Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
Our Governors
The role of the Governing Body is to work with the school’s management team to provide strategic direction to raise standards, monitor progress, and ensure best use is made of school resources. We aim to ultimately achieve our mission of “high quality teaching and learning that challenges pupils to raise their expectations and standards in a safe environment through a creative, experimental and experiential curriculum for the development of the whole child in a secure, happy and nurturing school community”.
Our Governing Body is made up of 14 Governors from a combination of Parent Governors (parents of children at the school), Staff Governors, Foundation Governors, Local Authority Governors (nominated by Durham County Council) and Co-opted Governors (members of the local community). Each Governor (with the exception of the Teaching Staff Governor) has allocated to them areas of special interest and acts as the curriculum Link Governor between the school and Full Governing Body.
Governor Committee Structure
Detailed below are the names of our Governors and their Special Interest Area(s).
Name | Representing | Term of Office Started | Term of Office Ends | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Julie Gibson - Executive Head Teacher | Statutory member | 17/4/2023 | |||||
Mr Peter Nicholls - Chair | Foundation Governor | 11/1/2021 | 10/1/2025 | Chair of the following committees: Curriculum and Standards. Finance and Premises. First/Pay Review. Headteacher Performance Mangagement. Special Committee Meeting. | Safeguarding, Child Protection Looked After Children | None declared | |
Alison Butler | Co-opted Governor | 11/1/2021 | 10/1/2025 | Curriculum and Standards. Finance and Premises. First/Pay Review. Headteacher Performance Management. Special Committee Meeting. | English Modern Foreign Languages | Parent of child in school | None declared |
Richard Bell | Foundation Governor | 8/2/2021 | 7/2/2025 | Appeals. Finance and Premises. Special Committee Meeting. | History | Durham County Councillor | None declared |
Chris Marmont | Foundation Governor | 10/2/2021 | 9/2/2025 | Appeals. Finance and Premises. Special Committee Meeting. | Geography | Parent of child in school | None declared |
Richard Batchelor - Deputy Head Teacher | Associate Governor | 24/11/2017 | Curriculum and Standards. Special Committee Meeting. | Interim Executive Head Teacher. Wife is HLTA | Married to HLTA Mrs Jane Batchelor | ||
Penny Sunderland | Foundation Governor | 8/2/2021 | 7/2/2025 | First Pay Review. Special Committee Meeting. | RE Assemblies | None declared | |
Rachel Atkinson | Parent Governor | 11/1/2021 | 10/1/2025 | Appeals. Curriculum and Standards. Finance and Premises..Special Committee Meeting. | Parent of children in school Vice chair of FOCS Childminder in Cotherstone | None declared | |
John Degnan | Foundation Governor | 11/1/2021 | 10/1/2025 | Appeals. Special Committee Meeting. | Art & Design Design Technology | None declared | |
Mrs Heather Yip | Parent Governor | 13/11/23 | 12/11/2027 | ||||
Ms Sara Harrison | Staff Governor | 20/11/23 | 19/11/2027 | ||||
Reverend David Tomlinson | Foundation | 1/9/2022 | 31/8/2026 | Rector of the Benefice of Lower Teesdale which includes Bowes and Cotherstone | |||
Ms Laura Teasdale | Clerk | 20/11/2015 | Governance Clerk - Education Durham- Governance Services |
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Cotherstone Primary 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 about our Governors, please view or download the documents below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Annual Governance Statement for the Governing Body 2015
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.
Governor 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
X – Not a member of the committee
Record of Governor Attendance 2023-2024
Name | First Pay Review 26/10/23 | Full Governing Body Meeting 24/11/23 | Full Governing Body Meeting 11/3/24 | Full Governing Body Meeting 1/7/24 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Alison Butler | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Councillor Richard Bell | N | N | ||
Miss Rachel Atkinson | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Mr Richard Batchelor | X | ✓ | ||
Mr Chris Marmont | N | ✓ | ||
Mr John Degnan | X | ✓ | ||
Mrs Julie Gibson | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Reverend David Tomlinson | X | N | ||
Mrs Heather Yip | N | ✓ | ||
Mrs Penny Sunderland | X | N | ||
Ms Sara Harrison | X | ✓ | ||
Mr Peter Nicholls - Chair | ✓ | ✓ |
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Full Governing Body Terms of Reference:
Committee Terms of Reference
Full Governing Body
CHAIR: Mr P Nicholls
VICE CHAIR: Mrs A Butler
Terms of Reference
Strategic Leadership and Accountability:
- In collaboration with school leaders determine a clear and explicit vision for the future. Ensure this is communicated to the whole organisation.
