Trotts Hill Primary School and Nursery
Our school Governors provide strategic direction, financial oversight, and hold the headteacher and the other school leads accountable. Our Governors are committed to make a real difference to our School. They provide an oversight to ensure that the school is running as effectively as possible. The Governing Board have three functions all of which align to make a positive impact on the school and your child's education.
Strategy
One of the main roles s to establish the school's vision and strategic direction, the board work with the Head and the Senior Leadership team to define the long term aims for the school, considering things such as the school's ethos, needs of the local community and the national curriculum. Once this vision is established the Governors support to create this into a strategic plan.
This plan outlines the objectives and steps the school will take to achieve them. An example of this would be contributing and reviewing the School Development Plan.
Accountability
The board are a "critical friend" to the Head and offer constructive feedback and challenge decisions where necessary. Through regular meetings the progress towards the strategic plan is reviewed, student performance date is analysed and challenges or areas for development are discussed.
An example of this would be to review the safeguarding policy ensuring that the school is safe and inclusive for everyone.
Financial Oversight
A school needs funds to be able to function effectively. Overseeing The school's financial performance is another of the Governing Boards core functions, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support the school's goals.
Governors do not deal with the day-to-day accounts but take a big picture of the overall school budget and review and approve the annual budget prepared by the Head. Governors do not just get involved in the budget annually, but they monitor how the budget is being spent throughout the year, receiving and reviewing regular financial report to identify how the budget is being spent and potential identify and areas of overspending or possible financial challenges.
An example of this is to scrutinise large expenditures, such as the recent addition of the two learning lodges to ensure that the best value for money is being achieved.
Part of the Community
Governors come from a wide range of backgrounds, parents, teachers, local business leaders and community representatives. By having this diverse range of people, they can bring not only experience but also insights and benefit from the local community. governors ae ambassadors for the school which they represent; by championing the school they can help to build a sense of pride and ownership within the community.
School Development
The role of Governors is to ensure the school is constantly striving for excellence and providing the best possible education for its pupils. By championing the school's development, Governors help prepare students for the future, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they meet to thrive in an ever-changing world. School Governors, behind the scenes, play a vital role in shaping children's school experience. From setting the strategic direction to ensuring financial stability, and from fostering community links to championing school development, their dedication has a profound effect on the learning environment.
Our Governing Board meets termly for a Full Governing Board meeting and once a year for a Full Governing Board Finance meeting., where we review the budget. In addition, Governors are members of either the Teaching and Learning committee or the Resources Committee and meet termly.
Governors are also linked to faculties within the school and meet regularly with individual staff members to discuss progress and areas for development within the school, these meetings are documented and presented to the Full Governing Board. We also have Governors with specific areas of responsibility - Safeguarding/Child Protection/Prevent, Health & Safety, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Pupil Premium and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Our governors are:
Liz Evans, Helen Altringham, Simon Cornish, Emma Richardson, Robert Driver, Stephanie Richardson, Ross Freeman, Emma LLoyd, Ruth Kramer and Hannah Ward.
| Name | Term of Office | Category | Committee | Business/Financial Interests | Attendance 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liz Evans | 1.7.17 - present | Headteacher | DSL, Resources and Teaching and Learning | None | 4/4 |
| Helen Altringham | 24.6.23 - 23.6.27 | Chair/Co-opted | Resources Safeguarding, SEND | None | 3/4 |
| Simon Cornish | 30.3.21 - 2.3.25 | Vice Chair Parent | Resources and Teaching and Learning | None | 4/4 |
| Emma Richardson | 30.1.21 - 29.1.25 | Parent | Teaching and Learning | None | 4/4 |
| Robert Driver | 9.11.22 - 8.11.26 | Co opted | Teaching and Learning | None | 3/4 |
| Ross Freeman | 22.7.23 - 21.7.7 | Parent | Teaching and learning | None | 2/4 |
| Stephanie Williams | 22.7.23. - 21.7.27 | Co-opted | Teaching and Learning | None | 4/4 |
| Emma Lloyd | 17.7.23 - 16.7.27 | Parent | Resources | None | 4/4 |
| Ruth Kramer | 1.9.22 - 31.8.26 | Associate/Staff | Teaching and Learning | None | 4/4 |
| Hannah Ward | 7.3.22 - 6.3.26 | Staff | Teaching and Learning | None | Maternity Leave |
The Appointing Body for Trotts Hill Primary School & Nursery School is Hertfordshire County Council
Schools financial benchmarking service
Schools Financial Benchmarking - GOV.UK (schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk)