Chapel Break Infant School

Governance Statement 2020-21

What are School Governors and what do they do?
The School Governors are like a Board of Directors who have legal duties, powers, and responsibilities.

All governors serve for a term of four years. We are a ‘critical friend’ to the school, supporting its aims and values and helping it to strive and achieve the highest standards possible in all aspects of school life.

The 3 main roles of the Governing Body are:

• Ensuring that the school has a clarity of vision and strategic direction.
• To hold the Head Teacher to account for the school’s educational performance.
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure that its money is well and appropriately spent.

So how do the Governors do this at Chapel Break?

Our aim is for meetings of the Full Governing Body to be held at least once every half term where all aspects of the school are reviewed and discussed. Where possible Governors also regularly spend time at the school on an individual basis to both help with and monitor all aspects of daily school life.

We also have three sub-committees who meet at least once a term:

• The Finance & Personnel Committee’s main responsibility is to oversee the school budgets, staffing policies and matters relating to the buildings and grounds.

• The Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee reviews the school’s curriculum to ensure that it meets the standards required, that the assessment processes in place are robust and effective and that all pupils, whatever their ability, make the required levels of progress and maximise their potential.

• The Behaviour & Welfare Committee monitor and review such things as the Safeguarding of both Children and Staff, Health & Safety policy and the level and quality of extra-curricular activities at the school.

The Governing Body is made up of:

• The Head Teacher
• Parents (proposed and elected by other parents who have children at the school)
• Elected Members of Staff at the school
• A Local Authority Representative
• Co-Opted Community Representatives

During the 2020–2021 academic year we: appointed two Co-Opted Governors and have also re-elected two Co-Opted Governors for a further term on the Governing Body.  We accepted the resignation of a Co-opted Governor who will leave the Governing Body at the end of the current academic year. All Governor attendances can be viewed on our website.

What have the Governors achieved in 2020-21?

There is no denying the challenging circumstances that we have all found ourselves in nationally, with Covid-19 dominating each of our actions. It has been a hugely emotional and exacting time for everyone involved with Chapel Break Infant School.

We would like to express our gratitude to Mrs. Sara Johnston, her Senior Leadership team, teachers and all staff for their dedicated work during this difficult time. Despite the lockdown Chapel Break Infant School has continued to provide an outstanding level of educational provision to its children, whether in a face-to-face or remote education setting. ALL staff have, and still are, working tirelessly to ensure that the school continues to provide the best possible education and care in the unprecedented times during both this and the previous academic year.

During the 2020 - 2021 academic year the Governors have been instrumental in working with the school on the following:

• Providing support to the Head Teacher and Staff during the exceptional challenges they have encountered with Covid-19. This has included monitoring the health and well-being of everyone involved at the school to ensure the environment has been as safe as possible.

• Appointed a new Head Teacher to replace Mrs Sara Johnston with effect from September 2021.

• Continuing to monitor progress against the school’s improvement and development priorities, whether through visits to the school (where possible) or through remote contact to determine their intent, implementation and impact in delivering a rich and varied curriculum.

• Supporting the school as it meets a heightened provision both in numbers and supporting education, for those with Special Educational Needs.  Includes, along with many other schools, lobbying both Local and National Government for better school support and funding.

• Ensuring the school premises and equipment are reviewed regularly to make sure they are fit for purpose and facilitate the delivery of the school’s improvement and development priorities.

We look forward to continuing to work with everyone involved with Chapel Break Infant School to provide the very best education for our young people, no matter the circumstances. 

What is the School’s Vision Statement and the underlying principles that support it?

Our vision is:

‘To pioneer a warm-hearted hive of creativity, inspiring our community to love learning and thrive. To cultivate supportive partnerships that sustain excellence in learning.’

The underlying principles that support this vision are:

• ‘We are Partners’                 
• ‘We encourage and foster a happy and healthy lifestyle’
• ‘We are Participative’ 
• ‘We contribute to and embrace a high performance culture’
• ‘We are Curious’ 
• ‘We are Inclusive’
• ‘We are Pioneering’
• ‘We are all Learners’
• ‘We are Positive’

Who are the Governor’s at Chapel Break Infant School and how do I contact them? 

Chair of Governors: Kevin Hunn

Clerk to Governors: Jennie Reynolds

Chapel Break Infant School

Governing Board Attendance Record September 2019 to August 2020  

 If any parent / carer would like to contact the Governors, please telephone or leave a message with the school office.

Our school number is: 01603 749 550