The Governing Body
Chester-le-Street Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School had in place an Interim Executive Board (IEB) appointed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education from 14 July 2019 until 31 December 2020 to help improve the school leadership.
Following the appointment of a substantive Headteacher in February 2020 and given the significant progress made by the School, the Interim Executive Board came to an end and a Governing Body was appointed with effect from 1 January 2021.
The Governing Body has three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
The Governing Body will work closely with the Headteacher and representatives from the Local Authority and Diocese to continue the work of the IEB and will:
- Challenge and support the school and its’ leaders in order to provide confident, strategic leadership;
- Create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance;
- Carry out its statutory responsibilities;
- Seek out internal and external evidence that enable it to challenge and support the school and its leaders;
- Further develop its knowledge of strengths and areas for development of the school
- Work in partnership with the Local Authority and Diocese of Durham.
Governing Body Members
The Governing Body has nine volunteer members and you can find out more about each board member by clicking on the links below:
- Mrs Bridget Watt (Chair)
- Mr Barry Piercy (Vice Chair)
- Ms Rachel Butler (Headteacher)
- Cllr Tracie Smith
- Mrs Angela Vear
- Mrs Barbara Wells
- Mrs Claire Dixon
- Ms Susan White
- Mrs Jill McKay
Governing Body Committee Structure
| Name | Representing | Term of Office Start and End date | Committee | Responsibilities / Special Interests | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridget Watt (Chair) | NA | 12/01/2021 - 11/01/2025 | Appeals Curriculum and Standards Staffing Headteacher's Performance Management | Safeguarding Leadership and Management Remote Learning Health & Safety | Governor at Witton le Wear Primary School | None |
| Barry Piercy (Vice Chair) | NA | 01/01/2021 -31/12/2024 | First / Pay Review (includes Pupil Discipline) Finance and Premises Staffing Headteacher's Performance Management | Policy Development Staffing Pupil Discipline Church School Vision and Collective Worship | Governor at Framwellgate Moor Primary School. Trustee at Durham Sixth Form. Independent HR Investigator. | None |
| Rachel Butler | NA | 01/01/2021 -31/12/2024 | Curriculum and Standards Finance and Staffing | Headteacher at Chester-le-Street CE Primary | None | |
| Cllr Tracie Smith | NA | 01/01/2021 -31/12/2024 | Appeals Staffing Finance and Premises Appeals Headteacher's Performance Management | Community Links | None | |
| Mrs Barbara Wells | NA | 25/02/2021 - 24/02/2025 | Finance and Staffing | Justice of the Peace sitting on the County Durham and Darlington bench | None | |
| Mrs Angela Vear | 01/01/2021 -31/12/2024 | First / Pay Review (includes Pupil Discipline) Curriculum and Standards Finance and Staffing | None | |||
| Mrs Claire Dixon | 01/01/2021 -31/12/2024 | Curriculum and Standards | SEND Early Years, LAC / Vulnerable including Sports Premium and Catch Up Premium, Remote Learning | None | ||
| Mrs Jill McKay | 20/01/2021 - 19/01/2025 | Curriculum and Standards | Staff Governor - DHT at Chester-le-Street CE Primary School | None | ||
| Ms Susan White | 23/404/2021 - 22/04/2025 | Religious Education |
Governing Body Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct
You can view or download the Governing Body Terms of Reference which explains the duties of the Governing Body, the roles and responsibilities of the Headteacher or Acting Headteacher and Local Authority, the role of the Chair of the Governing Body, the Constitution and Conduct of the Governing Body and its procedures by clicking on the link below:
Chester le Street CE Primary School Governing Body Terms of Reference
The members of the Governing Body at Chester-le-Street CE Primary School adhere to the following Code of Conduct:
Chester-Le-Street Code of Conduct January 2021
IEB Meeting Dates and Attendance
Schools are required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
n/a – Not a member of the committee
Record of Governing Body Attendance 2021- 2022
Name Full Governing Body
