Governance at Corbridge Middle School
I feel very privileged to be the current Chair of Governors at Corbridge Middle School (CMS). Under the leadership of Mrs Kennedy the learning experience for our pupils continues to evolve with the aim of “lighting the fire” for each and every child at our school for them to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.
Corbridge Middle School is thriving; well thought of by our parents, partnership schools and local community. We have an excellent reputation for our pastoral care, broad curriculum and high quality innovative teaching practice; so much so that CMS has more pupils now than I have ever experienced in my ten years as a governor here. I hope you will agree this to be a testament to the hard work, commitment and passion our staff have, here at CMS.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Jo Holmes
Chair Governors and National Leader of Governance
Corbridge Middle School is thriving; well thought of by our parents, partnership schools and local community. We have an excellent reputation for our pastoral care, broad curriculum and high quality innovative teaching practice; so much so that CMS has more pupils now than I have ever experienced in my ten years as a governor here. I hope you will agree this to be a testament to the hard work, commitment and passion our staff have, here at CMS.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Jo Holmes
Chair Governors and National Leader of Governance
How is our school governed?
All schools are required to have a Governing Body whose role is to have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- 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.
The Governing Body is made up of volunteers who, as a whole group, have the knowledge, skills and time to be able to perform these strategic functions. Here at Corbridge Middle School we have 13 places on our governing body. We meet as a full governing body at least once per term but the majority of our work takes place in committees which also meet at least once per term. As well as being members of committees, our “non- staff” governors also take an interest in the areas of English, maths, special educational needs, looked after children and safeguarding which involves working with various leaders within school.
How are we doing?
All our governors work hard to support, challenge and hold the school to account so that Corbridge Middle School is successful both now and in the future. We have a high attendance record of all governors at both full board and committee meetings.
The leadership team, both staff and governors, continue to drive the school forward towards our vision. Our school improvement advisor has supported our own view that leadership and governance of the school is outstanding with strong support and challenge provided.
This past year has provided new challenge as a result of two consultations affecting education in the West of Northumberland. We are delighted with the conclusion of both consultations: that the current structure of schools within the Hexham Partnership will remain unchanged. Whilst time consuming, the process of consultation has enabled us to engage with our stakeholders in far greater depth than before; as a result we now have a much clearer picture of what we do well and where we could be even more effective by working in closer partnership with other schools. In May, the governing body took the decision to focus more closely on developing more effective collaboration with our Hexham Partnership schools rather than joining the proposed Tynedale Community Learning Trust.
During 2017/18 we
During 2018/2019 we shall
The leadership team, both staff and governors, continue to drive the school forward towards our vision. Our school improvement advisor has supported our own view that leadership and governance of the school is outstanding with strong support and challenge provided.
This past year has provided new challenge as a result of two consultations affecting education in the West of Northumberland. We are delighted with the conclusion of both consultations: that the current structure of schools within the Hexham Partnership will remain unchanged. Whilst time consuming, the process of consultation has enabled us to engage with our stakeholders in far greater depth than before; as a result we now have a much clearer picture of what we do well and where we could be even more effective by working in closer partnership with other schools. In May, the governing body took the decision to focus more closely on developing more effective collaboration with our Hexham Partnership schools rather than joining the proposed Tynedale Community Learning Trust.
During 2017/18 we
- Continued to ensure that educational outcomes for all pupils were outstanding
- Continued to focus upon driving up the quality of teaching in every lesson and its impact by using robust monitoring throughout the year and reducing class sizes for some subjects
- Developed new and innovative teaching in the areas of computing, technology and careers education (”Ambition”) which are having a real impact on the pupil experience
- Put in place systems to measure the impact of professional development for staff on pupil outcomes
- Engaged fully in the formation of a multi academy trust; local authority consultation process and latterly in how we might collaborate even more effectively with our partnership schools.
