Governors

Welcome from the Governing Body

We work to ensure our school delivers the highest quality education for your children. This includes appointing a Head teacher and can also involve interviewing other school staff. The governors are responsible and accountable for ensuring that the school discharges their statutory duties under the law. We ensure that the leadership and management of the school have appropriate plans and resources in place to deliver a high quality and effective learning experience for all the children at Hamilton School, whatever their ages and ability, so that every child can achieve his or her full potential. The Governing Body also acts as a ‘critical friend’, monitoring performance and attainment, managing the budgets and overseeing the maintenance of the premises, to ensure that the school is always providing an effective education.

As Governors, we take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously.  We complete the HAYS online safeguarding course and attend relevant training.  We ensure that we all read appropriate documents and our 'Safeguarding Review Cycle' ensures that safeguarding remains a constant feature of our agendas and that we can support and challenge school leaders in their work

All Governors undertake training. This can be on a group or individual basis, including Introduction to Governors, Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment and specific areas determined by their role in school. We are currently in the process of preparing the Declarations of Interest document, and it will be available soon.

The Role of the Governing Body

Full Governors’ meetings are held at least once a term.  There are also three committees which report back to the Main Governing Body meetings:

Committee members

• Finance and Personnel - this committee monitors and evaluates the utilisation of all physical, financial and human resources.  The committee looks at best value for money and ensures that the school is sufficiently resourced to implement all aspects of the School Improvement Plan. There are named governors for Pupil Premium and Sports Premium budgets. There is also a named governor for Autism on this committee
   
• Teaching, Learning and Assessment – this committee monitors and evaluates the standards of teaching and learning and the impact that this makes on children’s achievement and attainment. The committee monitors how the school ensures that set targets are achieved.
   
• Premises, Health and Safety and Safeguarding Committee - this committee ensures our school site is fit for purpose and all areas of health and safety are addressed. There is a big focus on safeguarding and a named governor for safeguarding is on this committee

Governors attendance

The Governing Body adopts, reviews and monitors a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Complaints, Child Protection, Curriculum and Performance Management. These policies and others can be found on this web site or alternatively hard copies can be obtained through the school office. The governing body of Hamilton School has adopted the Birmingham Model Code of Conduct which can be seen below.

Birmingham Model Code of Conduct

The Governing Body has now gone through the reconstitution process.  The new Governing Body was formed at a meeting on January 29th 2015.  It is a really strong team with a range of skills and experience.  If you wish to discuss any matters relating to governance, please contact the Clerk to the Governing Body, Laura Allen (Laura.Allen@services4schools.org.uk).

Each of the classes in school now has a governor link.  We have looked at skills and areas of expertise and development to match people up.  The aim is to give Governors even more of an insight into daily school life so that they can support and challenge the school effectively.  Governors will spend time getting to know the staff and students in their classes and will develop a deep understanding to the approaches to teaching, learning and assessment.