Our Governing Body

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

You can find out more about their roles and responsibilities by clicking on each name below:

Name of Governor	Category	Term of Office Start	Term of Office End	Committee/s	Special Interest Areas	Register of Interests
Mrs Victoria Burnett	Co-opted	19/04/2023	18/04/2027	Safeguarding, Health and Safety	Chair of Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee Link Governor for Health and Safety Link Governor for SEND	Member of staff at this school
Mr Philip Davidge	Parent	13/03/2024	12/03/2028	Achievement and Data Appeals Finance	Chair of Achievement and Data Committee Link Governor for Maths	Related to member of teaching staff at this school Parent at this school
Mr Andrew Gladstone-Heighton	Co-opted	23/10/2022	22/10/2026	Achievement and Data Finance First/Pay Review Head Teacher's Performance	Chair of Governors Chair of First/Pay Review Committee Chair of Head Teacher's Performance Committee Link Governor for English Link Governor for Geography Link Governor for RE	Parent at this school
Mrs Rachel Graham	Parent	11/01/2023	10/01/2027	Achievement and Data Appeals Teaching and Learning	Vice Chair of Governors Link Governor for French Link Governor for Well-Being	Parent at this school
Mr Stephen Paley	Associate Member	15/01/2024	14/01/2028	Finance	Chair of Finance Committee	Related to a Play Supervisor
Mr Matt Patterson	Staff	13/11/2024	12/11/2028	Achievement and Data Personnel	None	Deputy Head Teacher at this school
Mrs Marian Robson	Co-opted	08/11/2021	07/11/2025	First/Pay Review Personnel Safeguarding, Health and Safety	Chair of Personnel Committee Link Governor for Child Protection, Children in Care (including Previously Children in Care) and Safeguarding Link Governor for History	None declared
Mr Mark Temple	Staff	01/09/2024	N/A	Achievement and Data Appeals Finance First/Pay Review Personnel Safeguarding, Health and Safety Teaching and Learning	Head Teacher	Head Teacher at this school
Mr Robert Walker	Parent	08/03/2023	07/03/2027	Finance First/Pay Review Safeguarding, Health and Safety	Link Governor for Computing Link Governor for OPAL Link Governor for PE	Parent at this school
Mr Sean Wilcock	Parent	19/10/2023	18/10/2027	Personnel Safeguarding, Health and Safety Teaching and Learning	Link Governor for Science	Parent at this school

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

Tanfield Lea Community Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of 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 and other supporting documents below.

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools
Tanfield Lea Community Primary School Governing Body Constitution – Sep 2025
Governor Committee Structure
NGA Code of Conduct January 2025

Governor Attendance

Schools are now 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
X – Not a member of the committee

Record of Governor Attendance 2025 – 2026

Name	Achievement and Data Committee 17 Sep 2025	Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee 15 Oct 2025	Finance Committee 22 Oct 2025	Full Governing Body Meeting 12 Nov 2025	Teaching and Learning Committee 17 Nov 2025	Achievement and Data Committee 14 Jan 2026	Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee tbc	Finance Committee tbc	Full Governing Body meeting 11 Mar 2026	Personnel Committee tbc	Achievement and Data Committee tbc	Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee tbc	Teaching and Learning Committee tbc	Full Governing Body meeting tbc	Finance Committee tbc
Vicki Burnett	X		X		X	X		X		X	X		X		X
Phillip Davidge	A/A	X			X		X			X		X	X
Andrew Gladstone-Heighton	✓	X			X		X			X		X	X
Rachel Graham	N	X	X			X	X	X		X	X	X			X
Matt Patterson	✓	X	X		X		X	X				X	X		X
Stephen Paley	X	X		X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X
Marian Robson	X		X		X	X		X			X		X		X
Mark Temple	✓
Robert Walker	X				X	X				X	X		X
Sean Wilcock	X		X		X	X		X		X	X		X		X

Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.

Committee Terms of Reference

The Finance Committee

CHAIR: Mr S Paley
Terms of Reference:

Finance:

