Decisions must be agreed by the majority of its members.  If necessary, a vote should be taken.  If there are an equal number of votes, the chair – providing he/she is a governor – has a second or casting vote.

A quorum shall consist of the Chairman (or his deputy) and 4 other Committee members.  The maximum numbers of this Committee is 14 persons.

Date:  Spring 2008

Review: Spring 2009

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Heath, Safety and Facilities Committee - Chair Jane Brodersen

Heath, Safety and Facilities Committee Terms of Reference

1.  Constitution

1.1  The Committee shall comprise of a minimum of five members elected annually by the Governing Body. The Chair of the Governing Body and the Headteacher shall be ex-officio members.

1.2  The Committee shall appoint a Chair and Vice-chair.

1.3  A quorum shall be a minimum of three members.

1.4  A nominated member of the Committee shall act as a liaison with the other Governing Body Committees.

1.5  The Committee may co-opt additional non-voting members who are not members of the Governing Body.

2.  Frequency of Meetings

2.1  The Committee shall meet at least once a term and full minutes of such meetings shall be kept.

2.2  The Committee shall undertake a full inspection of the premises and Grounds liaising with WSCC Property Department as appropriate at least once in each academic year. Also, at such other times as necessary to examine defects drawn to its attention.

3.  Functions

3.1  Facilities

3.1.1  To be responsible for the maintenance of the schools premises, facilities, fittings, furniture, Grounds and services which are the School Governing Body responsibility under the Local Management of Schools provision.

3.1.2  To report each term to the Governing Body on inspections of the premises and Grounds and the condition and requirements for the premises and Grounds, together with comments and recommendations, with the Premises Officer.

3.1.3  With the Premises Officer, prepare and regularly update a rolling program of maintenance works required for the premises and Grounds showing full costings and prioritisation. Present this to the full Governing Body for approval and to the Resources Committee for funding as appropriate.

3.1.4  To liaise with WSCC’s staff to ensure a co-ordinated and cost effective approach to the School Building maintenance program through the premises development plan.

3.1.5  The Committee delegates the day-to-day responsibility for the premises to the Head teacher and Premises Officer who will also ensure that self-help procedures are followed. Contracts for maintenance and improvement will be subject to review by this committee.

3.1.6  To review and update the school Accessibility Plan.

3.2  Health and Safety

3.2.1  To be responsible for the Health and Safety functions on behalf of the Governing Body as set out in its Policy Declaration.

3.2.2  To liaise with WSCC Education Department’s Health and Safety Adviser and also when general advise on Health and Safety matters or information about occupational Health and Safety hazards is necessary or required.

3.2.3  To carry out inspections of the School with the designated Health and Safety Officer.

3.2.4  To report each term to the Governing Body on Health and Safety matters including inspections of the premises and Grounds, together with comments and recommendations.

3.2.5  Ensure the LEA undertake periodic premises inspections. 

3.3  Security

3.3.1  To be responsible for the Security and Emergency Planning matters on behalf of the Governing Body as set out in its Policy Declaration.

3.3.2  To liaise with WSCC Security Adviser’s and also when general advise on School Security matters or information about occupational security hazards is necessary or required.

3.3.3  To carry out inspections of the School with the designated Security Officer and to ensure that the School’s Emergency Plan is rehearsed at least annually.

3.3.4  To report each term to the Governing Body on Security matters including inspections of the premises and Grounds, together with comments, recommendations and funding requirements.

3.3.5  To ensure adequate premises insurance.

3.4  Safeguarding Children

3.4.1  To be responsible for Child Protection and Safer Recruitment matters on behalf of  the governing body, as set out in its Policy Declaration.

3.4.2  To receive an annual for the Head Teacher Report on safeguarding children, and report back to the full Governing Body.

3.4.3  To ensure that Statuary Safeguarding/Child Protection training is    completed by    all relevant staff and kept up to date.

3.4.4  To designate a named nominated Governor for Child Protection and safer recruitment.

Approval Date:  March 2009

Review Date:  March 2010

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Resources Committee - Chair Barbara Baldwin

Resources Committee -Terms of Reference

1.  Membership

The Committee consists of a minimum of 6 people and the Headteacher.  The chair is to be elected by the members of the committee and must be a governor who is not employed in the school.  The committee has authority to appoint non-voting Associate members.