- Set strong and clear values and ensure these are embedded across the organisation and adhered to.
- Determine the strategic direction for the federation.
- Monitor and evaluate pupil progress and attainment by receiving reports and information from the Headteacher and other school leaders; compare against national and local benchmarks over time.
- Receive reports from committees, working parties or individuals and agree actions.
- Approve the SEF and monitor throughout the year.
- Approve the School Improvement Plan priorities and monitor throughout the year progress towards agreed actions.
- Ensure there is a transparent system for performance management of all staff which is clearly linked to the school’s priorities. Have oversight of staff performance throughout the year.
- Ensure there are mechanisms in place to listen to and respond to the views of parents/carers, pupils, staff, local communities and employers.
- Agree recruitment process to be followed in relation to Senior Leader posts; where delegated ratify appointments.
- Final approval of the annual budget plan.
- Monitor the school’s budget throughout the year.
- Agree virement and expenditure limits for the Headteacher.
- Hold at least 3 meetings each academic year. Ensure that committee meetings are held in accordance with the agreed terms of reference.
People and Structures:
- Elect and/or remove Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors.
- Appoint Committee Chairs or delegate to each committee.
- Consider and agree delegation of functions to individuals or committees.
- Agree committee terms of reference and membership.
- Establish a register of Governors business interests.
- Ensure Governors information on the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register and the school website is up to date and compliant with current requirements.
- Confirm the Instrument of Government and subsequent amendments.
- Appoint Co-opted, Local Authority and where necessary Parent Governors to the Board.
- Review and monitor the Governor Induction Process.
- Have regard for Governors professional development.
- Where necessary, suspend or remove Governors from the Board.
- Appoint/dismiss the Clerk to the Governing Body.
Compliance and Evaluation:
- Consider business provided by Local Authority and other sources
- Suspend or end suspension of staff members.
- Ensure all statutory policies are in place and there is an effective policy review cycle.
- Review and agree the Governor Code of Conduct.
- Confirm arrangements for completion of a Governor Skills Audit.
- Ensure there is regular self-evaluation and review of individual’s contribution to the Board as well as the Board’s overall operation and effectiveness.
- As necessary, consider an external review of the Board’s effectiveness.
- Ensure school/Federation website is up to date and compliant with current DfE requirements.
Children’s School Community Committee
(including Staffing and Pupil Discipline)
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference
- Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
Curriculum Planning and Delivery:
- Review, monitor and evaluate the curriculum offer.
- Contribute to the development and monitoring of the:
- Self Evaluation form
- School Improvement Plan
- Targets for school improvement
- 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 discipline/behaviour).
- Ensure that the school’s policy on SEND is consistent with the Code of Practice and Equalities Act and receive termly reports from the Headteacher/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 complies with the provisions of the Equalities Act 2010.
Assessment and Improvement:
- 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.
- Receive pupil progress and achievement data; monitor and evaluate rates of progress and standards of achievement against agreed targets for all pupils and for all groups of pupils.
- 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.
- Monitor and review impact of Pupil Premium, Sports Premium and Early Years Premium.
- Monitor and review pupil attendance data against attendance targets.
- Monitor and review pupil exclusion information.
- Set priorities for improvement and monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to the committee’s area of operation.
- Regularly review the Assessment Policy and ensure that the policy is operating effectively.
- Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’
- Receive reports from external sources and agree actions to address recommendations; monitor and evaluate progress made.
- Ensure all children have equal opportunities.
- Ensure Safeguarding policies are adhered to; monitor and review all safeguarding policies/procedures within school.
- Advise the Finance and Premises Committee on the relative funding priorities necessary to deliver the curriculum.
