Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).
Governor Committee Structure
| Name | Representing | Term of Office | Committees | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paula Kirkup | LA | 08/12/2023 | Headteacher's Performance Curriculum Finance & Premises First/Pay Review Personnel & Discipline Health and Safety | Chair of Governors SEN | None | None | |
| Steve Whelerton | Head Teacher | ongoing | All | None | None | ||
| Caroline Harland | Staff | 07/12/2024 | Curriculum | None | None | ||
| Andrew Cullen | Parent | 03/07/2022 | Curriculum Marketing and Publicity EYFS Pupil Premium | Vice Chair | None | None | |
| Helen West | Foundation | 18/12/2023 | Personnel & Discipline Appeals | None | None | ||
| Bev Challinor | Co-opted | 08/12/2023 | Curriculum Personnel & Discipline Appeals Child Protection Marketing and Publicity | Vice Chair | None | None | |
| Phil Collingwood | Co-opted | 14/11/2025 | Curriculum Finance & Premises First/Pay Review Headteacher's Performance Marketing and Publicity | None | None | ||
| Justin Fear | Co-opted | 06/09/2025 | Finance & Premises Marketing & Publicity Personnel and Discipline | None | None | ||
| Karen Clark | Co-opted | 07/11/2025 | Finance & Premises Headteacher's Performance | None | None | ||
| Louise Clarke | Parent | 29/11/2025 | None | None | |||
| Steven Bainbridge | Parent | 09/12/2025 | None | None |
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Staindrop CE Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the full document below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
How To Become A School Governor
If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.
Governor Attendance
Schools are required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
n/a – Not a member of the committee
Record of Attendance 2021-2022
| Name | Extraordinary Meeting [16/09/2021] | Full Governing Body Meeting [04/11/2021] | Finance and Premises Committee Meeting [01/12/2021] | Pay Review Committee [01/12/2021] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Whelerton | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Caroline Harland | AA | ✓ | na | na | |||
| Karen Clark | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | na | |||
| Beverley Challinor | ✓ | AA | na | na | |||
| Phil Collingwood | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Andy Cullen | ✓ | ✓ | na | na | |||
| Justin Fear | ✓ | ✓ | na | na | |||
| Paula Kirkup | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Helen West | ✓ | ✓ | na | na | |||
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
The Finance & Premises Committee
Terms of Reference:
- In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
- To establish and maintain an up to date 3 year financial plan.
- To monitor income and expenditure, including virement decisions, significant anomalies from the anticipated position and report termly to the Governing Body.
- To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council and the requirements of the DfE Schools Financial Value Standard.
- To monitor expenditure of all voluntary funds kept on behalf of the Governing Body.
- To annually review charges and remissions policies and expenses policies.
- To make decisions in respect of service level agreements.
- To make decisions on expenditure following recommendations from other committees.
- To prepare financial statements for inclusion in any reports to parents.
- Ensure that buildings and the learning environment are maintained and fit for purpose.
- Oversee the use of the premises by outside users.
- Establish and keep under review an asset management /building development plan.
- Establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan.
- Ensure that adequate provision is made to make the building safe and secure, Health and Safety policy.
- To ensure as far as is practical that any Health and Safety (H&S) issues are appropriately funded in accordance with priorities.
Finance Meetings: termly, or each half term, planned to coincide with Oracle.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest.
Virement & Expenditure Limits
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £ 5,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £ 5,000 |
Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | 5,001 – 7,500 | Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body. Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity. | |
| Prior Finance Committee or Chair of Governors approval (whichever is the soonest) to be sought outside of this limit and reported at the earliest opportunity. | |||
NB: Any goods/services purchased and works to be carried out are subject to Durham County Council Contract Procedure Rules (January 2014) for quotations.
Personnel & Discipline Committee
Terms of Reference:
- To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To establish and review a performance management policy for all staff.
- To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.
- To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on Personnel-related expenditure.
- Exclusions
- General Complaints
Meetings: as required.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest.
Delegation to the Headteacher
School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009.
Appointments:
Delegated to the Headteacher
- All appointments
Dismissals:
The Governing Body delegates to a relevant Committee responsibility for dismissals.
First / Pay Review Committee
Terms of Reference:
- To act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy adopted by the Governing Body.
- To report to the Finance Committee on Pay Review-related expenditure.
- To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body, e.g. disciplinary, grievance, ill health, capability etc where the Headteacher is the subject of the action after delegation to the Chair.
- To make any decisions relating to a member of staff (other than the Headteacher) under the Personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body after delegation to the Headteacher.
- Staffing Reductions.
Delegation to the Headteacher: up to and including First Written Warning.
Meetings: as required.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest. Staff Members can not be involved in any pay decisions.
Appeals Committee
Terms of Reference:
- To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the First/Pay Review Committee (or Headteacher if delegated).
- To consider any appeal against a decision under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body (e.g. disciplinary, pay review, capability for teachers etc).
- To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
Meetings: as required.
Disqualifications: when there may be a conflict of interest; a fair hearing is required; or a pecuniary interest. Staff Members can not be involved in any pay decisions.
Curriculum Committee
Terms of Reference:
- To make recommendations to the Governing Body and review the school’s curriculum statement and policies as required in the light of the LA curriculum statement and statutory obligations regarding the National Curriculum
- In collaboration with the staff to provide information about how the curriculum is taught, evaluated and resourced
- To review the policy and provision for sex education and to make recommendations where necessary
- To review the policy and provision for collective worship and RE and to make recommendations where necessary
- To monitor and review information about school performance and reporting to parents accordingly to statutory requirements
- To contribute to the School Development Plan
- Curriculum/performance review including target setting and monitoring mechanisms
Meetings: Termly or when required.
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