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
Mrs Irene Cochrane	Co-opted	12/02/2024	11/02/2028	Appeals Head Teacher's Performance Personnel Teaching and Learning	Vice Chair of Governors Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee Link Governor for English Link Governor for Early Years	None declared
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	Acting 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	Acting Head Teacher	Acting 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
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 2024 – 2025

Name	Achievement and Data Committee 18 Sep 2024	Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee 2 Oct 2024	Finance Committee 16 Oct 2024	Full Governing Body Meeting 13 Nov 2024	Pay Review Committee 13 Nov 2024 and 20 Nov 2024	Personnel Committee 20 Nov 2024	Teaching and Learning Committee 11 Dec 2024	Achievement and Data Committee 15 Jan 2025	Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee 29 Jan 2025	Finance Committee 5 Feb 2025	Full Governing Body meeting 12 Mar 2025	Personnel Committee 12 Mar 2025	Finance Committee 9 Apr 2025	Achievement and Data Committee 7 May 2025	Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee 14 May 2025	Teaching and Learning Committee 9 Jun 2025	Full Governing Body meeting 11 Jun 2025	Finance Committee 9 Jul 2025
Vicki Burnett	X	✓	X	✓	X	X	X	X	✓	X	✓	X	X	X	✓	X	✓	X
Irene Cochrane	X	X	X	✓	X	✓	✓	X	X	X	A/A	✓	X	X	X	✓	✓	X
Phillip Davidge	A/A	X	A/A	A/A	X	X	X	✓	X	✓	A/A	X	✓	✓	X	X	N
Andrew Gladstone-Heighton	A/A	X	A/A	✓	✓	X	X	A/A	X	✓	✓	X	A/A	✓	X	X	✓
Rachel Graham	X	X	X	✓	X	X	✓	X	X	X	A/A	X	X	X	X	✓	✓	X
Matt Patterson	A/A	X	X	✓	X	✓	X	✓	X	X	✓	✓	X	✓	X	X	✓	X
Stephen Paley	X	X	✓	X	X	X	X	X	X	✓	X	X	✓	X	X	X	X
Marian Robson	X	✓	X	✓	✓	✓	X	X	✓	X	✓	✓	X	X	✓	X	A/A	X
Mark Temple	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Robert Walker	X	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	X	X	✓	✓	A/A	X	A/A	X	A/A	X	A/A
Sean Wilcock	X	A/A	X	A/A	X	X	X	X	✓	X	✓	X	X	X	✓	X	A/A	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:

In conjunction with the Head Teacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
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 Enhancement Plan are appropriately costed and are reflected in the annual budget.
Monitor the budget position statement to identify and address any anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the full Governing Body.
Review and monitor outstanding debts and action taken.
Review and monitor Direct School Meals Provision by income and expenditure statements.
Review the end of year outturn report.
Monitor and approve 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 and monitor the implementation of any identified actions.
Monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds held on behalf of the Governing Body by review of 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.
Ensure appropriate use of the Early Years Premium, Pupil Premium, Sports Premium.
Monitor and review impact of Pupil Premium, Sports Premium, Early Years Premium.
Review and monitor the school’s website to ensure that it is accessible and fully compliant with current DfE requirements.
Review and monitor all financial policies including lettings, charging and remissions and expenses policies.
Consider and promote income generation.
Annually review income generated from contracts and lettings; oversee the use of premises by outside users.
Where necessary, monitor and review Wrap Around Care provision including review of annual income and expenditure statements were applicable.
Ensure all appropriate insurances are in place.
Annually review and approve the school’s Financial Procedure Manual.
Monitor service level agreements annually and make decisions in respect of service level agreements ensuring value for money.
Make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
Ensure pay decisions can be appropriately funded.
Ensure as far as is practical that health and safety issues are appropriately funded in accordance with agree 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 appropriate systems and procedures are in place to detect and prevent fraud and ensure any instances of fraud are reported immediately.

Premises:·

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 safety.
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 Body.
Ensure professional surveys and emergency works are arranged as necessary.
Oversee the use of premises by outside users.
Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan and an Asset Management/Building Development Plan.

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

Personnel Committee

CHAIR: Mrs M Robson
Terms of Reference:

To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Head Teacher and the Finance Committee.
To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on Personnel-related expenditure.

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:

To act in accordance with the Teachers Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body to include matters relating to; teaching and learning responsibility payments, SEN(Special Educational Needs) allowances, recruitment and retention payments, points for previous experience, bursaries, regradings.
To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, eg disciplinary, grievance, ill health etc where the Head Teacher is the subject of the action.
To make any decisions relating to a member of staff (other than the Head Teacher) under the Personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (unless delegated to the Head Teacher).
Reducing the staffing.

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.

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.

Head Teacher’s Performance Review Committee

CHAIR: Mr A Gladstone-Heighton
Terms of Reference:

To arrange to meet with the External Adviser (EA) or Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Head Teacher’s performance targets.
To decide with support from the EA or EDP whether the targets have been met and to set new targets annually.
To monitor throughout the year the performance of the Head Teacher against the targets.
To make recommendations to the appropriate committee in respect of awards for the successful meeting of set targets.

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

Appeals Committee

CHAIR: To be confirmed
Terms of Reference:

To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the Hearing/First Committee (or Head Teacher if delegated).
To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (eg disciplinary, pay review etc).
To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.

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: Mrs I Cochrane
Terms of Reference:
In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of children.
Ensure the quality of education, teaching and learning.

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning and the impact on rates of pupils’ progress and standards of achievement.
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.
To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.

Curriculum Planning and Delivery

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.

Meetings: At least termly.
Disqualifications: None

Achievement and Data Committee

CHAIR: Mr P Davidge
Terms of Reference:

Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of education achievement.
Set targets for achievement at EY, KS1, 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 pupil exclusion information.
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.

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

Safeguarding, Health and Safety Committee

CHAIR: Mrs V Burnett
Terms of Reference:

- Ensure the school adheres to all Health and Safety measures.
- Review Health and Safety Audit, RoSPA and Fire Audit at least annually.
- Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
- Ensure Safeguarding policies and adhered to; monitor and review all safeguarding policies/procedures within school and review Single Central Record regularly.
- 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.
- Monitor data on accidents and incidents.
- Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy. Monitor the implementation of this policy and its impact.
- Develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (eg sex education).
- Set priorities for improvement and monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to the committee’s area of operation.
- Ensure that the school’s policy on SEND is consistent with the Code of Practice and Equalities Act 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.
- Monitor pupils’ 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 adequate provision is made for transition between primary and secondary education.
- 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:

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