Governors

The Local Governing Body of Unicorn Primary School

The Local Governing Body (LGB) of Unicorn Primary School is a committee of the main board of the Compass Academy Trust (www.compassacademytrust.co.uk). Compass Academy Trust came into existence as a multi-academy trust on 1 September 2015.

The four schools in the Trust are:

• Marian Vian Primary School
• Oak Lodge Primary School
• Unicorn Primary School
• Wickham Common Primary School

Each Academy has its own Local Governing Body which has been established by the Board in accordance with the Trust’s Articles. Each Local Governing body can have not less than 9 and not more than 15 Local Governors, as follows:

• The Head Teacher
• A minimum of 2 and maximum of 5 Parent Local Governors
• Up to 2 staff Local Governors
• Local Governors appointed by Trust (nominated by the LGB)

The description that follows relates to the Local Governing Body of Unicorn Primary School.

 The role of the Local Governing Body is a strategic one: its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the Head Teacher and Senior Leadership Team (a critical friend)

The Head Teacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the Local Governing Body.

The Local Governing Body as a whole meets on average once a term as do the various sub-committees (see below).  Local Governors have legal duties, powers and responsibilities: they can only act corporately – NOT individually.  They are made up from parents, teachers and those appointed by Compass Academy Trust, some of whom were formerly LA or community representatives.

Local Governors are appointed to help: 

• decide what is being taught
• set standards of behaviour
• agree staffing
• decide how the school budget should be spent

Parent Local Governors: 

• are parents, or an individual exercising parental responsibility, of a pupil registered at the school at the time of their election
• are elected by parents and carers of children at the School
• serve, as do all Governors, for a period of four years 

Parent Local Governors bring the views of parents and carers to the Local Governing Body but they speak and act as individuals. They are not delegates or mouthpieces of parents and they do not vote for all parents in general.  They have equal status in the work of the Local Governing Body and have normal voting rights.

Local Governing Body Committees

The Local Governing Body is responsible for the running of the School, and usually meets  six times a year to discuss developments and receive feedback from the various committees that have been set up to look at specific aspects of school life. 

At present the Local Governing Body has the following sub-committees: 

• The Resources and Personnel Committee, which is responsible for which is responsible for managing the school’s budget, ensuring the School is financially accountable, overseeing all aspects relating to the school buildings and grounds, all school appointments and pay decisions. 

• The Teaching and Learning Committee, which looks at the curriculum and teaching and learning across the School. 

• The Pupils, Parents and Community Committee, which is responsible for ensuring effective communication and policies relating to pupils, parents and our community.

There are also separate pairs of Governors who take the lead on the following areas that concern the Local Governing Body:

• Safeguarding
• Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND)
• Sex & Relationships Education
• Health and Safety
• Head Teacher’s performance
• Links with other Local Governing Bodies

If you wish to contact the Local Governing Body please address your correspondence to Debbie Wiggins, Clerk to the Governors, Unicorn Primary School. 

Please click here for the latest Governors Newsletter from our Chair of Governors

Governing Body

Click here for the Membership Terms of Office 2018

Click here for the Register of Business Interests

Committees

Please click here for the Governors Attendance Log

Please click here for the Articles of Association

Please click here for the Governance Structure and Delegation of Financial Responsibilities

Please click here for the Scheme of Delegation

  Governors Secure Area