Annual Governance Statement

Academic year ending July 2024

In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the 3 core strategic functions of the Writtle Infant School Governing Body are:

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;
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Governance arrangements

The role of the Governing Body is to give strategic direction to the school, to provide constructive challenge in constantly endeavouring to raise standards and to ensure finances are well managed.

The Governing Body of Writtle Infant School is made up of staff governors (including the Head of School), elected Parent Governors, a Local Authority Governor and Co-opted Governors. Co-opted governors are appointed by the Governing Body and are people who, in the opinion of the Governing Body, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

The full Governing Body meets at least once each term; we also have a few committees to consider different aspects of the school in detail. At Writtle Infant School we have a Finance and Premises Committee, and a Pay Committee. We also have committees that meet if required to consider pupil discipline and staffing matters. Our meetings and monitoring visits are all in person by default.

One of the roles for the governors is reviewing and agreeing school policies, particularly in key areas such as Safeguarding, SEND, Attendance, Behaviour Management, GDPR and Health & Safety. Policies are available to view on our website, or by request from the school office. Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are public documents and are available on request.

At the end of each term the Governors and Senior Leadership Team analyse school data and the progress of each year group, looking at the impact of interventions and deployment of resources. We use this data to produce our School Development Plan and priorities for the next school year. Training opportunities for the governing body are also readily available, with a blend of online and in person training attended.

Safeguarding

The Governing Body is committed to:

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety, and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of children and young people;
• Promoting equality of opportunity and community cohesion where the diversity of different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued;
• The fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs;
• Expecting all staff, volunteers and other workers to share this commitment.

Governors place great value on safeguarding and equality, we have a Nominated Governor for Safeguarding (Mrs Burton) who gives a termly report to the governors about all such matters where applicable.

All governors have annual safeguarding training and have also taken part in Prevent training.

Review of Academic Year 2023-24

As the governing body we feel incredibly privileged to play a small part in the education of our wonderful children, and never take that for granted. Leading the school into a new era of partnership with Writtle Junior School was a big decision, but couldn’t have been more successful. Over the past six years (with a break during the global pandemic), we have been discussing ways of developing even further, considering all options from joining an existing MAT to forming our own multi-academy trust.  We are now pleased to share that we are in the process of establishing our own MAT, the HIVE Family of Schools, together with Writtle Junior School, Moulsham Infant School, Moulsham Junior School and Highwood Primary School. The governing bodies of these five schools have committed to form a MAT and our application has been approved by the Regional Schools’ Director at his May 2024 Advisory Board meeting.

Our priority is to enable us all to continue to provide an excellent education for our pupils, whilst maintaining each school’s ethos and identity. We believe by working together closely with these like-minded schools, we can continue to achieve great things and provide an excellent educational experience in which all our pupils can thrive.

With the academy process well underway, next year will be just as exciting as this one, but with the fantastic leadership of Mrs Wilson and Mr Taylor, it will undoubtedly be another bright one.

We are very fortunate in this village to have a thriving school, with committed leadership and staff, who are strongly focused on providing the best for all pupils. We are sad to be saying goodbye to some staff this year, and wish them well on their new endeavours, but equally excited to welcome new members to the team – a team that must be thanked for their hard work and commitment to their jobs. Our teachers, administration team, mid-day staff, cleaners and caretaker pull together day after day in a seamless fashion that continues to astound us, and without whom there would be no Writtle Infant School.

We were also sad to say goodbye to Marianne Parish, who has been involved with the school for over 25 years. We thank her so much for all the enthusiasm and expertise she has brought us over the years. She will be very much missed.

Whilst we wait for official analysis of national data, we are very pleased with the outcomes for EYFS, Phonics screening and core curriculum areas in Key Stage 1. We must also mention the impactful introduction of the Little Wandle programme, and the excellent progress we have seen from the children as a result – none of which would have happened without the staff dedication to its rapid and detailed implementation.

Next Academic Year 2024-25

We review the make-up of  governors each school year, to fill skills gaps within the governing body. We continue to look at our training needs and the effectiveness of the School Development Plan to ensure that we make a positive impact on the school.

Governing Body Structure & Responsibilities

Governors’ Business and Financial Interests