Welcome to our Governing Body
The Governors of Warden Hill Infant School are very proud to take an active part in school life.
Our vision is to ensure that everything possible is in place to enable our pupils to be the best they can be.
The three core functions of the Governors are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Many Governors have had children attend the school or still have children attending; we therefore can understand parental viewpoints. We are very approachable and more than happy to hear from you about any matters you may wish to discuss.
Governance Role
As Governors, a critical part of our role is to ensure we develop and maintain strong links with parents, staff and pupils. To support this, we can often be found in and around school, attending meetings and experiencing the many different activities that take place in school. We also try to attend as many school functions as we are able.
Governance Monitoring
The Governing Body will monitor in detail areas such as Finance, Personnel, Premises (which includes Health & Safety), Safeguarding and the Curriculum. We also ensure that legally required policies and documents are held and are available for Staff, Pupils, Governors, Parents and Carers and any visitors to school when and where relevant.
Governors receive a report from the Headteacher once a term which keeps us up to date with pupil’s academic achievements, staffing, attendance, special projects, school life in general and other legally required reports. We make crucial decisions about the school in our Governing Body meetings and ratify policies in action in the school.
We also ensure that we are aware of what is taking place within the ever changing world of Education and Governance. We do this by attending courses held by the Local Authority and by being affiliated to the National Governors Association.
Governance Links
Through the Headteacher and Staff, we are kept informed of all aspects of school life. Each Governor is linked to a subject and/or school development area. We have meetings with Key Stage and Leaders of Learning to discuss how the National Curriculum is being followed and adapted to meet the needs of our pupils. We meet with the Senior Leadership Team to discuss areas of school development for the future. Link Governors provide feedback from these meetings at the Governing Body meetings.
Governance Membership
Our focus is very much the future of the school for the benefit of the pupils. The Governing Body membership can be viewed below.
Governance Membership 2022 to 2023
Trish Pinner is our elected Chair of Governing Body and she brings a wealth of school knowledge and governance experience to our Governing Body. If you would like to contact our Chair, please email: chair@wardenhillinfant.co.uk
Governance Structure
The Instrument of Government outlines the constitution of the Governing Body. The Local Authority considers whether it complies with the relevant legal requirements. The Instrument of Government for Warden Hill Infant School Governing Body was ratified by the Local Authority and it became effective from 1st September 2015.
Instrument of Governance 2021-22
2022 to 2023 Governance Structure
The Governing Body reviews the document annually, in the autumn term, to ensure the constitution of the Governing Body remains relevant and meets the needs of the school’s governance.
Governance Terms of Reference
The Governing Body must agree the Terms of Reference for the Governing Body and its Committees annually. The Terms of Reference outlines the tasks and decision-making powers assigned to a Committee. The Terms of Reference documents for Warden Hill Infant School Governing Body were ratified on 27th September 2021.
Governance Committees and Meetings
The Governing Body meets at least four times per academic year to consider the strategic aspects impacting the school and the pupils.
The following Committees meet as follows:
- The Pay Committee meets once per academic year, in the autumn term, to assist in setting the school’s pay policy, determine staff remuneration and review the targets for performance related pay.
- The Headteacher’s Appraisal Panel meets once per academic year, in the autumn term, to set objectives for the Headteacher, appraise the performance of the Headteacher and assess their performance in the role against the Headteacher Standards and their performance objectives.
- The Resources and Finance Committee meets at least four times per academic year to consider financial, human resources, health and safety and premises matters. The Governing Body ensures that budget monitoring is considered at least six times per academic year through the Governing Body meetings and Resources and Finance Committee meetings.
- The Curriculum and Progress Committee meets at least three times per academic year to consider all areas of the curriculum, teaching, learning, progress and attainment, and safeguarding of pupils.
There are four Committees that meet on an adhoc basis linked to discipline and appeals for both pupils and staff. At Warden Hill Infant School, these Committees rarely meet but form part of the governance structure.
Governance Register of Pecuniary Interests
Governors are forbidden from being involved in decision making relating to the purchases by the school of goods and services from themselves, their relatives or any organisation in which they or those close to them have significant interest. The Governance Clerk is required to maintain a register of such interests.
A Declaration of Interests Form is completed annually by all Governors to declare such interests. If interests change, a new form is completed.
At every governance meeting, Governors declare as to whether they have any pecuniary interests related to the agenda items listed for the governance meeting.
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests Summary 2021 – 22
Governance Attendance Register
The Governing Body keeps track of all governors who attend or are absent from Governance meetings. It is important for the development of the Governing Body that governor absence from meetings is kept to a minimum.
Governance Attendance Register 2019 – 20
The Governance Attendance Register for 2020 – 21 will be reviewed by the Full Governing Body on Monday 6th December 2021.
Governance Code of Conduct
This Governor Code of Conduct is intended as a guide, to indicate the standards of conduct and accountability which are expected of Governors, to enable them to understand their legal and ethical duties and to assist them both in carrying out those duties and in their relationship with the School and the Headteacher. This Code is therefore aimed at promoting effective, well informed and accountable school governance. The Full Governing Body reviews the Governor Code of Conduct Policy on an annual basis in the autumn term.
Governor Code of Conduct Policy 2022 to 2023
Governance Vacancies
The Governing Body currently has Parent Governor and Co-opted Governor vacancies. If you would like to obtain further information on how you can support the school by joining the Governing Body, please contact the Chair of Governing Body at chair@wardenhillinfant.co.uk
The role of the parent governor
Governance Contact Details
If you would like to contact a member of our Governing Body, please do so by sending your written correspondence to: Chair of Governing Body, Trish Pinner, Warden Hill Infant School, Birdsfoot Lane, Luton, LU3 2DN.
Alternatively, you may wish to email:
Trish Pinner, Chair of Governing Body at chair@wardenhillinfant.co.uk
Michelle Devine, Governance Clerk at clerk@wardenhillinfant.co.uk