In conjunction with the Head Teacher to draft and propose the first formal budget plan of the financial year for approval by the full Governing Bod
Establish and maintain an up-to-date three year financial plan, taking into account priorities in the School Improvement Plan, roll projection and signals from central Government and the LA 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 Bod
Review and monitor outstanding debts and action taken.
Review and monitor Direct School Meals Provision by income and expenditure statement
Review the year end outturn report.
Monitor and approve virements and expenditure over the Head Teacher’s delegated limit.
Appraise and approve spending decisions where competitive quotations or tenders are required.
Ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the Local Authority and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS).
Approve annually the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) submission prior to the 31 March deadline.
Review Related Party Transaction Register.
Monitor the implementation of any identified actions in the SFVS submission.
Confirm management arrangements for the Private School Fund and nominate an officer to administer the fund (Treasurer).
Appoint an Auditor for the Private School Fund.
Monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds held on behalf of the Governing Body 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 item
Oversee use and monitor impact of the Early Years Premium, Pupil Premium, PE and Sports Premium, Catch-Up Premium and Recovery Premium.
Review and monitor all financial policies including lettings, charging and remissions and expenses policie
Consider and promote income generation.
Annually review income generated from contracts and lettings; oversee the use of premises by outside user
Where necessary, monitor and review Extended Care provision including review of annual income and expenditure statements where applicable.
Ensure all appropriate insurances are in place.
Annually review and approve the school’s Financial Procedures Manua
Monitor service level agreements annually and make decisions in respect of service level agreements ensuring value for mone
Make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees for example collaborative working arrangements with other schools and/or bodies to ensure value for mone
Ensure as far as is practical that health and safety issues are appropriately funded in accordance with agreed prioritie
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 report
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.

Premises:

Establish, review and monitor the Health and Safety Policy ensuring that the school meets health and safety requirements.
Ensure actions are taken in respect of relevant health and safety legislation.
Ensure that premises and the learning environment are maintained and are fit for purpose.
Provide support and guidance for the Head Teacher and Governing Body on all matters relating to the maintenance and development of the premises and grounds, including health and safet
Ensure that an annual inspection of the premises and grounds is undertaken and a report received identifying any issues. Inform the Governing Body of the report and set out a proposed order of priorities for maintenance and development for the approval of the Governing Bod
Ensure professional surveys and emergency works are arranged as necessar
Oversee the use of premises by outside users.
Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan and an Asset Management/ Building Development Plan.
Monitor data on accidents and incidents.

Meetings: At least termly.
Quorum: 3
Disqualifications: Where there may be a conflict of pecuniary interest.

Delegation to the Head Teacher

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

The Governing Board can delegate to the Head Teacher 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 £5,000.
Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Board.
Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of these limits and reported to the Finance 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.

Personnel Committee

CHAIR: Mrs M Robson
Terms of Reference:

Carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Head Teacher and Finance and Premises Committee.
Ensure the school is sufficiently staffed to fulfil the effective operation of the school and the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
Oversee the recruitment and selection procedures for all staff.
Keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well-being including monitoring attendance management.
Ensure that regular monitoring of the Single Central Record is undertaken and that it is up to date and compliant with current statutory expectation
Ensure that the school’s policy on safeguarding and child protection is compliant with the most recent KCSIE guidance and LCSB expectation

Delegation to the Head Teacher
Appointments:

Permanent teaching staff posts.
Permanent support staff posts.
Temporary staff.
Dismissals: Governing Body delegates responsibility for the dismissal of all staff to the First/Pay Review Committee.

Meetings: As necessary.
Disqualifications: Pecuniary interest.

First/Pay Review Committee

CHAIR: Mr A Gladstone-Heighton
Terms of Reference:

Terms of Reference

Elect Chair.
Annually agree the Teachers’ Pay Policy.
Consider any requests made in accordance with HR policies eg leave of absence etc (unless delegated to the Head Teacher).
Make any decisions under HR procedures adopted by the Governing Body eg disciplinary, grievance, ill-health, capability etc (unless delegated to the Head Teacher).
Deal with matters relating to staffing reductions, restructures and changes to the permanent school staffing structure.
Act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy and School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) when carrying out the annual review of teachers’ salarie
Lifting of Head Teacher’s suspension (lifting of all other staff suspensions delegated to the Chair of Governors).

Delegation to the Head Teacher
Under the 2003 Staffing Regulations the Governing Body determines the extent to which it delegates to the Head Teacher responsibility, up to and including first written warning.

Meetings: Autumn term, plus as and when necessary.
Disqualifications: School staff, pecuniary interest, the Head Teacher, the Chair of Governors (if he/she has prior knowledge or involvement), spouse/partner.

Head Teacher’s Performance Review Committee

CHAIR: Mr A Gladstone-Heighton
Terms of Reference:

Set, with the support of the External Advisor/Local Authority Adviser, the Head Teacher’s annual performance objectives.
Monitor throughout the year the performance of the Head Teacher against agreed performance objectives and hold interim review meetings.
Review, with the support of the External Advisor/Local Authority Adviser achievement of performance objectives.
Make recommendations to the First/Pay Review Committee in respect of the Head Teacher’s performance and annual pay progression (where eligible).

Meetings: Autumn term, plus monitoring meetings.
Disqualifications: The Head Teacher and staff.

Appeals Committee

CHAIR: To be confirmed
Terms of Reference:

Elect Chair.
Consider any appeal against a decision made under the HR policies adopted by the Governing Body.
Consider any appeal against a decision made by the First/Pay Review Committee during the annual review of teachers’ salaries.
Consider any appeal against selection for redundancy through a staffing reduction process.
Consider complaint under Stage 2 of the school’s Complaints Procedure.