- Continued the process of forming an all age multi academy trust with nine other schools in the Tyne Valley but latterly withdrew our application following the results of the education consultations affecting the Hexham Partnership of schools.
- Gained a clearer picture of how changes to school funding will impact all schools
During 2018/2019 we shall
- Continue to focus on enabling a greater proportion of our higher attaining pupils to make better than expected progress whilst also maintaining standards for all
- Identify how our curriculum can be even better through collaboration with other schools
- Develop a collaborative cross-school structure for our Special Educational Needs and disadvantaged provision
- Explore further innovative teaching methods to enhance what we already do
- Build organisational capacity within CMS and across the partnership without increasing costs
- Develop a three year plan to ensure our ongoing financial sustainability based upon the new funding for schools
- Gain appropriate accreditation to underwrite the excellent work taking place in school
- Seek to become a National support school
What is our Governance Structure?
Pupil Discipline, Complaints and Appeals committees are formed as and when required. None of these committees met last year.
Teaching & Achievement
This committee is responsible for ensuring that appropriate pupil achievement targets are set each year and for monitoring how the school is doing in achieving these targets. They also have specific responsibility for supporting the schools careers guidance programme.
Over the last year this committee has monitored the progress of the school against its School Development Plan for curriculum and assessment, Behaviour for Learning, SATs and ensuring moderation and triangulation has taken place. The School Improvement Partnerrecognised the work carried out with disadvantaged pupils as best practice. There has been significant overall improvement in the year 6 SATs results and especially for our disadvantaged and more able pupils. This followed a whole school objective being set for all staff to support English and maths across all curriculum subjects. A new year 8 assessment scheme has shown that all our pupils make excellent progress during their four years at CMS compared with other schools nationwide.
Link governors for English and Maths support the work of this committee.
Following last year’s success, there will continue to be performance targets for all staff to support literacy and numeracy targets.
Human Resources
This committee is responsible for reviewing all HR policies and ensuring they are followed, including those related to pay, appraisal, the review of staffing structures and appointment of senior members of staff.
Over the last year, the committee has ensured that the appraisal policy has been consistently applied. The induction training and mentoring of new staff remains a priority for this year along with the impact of the continued professional development programme for all staff. As progress is made towards academisation, this committee will ensure all arrangements are in place for staff.
Finance & Facilities
This committee is responsible for ensuring the school is achieving good value for money overall and specifically regarding pupil premium and PE sports premium spending. They are also responsible for ensuring that our Health & Safety policies are followed and that we have a properly funded repairs, maintenance and capital spend programme in place.
The school manages its finances well and holds a small surplus. Many more infrastructure projects have been completed this year, including the reordering of classrooms to provide smaller teaching spaces, upgrading of computing facilities and design and technology facilities, addition of medical and laptop storage rooms.
This year the committee will be understanding how the changes to school funding will affect the finances of the school to ensure future sustainability. We also await news of the proposed housing development planned for northern boundary of the school. Any works planned will be scrutinised by this group to ensure safety of our pupils, staff and visitors is paramount at all times.
Headteacher Performance Review
This committee is responsible for setting annual objectives for the headteacher and reviewing performance against these objectives.
Safeguarding and SEND responsibilities
Named governors hold a watching brief over these important areas. They are responsible for ensuring the school is meeting all its safeguarding, child protection and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities responsibilities. They also ensure that we have and adhere to our policies for behaviour and discipline.
Our SEND coordinator completed their qualifications and an external SEND review was carried out which confirmed our provision to be best practice. A new SEND governor is to be appointed requiring support and training to fulfil their function. The school improvement partner has judged our safeguarding and SEND responsibilities to be outstanding.
Teaching & Achievement
This committee is responsible for ensuring that appropriate pupil achievement targets are set each year and for monitoring how the school is doing in achieving these targets. They also have specific responsibility for supporting the schools careers guidance programme.
