All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend' to support, to challenge and ask questions.

Our Governing Body are a group of volunteers that work together as a team to ensure that the school provides the best education possible for its pupils.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher and staff with the support of Attenborough Learning Trust. Whilst the Headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum and standards, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.

The Governing Body has a range of powers, legal obligations and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main, these responsibilities relate to:

  • Setting targets and promoting high standards of educational achievement
  • Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
  • Management of the school’s delegated budget
  • Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based

We hold Local Governing meetings each term (two in autumn) to discuss topics relevant to school life.


This code sets out the expectations on and commitment required from governors in order for the governing body to properly carry out its work within the school and the community.

Introduction

The following is not a definitive statement of responsibilities but is concerned with the common understanding of broad principles by which the governing body and individual governors will operate.

The governing body as a corporate body

No governor will act on her/his own without delegated authority from the full governing body.

All governors have equal status. Although governors are appointed and elected by different groups, the overriding concern of all governors is the welfare of the school as a whole.

All governors carry equal responsibility for decisions made.

The Role of the Governor

We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfill all reasonable expectations of a good employer.

We will consider carefully how our decisions might affect other schools.

We will encourage open government and will act appropriately.

Commitment

We acknowledge that accepting the office as a governor involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.

We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the governing body, attend regularly and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.

We will get to know the school well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.

We will consider our individual and collective needs for training and development.

Relationships

We will strive to work as a team.

We will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all our communications with other governors.

We will seek to develop effective working relationships with our headteacher, staff, parents, the Local Authority, other relevant agencies and the community.

Confidentiality

We will observe confidentiality regarding proceedings of the governing body in meetings and from our visits to school as governors.

We will observe complete confidentiality when required or asked to do so by the governing body, especially regarding matters concerning individual staff or pupils/students.

We will exercise the greatest prudence of a discussion of a potentially contentious issue affecting the school arises outside the governing body.

We will not reveal the details of any governing body vote.

Conduct

In discharging our duties, we will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of the school.

We will follow the procedures established by the governing body when making or responding to criticism or complaints affecting the school.

Our visits to school will be undertaken within the policy established by the governing body.

Suspension of a Governor

If the need arises to use the sanction of suspending a governor, we will do so by following the School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) Regulations 2013 to ensure a fair and objective process.

Breach of this Code of Conduct

If we believe this code has been breached, we will raise the issue with the Chair of Governors and the Chair will investigate.

Should it be the Chair who we believe has breached this code, the Vice-Chair will undertake the investigation.

We understand that any allegation of a material breach of this code of conduct will be raised at a meeting of the governing body. If, following an investigation, the governing body agree that the allegation is substantiated, this will be minuted and could lead to consideration of suspension or removal from the governing body.

Governor
26.9.2022
8.12.2022
2.3.2023
18.5.2023
Mr N Allsopp (Chair) N/A Yes Yes Yes
Mr E. Rowe (Headteacher) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mr M. Kolia (Vice Chair) No No No No
Mr H Motara (Vice Chair) No Yes No Yes
Mr A. Farah Yes No No No
Mrs S. George Yes Yes No Yes
Mrs T. Shilcock Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mr M Tench N/A N/A N/A Yes
Ms E Thompson N/A Yes Yes Yes
Mrs S Kolia No Resigned Resigned Resigned
Mrs M Singala Yes Resigned Resigned Resigned
Mrs F Uddin Yes Resigned Resigned Resigned


Governors 2023/24
Governor Type
Term of Office
Mr N Allsopp (Chair) Co-opted 27.9.23 - 7.12.26
Mr E Rowe (Headteacher) Headteacher ex-officio
Mr H Motara (Vice Chair) Parent 3.12.21 - 2.12.25
Mrs S George Local 27.9.23 - 7.9.25
Mrs T Shilcock Staff 6.1.20 - 5.1.24
Mr M Tench Co-opted 23.3.23 - 22.3.27
Ms E Thompson Co-opted 3.11.22 - 2.11.26
Mrs S Kadir Parent 12.3.24
Mrs N Mustafa Co-opted 12.3.24

Specific Responsibilities
Responsibility
Governor
Behaviour Mrs T Shilcock
Finance Mr M Tench
Health and Safety Mr H Motara
Safeguarding Ms E Thompson
Sports/ Pupil Premium Mrs S George
Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Mrs T Shilcock
Clerk to Governors Ms R Cooper
Complaint/Grievance/Pupil Discipline/ Staff Dismissal/Dismissal Appeals All eligible governors - panel of 3 on a rotating basis

Local Governing Board Attendance 2023/2024
Governor
27.9.2023
7.12.2023
12.3.2024
16.5.2024
Mr N Allsopp (Chair) Yes Yes Yes
Mr E Rowe (Headteacher) Yes Yes Yes
Mr H Motara (Vice Chair) Yes Yes Yes
Mrs S George Yes Apologies Yes
Mrs T Shilcock Yes Yes Apologies
Mr M Tench Yes Yes Yes
Ms E Thompson Yes Apologies Yes
Mrs S Kadir N/A N/A Yes
Mrs N Mustafa N/A N/A Yes

Governors Interests
Governor
Employment
Business
Company
Charity
Other Interests
Mr N Allsopp (Chair) None None None None None
Mr E Rowe (Headteacher) Highfields Primary None None None None
Mr H Motara (Vice Chair) Leicester City Council None None None None
Mrs S George Highfields Primary None None None None
Mrs T Shilcock Highfields Primary None None None None
Ms E Thompson None None None None None

Governor
Immediate family of governor working at the school
Business involvement company directorships or trusteeships of family of the governor
Other schools where I am a governor
Mr N Allsopp (Chair) None None None
Mr E Rowe (Headteacher) None None None
Mr H Motara (Vice Chair) None None None
Mrs S George None None None
Mrs T Shilcock None None None
Ms E Thompson None None None
Mrs S Kadir None None None
Mrs N Mustafa None None None