Meetings: As and when required.
Quorum: 3
Disqualifications: Head Teacher, any governor who was involved in the hearing, spouse/partner.

Teaching and Learning Committee

CHAIR: To be confirmed
Terms of Reference:
In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of children.
Ensure the quality of education, teaching and learning.

Elect Chair.
In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of children.
Ensure the quality of education, teaching and learning.

Strategic Direction and Statutory Areas

Review, monitor and evaluate the curriculum offer.
Contribute to the development and monitoring of the:

– Self Evaluation Framework
– School Enhancement Plan
– Targets for school improvement

Assessment and Improvement

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management in relation to curriculum design, implementation and impact.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum design.
Monitor and evaluate the school’s own assessment of the impact of the curriculum for all groups of children to include Reading in all key stages.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning and the impact on rates of pupils’ progress and standards of achievement.
Monitor and evaluate provision for all groups of vulnerable children eg children looked after and children in need and ensure all their needs have been identified and addressed.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of continuing professional development on improving staff performance.
Ensure all aspects of appraisal are carried out.
Receive reports from external sources and agree actions to address recommendations; monitor and evaluate progress made.

Meetings: At least termly.
Disqualifications: None

Achievement and Data Committee

CHAIR: Mr P Davidge
Terms of Reference:

Elect Chair.
Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement.
Set targets for achievement at EY, KS1and KS2 and monitor the school’s performance against these targets and national standards.
Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups and the impact of policies on race, SEND, Looked After Children and Disability on children, parents and communities.
Contribute to the development and monitoring of the School Enhancement Plan and the School Evaluation Framework.
Set priorities for improvement and monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to the committee’s area of operation.
Ensure that every child receives the full statutory curriculum that the school must provide.
Ensure that a report on each pupil’s educational achievements is forwarded to their parents/carers annually.
Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
Ensure the school has a curriculum policy that meets pupils’ needs.
Monitor and review pupil attendance data against attendance targets.
Monitor and review data on behaviour, bullying, peer on peer abuse, attendance, suspensions and exclusions.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of education and the impact of the curriculum including Reading in all key stages.
Monitor and review impact of Pupil Premium, Sports Premium, Early Years.
Regularly review the Assessment Policy and ensure that the policy is operating effectively.
Receive reports from external sources and agree actions to address recommendations; monitor and evaluate progress made.
Advise the Finance and Premises Committee on the relative funding priorities necessary to deliver the curriculum.
Monitor and review pupil exclusion informatio

Meetings: At least termly.
Quorum: 3
Disqualifications: None.

Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee

CHAIR: Mrs V Burnett
Terms of Reference:

Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding safeguarding and child protection and the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
Set priorities for improvement and monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to the committee’s area of operation.
Ensure Safeguarding policies are adhered to; monitor and review all safeguarding policies/procedures within school.
Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
Ensure school is fulfilling its responsibilities with regards to pupils accessing alternative provision.
Ensure that adequate provision is made for pupil transition.
Ensure that regular monitoring of the Single Central Record is undertaken and that it is up to date and compliant with current statutory expectations.
Ensure the school adheres to all Health and Safety measures.
Review Health and Safety Audit, RoSPA and Fire Audit at least annually.
Develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (eg sex education).
Ensure that the school’s policy on SEND is consistent with the Code of Practice and Equalities Act, most recent KCSIE updates and receive termly reports from the Head Teacher/SENDCo and an annual report from the SEND Governor.
Ensure the SEND Policy is monitored and reviewed regularly and that the policy is known to parents/carers.
Ensure the school works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable children and their families.
Ensure the school complies with the provisions of the Equalities Act 2010.
Ensure all children have equality of opportunity.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of education and the impact of the curriculum including PHSCE.
Monitor pupil’s attitudes, values and development of other personal qualities within the school through the provision of RE and PHSCE. Ensure parents are informed of the right to withdraw their child.
Aims and values for the school are agreed and positive ethos for the school is promoted. Policy decisions are consistent with the agreed aims, values and ethos.
Ensure the school has an effective school council. The Governing Body takes account of the school council in determining the way in which the school is conducted.
The school promotes inclusive policies that allow for the achievement of all pupils.
Ensure that school has policies on Race and Disability Discrimination.
Act as Pupil Discipline Committee for Permanent/Fixed Term Exclusions.

Meetings: At least termly.
Disqualifications: None

Expenditure Limits

Expenditure Limits
Any items of expenditure up to	£5,000
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 the Durham County Council Contract Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations ie quotations or tenders to be invited from capable contractors based on the likely value of the procurement over its lifetime:

Between £500 and £5,000 at least one quotation
Between £5,001 and £50,000 at least three quotations
Over £50,000 a full tender exercise

Download

You can download the Committee Terms of Reference by clicking the link below:

Committee Terms of Reference June 2025

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