Meeting
12/01/2021 (Held Remotely)Curriculum An Standards 1.3.2021
(Held Remotely)Finance and Premises
2.3.2021
(Held Remotely)Full Governing Body Meeting 15.3.2021
(Held Remotely)Staffing Committee
19.4.21
(Held remotely)Staffing Committee
5.5.21
(Held remotely)Curriculum and Standards 7.6.21
(Held remotely)Finance and Premises
7.6.21
(Held remotely)
Bridget Watt (Chair) ✓ ✓ n/a ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ n/a
Barry Piercy (Vice Chair) ✓ n/a ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ n/a ✓
Cllr Tracie Smith ✓ n/a A/A ✓ A/A A/A n/a A/A
Angela Vear ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Barbara Wells N n/a ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ n/a ✓
Claire Dixon ✓ ✓ n/a ✓ ✓ A/A A/A n/a
Ashley Roberts A/A n/a A/A Resigned from post
Jill McKay ✓ ✓ n/a ✓ n/a n/a ✓ n/a
Sarah Lambert (new to GB as of 12.4.21) A/A Resigned from post 10/5/ 2021
Susan White (new as of 22.4.2021) A/A n/a n/a
Record of IEB Attendance 2019-2020
| Name | IEB Meeting 27/07/19 | IEB Meeting 09/09/19 | First/Pay Review Meeting 20/09/19 | IEB Meeting 09/10/19 | First/Pay Review Meeting 24/10/19 | IEB Meeting 04/11/19 | IEB Meeting 4/12/19 | IEB Meeting 15/01/20 | First/Pay Review Meeting 20/01/20 | IEB Meeting 24/02/20 | IEB Meeting (Zoom) 06/05/2020 | IEB Meeting (Zoom) 08/07/2020 | IEB Meeting (Zoom) 21/09/2020 | IEB Meeting (Zoom) 21.10.20 | IEB Meeting (Zoom) 16.1.20 | IEB Meeting (Zoom) 9.12.20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridget Watt (Chair) | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Barry Piercy (Vice Chair) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Carol Robinson | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Carole Scott | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | A/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A/A | A/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Helen Smith | A/A | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | n/a | A/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | A/A | A/A | A/A | A/A | Resigned 7.12.20 due to work commitments. |
Governing Body Minutes
12th January 2021 Inaugural Meeting Minutes
1st March 2021 Curriculum and Standards Committee
IEB Meeting Minutes
Approved minutes of IEB Meetings can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the link below:
- 9 December 2020IEB Meeting Minutes
- 16 November 2020 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 21 October 2020 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 21 September 2020 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 8 July 2020 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 6 May 2020 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 15 January 2020 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 4 December 2019 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 29 July 2019 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 9 September 2019 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 9 October 2019 IEB Meeting Minutes
- 4 November 2019 IEB Meeting Minutes
IEB Action Plan
You can view or download the IEB Action Plan 2019-2020 by clicking on the link below:
- IEB Action Plan Autumn Term 2020 evaluated 2020
- IEB Action Plan 2019-2020 evaluated 10.9.20
- IEB Action Plan 2019-2020 (update 24.2.20)
- IEB Action Plan 2019-2020
Governing Body Action Plan
CLS GB Action Plan Spring – summer 2021
Communication with the IEB
To view letters to parents/carers sent on behalf of the IEB please click the links below:
- IEB Letter to Parents December 2020
- IEB Letter to Parents October 2020
- IEB Letter to Parents July 2020
- IEB – Letter to Parents April 2020
- Letter to Children’s Leadership Team 13 February 2020
- IEB – Letter to Parents February 2020
- IEB – Letter to Parents October 2019
- IEB – Letter to Parents November 2019
- IEB – Letter to Parents December 2019
Should you wish to communicate with the IEB, please contact the Chair of the IEB, Mrs Bridget Watt, in writing via the school office or by email at office@clsdurham.co.uk
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Chester-le-Street CE Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for 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 documents below:
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