- Monitor pupils’ attitudes, values and development of other personal qualities within the school through the provision of R.E. and PHSCE. Ensure parents are informed of the right to withdraw their child.
Engagement:
- Monitor the federation’s publicity, public presentation and relationships with parents/carers and the wider community.
- Identify and celebrate pupil achievements.
- Oversee and monitor arrangements for out of hours provision, extra-curricular activities and educational visits including overnight stays.
- Ensure that adequate provision is made for pupil transition.
- Ensure all statutory requirements for reporting and publishing information are met.
- Review and monitor the school’s/federation website to ensure that it is accessible and fully compliant with current DfE requirements.
- Ensure the federation works well with its community, parents and other schools.
MEETINGS: at least termly
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: None
Pupil Discipline
- Consider representations from parents/carers in the case of fixed term exclusions in line with statutory guidance.
- Consider the appropriateness of any permanent exclusion or any exclusion where one or more fixed period exclusions total more than 15 school days in one term or where a pupil is denied the chance to take a public examination in line with statutory guidance.
MEETINGS: held as necessary
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: prior knowledge; any Governor whose child is involved
CHAIR:
Staffing
- Carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and Finance and Premises Committee.
- Ensure the school is sufficiently staffed to fulfil the effective operation of the school and the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
- Oversee the recruitment and selection procedures for all staff.
- Make recommendations to the Finance and Premises Committee on personnel-related expenditure.
- Develop and review policies identified within the school’s policy review programme and in accordance with its delegated powers (e.g. Appraisal, Whistleblowing, Recruitment and Selection).
- Keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well-being including monitoring attendance management.
- Review the Single Central Record to ensure compliance with current statutory guidance.
- Approve the Staff Code of Conduct and ensure all staff are aware.
MEETINGS: at least annually
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: where there may be a conflict of or pecuniary interest; any Governor whose spouse/partner is involved
Delegation to the Headteacher
School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009
Appointments:
Governing Body delegates to the Headteacher and one or more Governors the responsibility for the appointment of:
- Permanent teaching staff posts
- Permanent support staff posts
- Temporary staff
Dismissals:
- The Headteacher has no delegated responsibility for dismissals. Dismissals and all disciplinary sanctions would remain within the Committee Structure
Lifting a Suspension:
- All staff (excluding Headteacher) – Chair of Governors
- Headteacher – First/Pay Review Committee
Finance and Premises Committee
CHAIR:
Terms of Reference
- Elect Chair (if delegated by full Governing Body).
Finance:
- In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft and propose 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 Improvement 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 year end outturn report.
- Monitor and approve virements and expenditure over the Headteacher’s delegated limit.
- Appraise and approve spending decisions where competitive quotations or tenders are required.
- Ensure the federation 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 and Sports 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 where applicable.
- Ensure all appropriate insurances are in place.
- Annually review and approve the school’s Financial Procedures 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 agreed 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:
- 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.
- Ensure that premises and the learning environment are maintained and are fit for purpose.
- Provide support and guidance for the Headteacher 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.
- Monitor data on accidents and incidents.
MEETINGS: at least termly
QUORUM: 3
DISQUALIFICATIONS: where there may be a conflict of or a pecuniary interest
Virement & Expenditure Limits
Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
---|---|---|---|
Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair of Governing Body Where the cumulative effect of multiple virements on the same budget heading exceeds this limit, details are to be reported to the next Finance and Premises Committee meeting for information and retrospective approval | £5,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £5,000 |
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors A log of these approvals will be maintained and details reported to the next Finance and Premises Committee meeting | £5,000 to £10,000 | Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body. |
|
Prior Finance and Premises Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of these limits and reported to the Finance and Premises Committee at the earliest opportunity. |
NB:
Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedures Rules (January 2014) for quotations i.e. quotations or tenders to be invited from capable contractors based on the likely value of the procurement over its lifetime:
- Between £500 and £5000 at least one quotation
- Between £5001 and £50,000 at least three quotations
- Over £50,000 full tender exercise
Adobe Reader
You may need a product like Adobe Reader (free download) to view our PDF documents on our website.