Over the last year this committee has monitored the progress of the school against its School Development Plan for curriculum and assessment, Behaviour for Learning, SATs and ensuring moderation and triangulation has taken place. The School Improvement Partnerrecognised the work carried out with disadvantaged pupils as best practice. There has been significant overall improvement in the year 6 SATs results and especially for our disadvantaged and more able pupils. This followed a whole school objective being set for all staff to support English and maths across all curriculum subjects. A new year 8 assessment scheme has shown that all our pupils make excellent progress during their four years at CMS compared with other schools nationwide.
Link governors for English and Maths support the work of this committee.
Following last year’s success, there will continue to be performance targets for all staff to support literacy and numeracy targets.
Human Resources
This committee is responsible for reviewing all HR policies and ensuring they are followed, including those related to pay, appraisal, the review of staffing structures and appointment of senior members of staff.
Over the last year, the committee has ensured that the appraisal policy has been consistently applied. The induction training and mentoring of new staff remains a priority for this year along with the impact of the continued professional development programme for all staff. As progress is made towards academisation, this committee will ensure all arrangements are in place for staff.
Finance & Facilities
This committee is responsible for ensuring the school is achieving good value for money overall and specifically regarding pupil premium and PE sports premium spending. They are also responsible for ensuring that our Health & Safety policies are followed and that we have a properly funded repairs, maintenance and capital spend programme in place.
The school manages its finances well and holds a small surplus. Many more infrastructure projects have been completed this year, including the reordering of classrooms to provide smaller teaching spaces, upgrading of computing facilities and design and technology facilities, addition of medical and laptop storage rooms.
This year the committee will be understanding how the changes to school funding will affect the finances of the school to ensure future sustainability. We also await news of the proposed housing development planned for northern boundary of the school. Any works planned will be scrutinised by this group to ensure safety of our pupils, staff and visitors is paramount at all times.
Headteacher Performance Review
This committee is responsible for setting annual objectives for the headteacher and reviewing performance against these objectives.
Safeguarding and SEND responsibilities
Named governors hold a watching brief over these important areas. They are responsible for ensuring the school is meeting all its safeguarding, child protection and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities responsibilities. They also ensure that we have and adhere to our policies for behaviour and discipline.
Our SEND coordinator completed their qualifications and an external SEND review was carried out which confirmed our provision to be best practice. A new SEND governor is to be appointed requiring support and training to fulfil their function. The school improvement partner has judged our safeguarding and SEND responsibilities to be outstanding.
Who are our governors?
Jo Holmes - Co-opted Governor and Chair of Governors, Chair of Headteacher Performance Committee, and link governor for Maths. Also National Leader Governance and qualified in Safer Recruitment
I have been a governor at CMS for 9 years and previously had been a governor at Whittonstall First School. With three children, one having just left and two at Queen Elizabeth High School, much of my experience comes from being a parent. As a graduate Chemical Engineer and having managed manufacturing operations for Procter & Gamble Ltd, I have extensive experience in target setting, performance monitoring, human resources and project management. In my role as Chair, I ensure that the full Governing Body operates effectively. I am also a National Leader of Governance; in this role I provide support to other governing bodies and carry our external reviews of governance and health checks as required in order to aid school improvement.
Jane Kennedy Headteacher.
I have been a member of the governing body since I joined the school as Headteacher in September 2014. I enjoy working with the governors who, with their wide range of skills and experience, continue to challenge and drive the school forwards as we strive to provide the best education we possibly can for our students. We are clear about our vision for the school, our ethos and our values and we believe that enriching every child’s education will help to ensure their future success.
Ann Harvey Co-opted Governor, Finance & Facilities Committee.
I have been a governor for just over two years but have regularly been co-opted onto Finance and Facilities committees in the past in my role as Office Manager for the school. I am a long standing resident of Corbridge and am able to use my community links to build community cohesion.
Peter Jewitt Co-opted Governor, Chair Finance & Facilities Committee.