2.  Quorum

A quorum shall be a minimum of 3 governors.  Associate members will not count for a quorum.

3.  Meetings

The committee shall meet as necessary, but not less than once per term.  A minimum of one week’s notice, preferably longer, shall be given of the date and the purpose of the meeting.

4.  Function

The main functions of the committee are to exercise the financial and staffing powers and responsibilities delegated to it by the full governing body and to advise the Headteacher on general financial and staffing matters relating to the school.

5.  Delegated Powers

The governing body has delegated full financial and staffing powers to the Resources Committee subject to the following requirements.

6.  Requirements

In relation to the school finance the committee is delegated to:

• In early spring produce a draft budget plan for the approval of the governing body, taking into account the priorities of the school.

• Notify the approved budget plan to the LA by 31st May each year.

• Monitor income and expenditure of all public funds according to an agreed timescale, i.e. budget share and any other funds devolved by the LA e.g.: The Standards Fund.

• Ensure accurate accounts are kept.

• Ensure key financial decisions are properly recorded.

• Ensure the school adheres to the LA’s conditions of the ‘Scheme for Financing Schools’

• Review its Financial Management Policy.

• Authorise signatories for the school bank account for notification to the County Treasurer.

• Arrange audit of non-LA funds received.

• Respond to any issues arising from the audit of the school’s accounts and report back to the full governing body.

• Prepare information on income and expenditure for the governor’s termly newsletter, including a separate statement for SEN,

• Monitor spends in-year against the approved budget. 

• Establish procedures for governors to claim expenses.

• Ensure a register of pecuniary and business interests for governors and staff is kept and is open to inspection.

• Review the School’s Statement of Internal Control annually.

• Ensure that a self-review of the Financial Management Standard in Schools is undertaken at least once every three years.

• Ensure the financial competencies of the Headteacher and Bursar are reviewed in line with the DCSF Financial Management Standards, at least once every three years and when any change in either post holder takes place.

• Review the financial competencies of those Governors with financial responsibilities, in line with the DCSF Financial Management Standards, at least once every three years and when any significant changes to the membership of this committee take place.

The committee shall, at each of its meetings,

(i)   Receive and consider a report from the Headteacher/Bursar as to any financial provision, which has been transferred between budgetary accounts since the last meeting, in excess of the power of virement sub-delegated to the headteacher, and as to the accumulative spend

(ii) Consider and approve action when the spend shows variance from the agreed plan;

(iii) Report all in-year virement of funds to the next meeting of the full governing body.
 

7.  Delegations

The committee may,

• Settle the detail of the school budget plan and when necessary authorise the Headteacher to confirm it on the school management system in order to enable day to day operation to be effected;

• Approve the in-year virement of funds between different budgetary headings, subject to the restrictions set out in the following paragraph;

•  Sub-delegate the power of virement to the headteacher for sums up to £1000 and within the limits set out in the following paragraph.

8.  Prior Approval

The prior approval of the full governing body is required if the committee wishes:

• To authorise the transfer of any funds from or to the teaching staff or ancillary accounts;

• To sub-delegate the power to vire sums in excess of £1000.

9.  In Relation to Pay and Performance Review

The committee is delegated to:

• Meet the aims of the Whole School Pay Policy

• Apply the criteria set by the Whole School Pay Policy

• Ensure that all staff receive their full statutory and contractual entitlements.

• Review the Whole School Pay Policy annually to take account of local and national developments and make appropriate recommendations to the governing body.

• Consider recommendations from the headteacher about what awards should be given on the basis of policy and budget.

• Ensure that awards are made fairly, taking full account of equal opportunities.

• Review the School Group Size and Individual School Range and record in writing the reasons.

• Establish the criteria to be used for performance review which may lead to the award of additional points for teaching staff.

• Adopt a strategic role in agreeing the school’s Performance Management Policy

• Monitor the Performance Management process

• Ensure that the Performance of the teachers is reviewed annually in accordance with the regulations

• Ensure that the review of the Leadership Group’s salaries, including the headteacher, is informed by the outcomes of their performance review and that the outcome of the review is made known to the members of the Leadership Group.

