Governors work closely with head teachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
We currently have two vacancies on our Governing Body for Parent Governors. If you are interested in this position and feel you would like to support the school in this role, please contact the school office as soon as possible for a nomination form.
Role of the Board of Governors
The Governing Body of a school is responsible for ensuring that it is run to promote the very best of outcomes for children.
Its duties include:
- setting strategic direction, policies and objectives
- the school budget
- reviewing progress against the school’s budget and objectives
- appointing, challenging and supporting the head teacher
The Governing Body is made up of:
- parent governors (elected by parents)
- staff representatives (elected by school staff)
- local authority governors (appointed by the local authority)
- community governors (appointed by the governing body)
Governing Body Code of Conduct
Governor Committee Structure
We are pleased to share the new roles and responsibilities of our governing body below.
| Name | Representing | Term of Office | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jane Fox - Chairperson | Co-opted Governor | 05/02/2020 - 04/02/2024 | Finance & Premises Curriculum (Chair) First Committee HT Performance Management Personnel | Leadership and Management GDPR Health and Safety Safeguarding SFVS | None | None declared |
| Mrs Andrea Norman - Vice Chairperson | LA Governor | 26/03/2021-25/03/2025 | Finance & Premises First / Pay Review Personnel | EYFS Personal Development Culture incorporating PSHCE/SMSC/British Values Pupil Premium Recovery Premium Sports Premium | None | None declared |
| Mrs Rachel Leonard | Headteacher | 01/09/2021- | ||||
| Mrs Sally Newton | Co-opted Governor | 20/01/2022-19/01/2026 | Appeals Curriculum Finance & Premises | Quality of Education SEND | None | None declared |
| Mrs Yvonne Sarginson | Co-opted Governor | 22/01/2020 -21/01/2024 | Appeals | Behaviour and Attitudes LAC / PLAC | None | School volunteer |
| Mrs May Gray | Co-opted Governor | 09/10/2019- 08/10/2023 | Personal Development Culture incorporating PSHCE/SMSC/British Values | None | None declared | |
| Mrs Samantha Harrison | Parent Governor | 28/04/2021-27/04/2025 | Behaviour and Attitudes Wellbeing | None | Relative of a member of teaching staff | |
| Ms Sarah Grayson - Teacher | Staff Governor | 03/11/2021-02/11/2025 | Curriculum Personnel | EYFS School Website | Teacher | None Declared |
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
Blackhall 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.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Governing Committee Information
Committee Terms of Reference
Members of our Governing Body also meet as smaller sub-committees where we look at specific areas of the school such as finances, the school’s results and the progress children are making (as a whole group) as well as non-academic (social) development of the children. These subcommittees report back to the full governing body. We look at what the school is doing to improve, what impact it has on children’s progress and make sure money is well spent. We try to make sure our discussions are well informed and balanced and we have the interests of the children at the core of all our decision making.
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Governor Attendance
Schools are now required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
Record of Governor Attendance 2022-2023
KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
| Full Governing Body Meeting | Full Governing Body Meeting | Full Governing Body Meeting | Finance, Premises & Personnel Committee | Finance, Premises & Personnel Committee | Finance, Premises & Personnel Committee | Curriculum & Standards Committee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 14/12/22 | 22/3/23 | Summer | 18/10/22 | 24/01/22 | 24/05/23 | 13/10/22 | |
| Mrs Jane Fox - Chairperson | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mrs Andrea Norman - Vice Chairperson | ✓ | A/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A/A | ||
| Mrs Rachel Leonard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mrs Sally Newton | ✓ | A/A | X | ✓ | X | A/A | ||
| Mrs Yvonne Sarginson | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ||
| Mrs May Gray | ✓ | ✓ | N | N | X | ✓ | ||
| Mrs Samantha Harrison | ✓ | ✓ | X | N | X | ✓ | ||
| Miss Sarah Grayson - Teacher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mrs J Huntington - Clerk | ✓ | ✓ | X | N | ✓ | X | ||
| Miss C O'Neil (Observer) | X | X | X | X | X | ✓ | ||
| Father Kyle | ✓ | |||||||
| Jill Drysdale | ✓ |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Governor Training
This year’s Governor Training Schedule can be downloaded below.
BPS Governor Monitoring Responsibilities and Training Jan22
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