I live in Corbridge and have recently been appointed a governor having retired as a solicitor specialising in property law and civil litigation. Some years ago I was Chair of Governors of a school in Newcastle upon Tyne. Through my involvement with the business community and my voluntary work in the Tyne Valley I bring to the Governing Board an understanding of the needs of business and the community. My legal knowledge is proving useful during the process to form a Multi Academy Trust.
Gavin Langlands Co-opted Governor, Finance & Facilities Committee.
I have been a governor for just over five years; I have two children, one of whom is now at QEHS and my youngest is in her third year at Corbridge Middle School. As a systems consultant I am able to support the governing board and school in assessing its strengths and setting future direction.
Philip Latham Co-opted Governor, Teaching & Achievement committee.
A former chair of Governors, I have been teaching in secondary schools since the 1960’s and have had experience of the impact of rapid change in education on pupils and teachers. I first became a governor when our two daughters attended CMS in the 1980’s. Currently I work as a volunteer ESOL teacher for a North East refugee charity. As a practitioner I have found the 3 tier school system meets the widest range of pupil development needs.
Katie Skinner Parent Governor, Chair Teaching and Achievement Committee and Designated Safeguarding Governor.
I have been a governor since December 2015. I have two daughters at CMS. Being a teacher myself at a large Primary School in Newcastle, I am able to share knowledge of best practices in teaching and learning. Much of my work involves supporting Pupil Premium initiatives and raising attainment for these pupils. My main governor role is focussed around Safeguarding, where I have received training, not only through my work in school but also through my role as Welfare Officer for One Life Racing Triathlon Club in Hexham.
Mark Swinney Staff Governors, Human Resources committee
I have been a governor for one year during a time of potential change for the school. As a fairly new member of the teaching staff, I am able to provide an important staff perspective during the consultations to form a Multi Academy Trust and also the recent initial consultation undertaken by Hadrian Learning Trust.
Mark Warland Co-opted Governor, Human Resources committee, Teaching and Achievement Committee.
I have been a governor at CMS for the past three years. As a resident of Corbridge and Head of Science at Ponteland High School I am able to bring both knowledge of the local community and the next stage in students’ education to the governing body. As Head of Department of a large faculty I have experience of school appraisal systems, performance related pay, recruitment and staffing structures which support me in my role as a member of the Human Resources committee. I have two young children who will be attending Corbridge Middle School in the future.
Mark Wharton Parent Governor, Finance & Facilities committee and Health & Safety Governor
I have recently been appointed a parent governor with a child now in year 6. I have experience of school business management, where I voluntarily help at a Primary School whilst gaining my SBM qualifications and also run my own retail business. These skills enable me to actively support the work of the finance & facilities committee.
Lorna Boyd Associate Governor, Finance & Facilities committee.
I applied and became a local authority governor five years ago, as I feel that it is important for the whole community to be involved with raising children whether or not we have our own families. I have worked largely in the financial sector but am also involved in the voluntary sector looking to provide support for young carers so that they can make the most of opportunities available alongside their responsibilities.
My stepsons both attended Hexham schools and I also have two nephews still at school who keep me up to date with what they enjoy, or not, at their school.
I have been a governor at CMS for 9 years and previously had been a governor at Whittonstall First School. With three children, one having just left and two at Queen Elizabeth High School, much of my experience comes from being a parent. As a graduate Chemical Engineer and having managed manufacturing operations for Procter & Gamble Ltd, I have extensive experience in target setting, performance monitoring, human resources and project management. In my role as Chair, I ensure that the full Governing Body operates effectively. I am also a National Leader of Governance; in this role I provide support to other governing bodies and carry our external reviews of governance and health checks as required in order to aid school improvement.
Jane Kennedy Headteacher.
I have been a member of the governing body since I joined the school as Headteacher in September 2014. I enjoy working with the governors who, with their wide range of skills and experience, continue to challenge and drive the school forwards as we strive to provide the best education we possibly can for our students. We are clear about our vision for the school, our ethos and our values and we believe that enriching every child’s education will help to ensure their future success.