• Receive the recommendations of the headteacher in relation to teachers on the upper pay spine and take appropriate action in line with the agreed criteria.

• Establish the criteria for the award of honorarium payments to non-teaching staff.

• Appoint an accredited external advisor from an approved list, as part of the headteacher’s Performance Review process.

• Decide on the exact timing of the Performance Review cycle for the Headteacher

• Appoint three governors to carry out the Headteacher’s Performance Review

• Arrange for an annual review of staff pay which may include a decision not to award an incremental point

• Ensure that all members of the teaching staff receive annual statements of salary.

Appeal 

• In the event of an appeal, the governing body will convene an appeals panel (3 governors who were not involved in the original decision) to meet within ten working days of the receipt of the appeal notice.  An applicant has the right to see all relevant papers and be accompanied / represented by a friend or trade union / professional association representative. The decision of the appeals panel is final.

• Appoint one or more review officers where a complaint is made by the Headteacher about his or her Performance Review and the Chair of Governors has been involved in that Performance Review

NB: Anyone employed at the school, other than the Headteacher, must withdraw from a meeting of the committee during any discussion of the pay or performance appraisal of any individual working in the school.  This does not include occasions when the governing body is considering the Individual School Range (ISR) for a school (and therefore the salary of the Headteacher) before appointment.

10.  In Relation to the Headteacher’s Performance Review

The appointed governors must:
 

• Seek advice from the local School Improvement Partner (SIP) when setting objectives and reviewing the performance of the headteacher.

• Meet with the headteacher and advisor at the start of the performance review cycle to plan and prepare for the performance review, and set and record headteacher objectives relating to school Leadership and management and pupil progress.

• Agree arrangements for monitoring the progress of the performance objectives during the year.

• Meet with the headteacher and advisor at the end of the review cycle to review the head’s performance and identify achievements, including assessment of achievement against objectives, and to discuss and identify professional development needs / activities.

• Decide whether they wish the advisor to draft the review statement and the statement of objectives following the formal review meeting.

• Ensure a copy of the performance review statement is given to the headteacher within 10 days of the review meeting, and allow 10 days fro the headteacher to add written comments.

• Provide the headteacher and the chair of the governing body with a copy of the headteacher’s performance review statement.

• On request, provide a copy of the headteacher’s statement to those governors who are responsible for taking decisions in relation to promotion and pay, who should take account of this when making such decisions.

11.  In Relation to Staffing

The committee is delegated to:

• Ensure appropriate personnel policy and procedures are adopted (as set out in the West Sussex Schools’ Personnel Manual), in relation to staff discipline, grievance, capability, redundancy, pay and staff absence, including sickness.

• Review the staffing structure (teaching and non-teaching), especially following a vacancy and at Least annually in relation to the School Improvement Plan

• Ensure all procedures relating to the recruitment, selection and appointment of staff comply with the law and take account of equal opportunities.

• Decide arrangements for all teaching staff appointments, except for the appointment of the head and deputy headteacher which is the responsibility of the full governing body.

• Vire responsibility to the Headteacher of the appointment of supply teachers and other temporary appointments up to one year’s duration, together with all appointments of Midday Meals Supervisors, Teaching Assistants and other Ancillary staff.

• Monitor and report on the use made of the school’s INSET budget for staff training and review its effectiveness.

• Monitor the implementations of the school’s Performance Management Policy.

• Monitor the schools compliance with the phased workforce reforms set out in the National Agreement on Workforce Remodelling.

12.  Reporting to the Governing Body

At each meeting of the governing body, a brief report shall be presented by the committee.

13.  Revision

These powers and responsibilities will be reviewed annually at the Spring Term meeting of the Governing Body

14.  Disputes

Any disputes will be referred to the full governing body.

15.  Ethical Fundraising Policy

This committee periodically reviews our Ethical Funding Policy.

16.  Community Partnership Group

This committee is responsible for promoting, pursuing and accounting for the success of community links.

17.  SWOT

The committee will consider and address, where appropriate, any issues, assigned to it from the SWOT analysis undertaken by the whole school community.

Date:  Spring 2008

Review:  Spring 2009

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