Our Governing Body

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). The Governing Body meets regularly. They are committed to ensuring the highest quality of education and welfare for your child. All correspondence to the Chair of Governors can be be sent to c/o Toft Hill Primary School. If you wish to contact any members of the governing body, this can be done by contacting the school.

Mrs Alison Barron (Chair) – Co-opted Governor
Mrs Helen Pepper –(Vice Chair) – Co-opted Governor
Mrs Janice Stobbs – Head Teacher
Leanne Nesbitt – Deputy Head
Mr Marc Sproat – Staff Governor
Mr John Stelling – Co-opted Governor
Mrs Merion Owen – Parent Governor
Mrs Amanda Majer – Co-opted Governor
Miss Jordan Donohue – Co-Opted Governor
Mrs Kelly Reynolds – Co-Opted Governor
Ian Smithwhite – Parent Governor
Pippa Gard – Parent Governor
Alex Eley – Parent Governor
Victoria Bell – Parent Governor

Recent Retirements

Mrs Natasha Robson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
Mr Martin Broom- Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
Mrs Paula Wilson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
Mrs Leanne Crook – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
Mrs Karen Studholme – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
Dr Mark Ward – Co-opted Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
Miss Samantha Benson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)

Paul White – Clerk to Governors
Mrs Stobbs also serves on the Governing Body of Cockton Hill Junior School.

The Governing Body of Toft Hill Primary School has a strong focus on its three core strategic functions
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

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

Toft Hill 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.

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Terms of Reference 5Nov20 (1)

Governing Body Committee Structure

Name	Representing	Term of Office	Committee	Responsibilities	Relationship to Staff
Mrs Alison Barron - Chair	Co-opted	14/03/2024	Finance, premises and staffing. Head Teachers performance managment (Chair). 1st/Pay review (Chair). Curriculum and standards.	English, Reading	None
Leanne Nesbitt	Deputy Head Teacher, Associate Member
Mrs Helen Pepper	Co-opted	25/06/2021	Appeals (chair). Curriculum and standards (Chair).	Maths	None
Mr Marc Sproat	Staff	30/09/2022	Curriculum and standards.
Mr John Stelling	Co-opted	31/08/2023	Finance, premises and staffing. 1st/Pay review. Head Teachers performance management.	Health and safety	None
Mrs Janice Stobbs - Headteacher	Staff		Finance, premises and staffing. 1st/pay review, Curriculum and standards.
Mrs Amanda Majer	Parent		Finance, premises and staffing (Chair). 1st Pay review.	SEND Equalities GDPR	None
Mrs Kelly Reynolds	Parent	13/11/2023	Curriculum, standards and appeals	Safeguarding Pupil premium	None
Mrs Meirion Owen	Parent	11/12/2023	Curriculum and standards. Finance, premises and staffing	Recovery Curriculum	None
Mr Ian Smithwhite	Parent		Finance, premises and staffing	Foundation Curriculum	None
Miss Pippa Gard	Parent		Appeals Curriculum and standards	Catch up premium	None
Mrs Alex Eley	Parent		Finance, premises and staffing		None
Miss Jordan Donohue	Co-opted	27/02/2023			None

Governor Attendance

Schools are now required to display Governor attendance at meetings for each academic school year.

Key
Y – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted
N – Did not attend
N/A – Not a member of the committee

Name/Meeting	Finance 01/10/2020	1st/Pay Review 01/10/2020	Standards and Curriculum 13/10/2020	Full Governing Body 5/11/2020	Finance Meeting 6/12/2020	Finance Meeting 11/02/2021
Mrs A Barron	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mrs L Nesbitt	✓	n/a	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mrs H Pepper	n/a	n/a	✓	✓	n/a	n/a
Mr M Sproat	n/a	n/a	✓	✓	n/a	n/a
Mrs J Stelling	✓	✓	n/a	✓	✓	✓
Mrs J Stobbs	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mrs A Majer	✓	✓	n/a	✓	✓	✓
Miss J Donahue	n/a	n/a	N	✓	n/a	n/a
Mrs M Owen	✓	n/a	a/a	✓	✓	✓
Mrs K Reynolds	n/a	n/a	✓	✓	n/a	n/a
Mr I Smithwhite	n/a	n/a	n/a	✓	✓	✓
Miss P Gard	n/a	n/a	n/a	✓	n/a	✓
Mrs A Eley	n/a	n/a	n/a	✓	✓	AA

You can view archived attendance on our website.

Governing Body and Committees

Full Governing Body

Remit
The purpose of the Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Its three core strategic functions are:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Finance, Premises and Personnel Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

o In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
o To monitor income and expenditure
o To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council
o Oversee the use of the premises and keep under review an asset management/building development plan.
o To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee
o To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff
o To act as the pupil discipline committee for fixed term and permanent exclusions.

Standards and Curriculum Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

o To review the school’s curriculum statement and policies regarding the National Curriculum, policies and provisions for sex education and for collective worship and RE.
o To monitor and review information about school performance and reporting to parents according to statutory requirements.
o Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Equalities Act
o Monitor the provision of RE and PHSCE
o Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
o Monitor the school’s performance against targets set for achievement at KS1.
o Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups.
o Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
o In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
o Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy.

First / Pay Review Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

o To act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy adopted by the governing body.
o To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body.

Appeals Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

o To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the First/Pay Review Committee.
Headteachers Performance
Remit The purpose of this committee includes:
o To arrange to meet with the Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.

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