Terms of Reference

• To act on matters delegated by the BEAM Trustees
• To contribute to the School/Trust Improvement Plan
• To consider safeguarding and equalities implications when undertaking all committee functions.

Quorum

Committees are free to determine their own quorum, but as a minimum this must be not less than three governor members of the committee.

Meetings

The Governing body will meet once each term and may schedule one additional meeting each year

The Committee meetings will not be open to the public but minutes shall be made available. Information relating to a named person or any other matter that the committee considers confidential does not have to be made available for inspection.

In the absence of the chair, the committee shall choose an acting chair for that meeting from among their number.

In the absence of the clerk the committee shall choose a clerk for that meeting from among their number (someone who is not the headteacher).

The draft minutes of each meeting will be circulated with the agenda for the next ordinary meeting of the full governing body and will be presented at that meeting by the chair (or in his/her absence another member of the committee).

Any decisions taken must be determined by a majority of votes of committee members present and voting – but no vote can be taken unless a majority of those present are governors.

Financial policy and planning

To adopt a Trust Finance Policy which includes the local scheme of delegation for spending and budgetary adjustments (virements) for the committee, headteacher and other nominated staff.

To review, adopt and monitor all additional financial policies, including a charging and remissions policy.

To establish and maintain a three year financial plan, taking into the account priorities of the Trust Improvement Plan, roll projection and signals from central government within the constraints of available information

To agree an annual school budget taking into account the priorities of the Trust  Improvement Plan.

To make decisions in respect of service level agreements

To ensure that sufficient funds are set aside for pay increments as set out in the Pay Policy and as recommended by the headteacher.

Financial monitoring

To monitor the income and expenditure throughout the year of all delegated and devolved funds against the annual budget plan.

To receive at least termly budget monitoring reports from the headteacher.

To alert Trustees of potential problems or significant anomalies at an early date

Subject to the local scheme of delegation, to approve any budgetary adjustments that will from time to time be necessary in response to the evolving requirements of the school.

To prepare the Trustees Report to form part of the Statutory Accounts of the governing body and for filing in accordance with Companies Act required

To receive auditors’ reports and to recommend the governing body action as appropriate in response to audit findings.

Premises

To provide support and guidance for the headteacher on all matters relating to the maintenance and development of the premises and grounds, including Health and Safety.

To ensure that an annual inspection of the premises and grounds takes place and a report is received identifying any issues.

To set out a proposed order of priorities for maintenance and development, for the approval of the governing body.

To arrange professional surveys and emergency work as necessary.

The headteacher is authorised to commit expenditure without the prior approval of the committee in any emergency where delay would result in further damage or present a risk to the health and safety of pupils or staff. In this event the headteacher would normally be expected to consult the committee chair at the earliest opportunity.

To create a project committee where necessary to oversee any major developments.

To establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan and a Building Development Plan

To review, adopt and monitor a Health and Safety policy.

To ensure that the governing body's responsibilities regarding litter, refuse and dog excrement are discharged according to Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, so far as is practicable.

Staffing

To ensure that the school is staffed sufficiently for the fulfilment of the school‘s development plan and the effective operation of the school.

To establish and oversee the operation of the school's Appraisal Policy - including the arrangements and operation of the school's appraisal procedures for the Headteacher.

To establish a Pay Policy for all categories of staff.

To be responsible for the administration and review of the Pay Policy.

To ensure that staffing procedures (including recruitment procedures) follow equalities legislation.

To annually review procedures for dealing with staff discipline and grievances and make recommendations to the governing body for approval.

To monitor approved procedures for staff discipline and grievance and ensure that staff are kept informed of these

To ensure staff selection procedures conform with safer recruitment practice, and to review these procedures as necessary

In consultation with staff, to oversee any process leading to staff reductions

To establish the annual and longer-term salary budgets and other costs relating to personnel, e.g. training. 

Curriculum planning and delivery

To review, monitor and evaluate the curriculum offer.

To approve the Self-evaluation form and School Improvement Plan  

To develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (e.g. sex education and pupil behaviour/discipline).

To ensure that the requirements of children with special needs are met, as laid out in the Code of Practice, and receive termly reports from the headteacher/SENCO and an annual report from the SEN governor(where appointed).  

Assessment and improvement

To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management

To monitor and evaluate the impact of quality of teaching on rates of pupil progress and standards of achievement

To monitor and evaluate rates of progress and standards of achievement by pupils, including any underachieving groups

To monitor and evaluate the impact of continuing professional development on improving staff performance

To set priorities for improvement, and monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to the committee’s area of operation.

To monitor and evaluate provision for all groups of vulnerable children (e.g. looked after children) and ensure all their needs have been identified and addressed, and to evaluate their progress and achievement.

To regularly review and develop the Assessment Policy and to ensure that the policy is operating effectively.

To consider recommendations from external reviews of the school (e.g. Ofsted or local school improvement advisers), agree actions as a result of reviews and evaluate regularly the implementation of the plan.

To ensure that all children have equal opportunities.

Engagement

To monitor the school’s publicity, public presentation and relationships with the wider community.

To identify and celebrate pupil achievements

To oversee arrangements for educational visits, including the appointment of a named co-ordinator.

To ensure all statutory requirements for reporting and publishing information are met and the school website content is fully compliant and presented in  an accessible way