Ann Harvey Co-opted Governor, Finance & Facilities Committee.
I have been a governor for just over two years but have regularly been co-opted onto Finance and Facilities committees in the past in my role as Office Manager for the school. I am a long standing resident of Corbridge and am able to use my community links to build community cohesion.
Peter Jewitt Co-opted Governor, Chair Finance & Facilities Committee.
I live in Corbridge and have recently been appointed a governor having retired as a solicitor specialising in property law and civil litigation. Some years ago I was Chair of Governors of a school in Newcastle upon Tyne. Through my involvement with the business community and my voluntary work in the Tyne Valley I bring to the Governing Board an understanding of the needs of business and the community. My legal knowledge is proving useful during the process to form a Multi Academy Trust.
Gavin Langlands Co-opted Governor, Finance & Facilities Committee.
I have been a governor for just over five years; I have two children, one of whom is now at QEHS and my youngest is in her third year at Corbridge Middle School. As a systems consultant I am able to support the governing board and school in assessing its strengths and setting future direction.
Philip Latham Co-opted Governor, Teaching & Achievement committee.
A former chair of Governors, I have been teaching in secondary schools since the 1960’s and have had experience of the impact of rapid change in education on pupils and teachers. I first became a governor when our two daughters attended CMS in the 1980’s. Currently I work as a volunteer ESOL teacher for a North East refugee charity. As a practitioner I have found the 3 tier school system meets the widest range of pupil development needs.
Katie Skinner Parent Governor, Chair Teaching and Achievement Committee and Designated Safeguarding Governor.
I have been a governor since December 2015. I have two daughters at CMS. Being a teacher myself at a large Primary School in Newcastle, I am able to share knowledge of best practices in teaching and learning. Much of my work involves supporting Pupil Premium initiatives and raising attainment for these pupils. My main governor role is focussed around Safeguarding, where I have received training, not only through my work in school but also through my role as Welfare Officer for One Life Racing Triathlon Club in Hexham.
Mark Swinney Staff Governors, Human Resources committee
I have been a governor for one year during a time of potential change for the school. As a fairly new member of the teaching staff, I am able to provide an important staff perspective during the consultations to form a Multi Academy Trust and also the recent initial consultation undertaken by Hadrian Learning Trust.
Mark Warland Co-opted Governor, Human Resources committee, Teaching and Achievement Committee.
I have been a governor at CMS for the past three years. As a resident of Corbridge and Head of Science at Ponteland High School I am able to bring both knowledge of the local community and the next stage in students’ education to the governing body. As Head of Department of a large faculty I have experience of school appraisal systems, performance related pay, recruitment and staffing structures which support me in my role as a member of the Human Resources committee. I have two young children who will be attending Corbridge Middle School in the future.
Mark Wharton Parent Governor, Finance & Facilities committee and Health & Safety Governor
I have recently been appointed a parent governor with a child now in year 6. I have experience of school business management, where I voluntarily help at a Primary School whilst gaining my SBM qualifications and also run my own retail business. These skills enable me to actively support the work of the finance & facilities committee.
Lorna Boyd Associate Governor, Finance & Facilities committee.
I applied and became a local authority governor five years ago, as I feel that it is important for the whole community to be involved with raising children whether or not we have our own families. I have worked largely in the financial sector but am also involved in the voluntary sector looking to provide support for young carers so that they can make the most of opportunities available alongside their responsibilities.
My stepsons both attended Hexham schools and I also have two nephews still at school who keep me up to date with what they enjoy, or not, at their school.
How can you become involved?
We advertise any full governor vacancy whenever they arise. We also occasionally need people who are prepared to work with us on specific projects; for these roles we are able to recruit “associate members” onto our Governing Body. If you feel you have skills that we could use on our governing body we would love to hear from you. Please contact either Mrs Kennedy (Headteacher) or myself (Mrs Holmes) via the school office.
