Ercall Wood Academy

The Local Governing Body at Ercall Wood Academy is made up of volunteers from different walks of life who represent different stakeholders of the school such as parents, staff and community members. We meet regularly as a group and in July each year we review our own performance and impact over the previous twelve months. The outcome of the self review forms the basis of our report to you, considering our actions, our impact on the school and how our governance meets the requirements of Ofsted guidance. We visit school regularly to meet staff and pupils. Parents are able to contact Governors if they feel they need to do so.

The Local Governing Body has met termly to consider business items, to meet statutory duties and to approve priorities. This year this has been our first in the new format of the Local Governing Body following our successful conversion to academy status on 1st July 2018. At these meetings we have also considered progress against Ofsted action points, challenging senior leaders where needed to ensure that progress is sufficient and momentum maintained. The powers and duties of the Local Governing Body are varied and assigned Governors work with specific departments.

We have also regularly reviewed the School Development Plan as regular reviews help us to steer the strategic direction of the school, maintaining clarity of vision and ethos. A key priority for Governors is the safeguarding of students and staff. Several Governors have undertaken child protection training to develop their own skills and understanding and we continue to have Governors who have safer recruitment training involved in recruitment of new staff. This year, training has also been undertaken for the prevention of extremism and radicalisation in line with the government’s PREVENT strategy. Through the Local Governing Body, a panel of Governors is appointed for the performance management of the Headteacher. The Headteacher’s appraisal targets are linked to the School Improvement Plan.

In conjunction with the Learning Community Trust Board of Trustees, the Local Governing Body has responsibility for the budget, buildings, health and safety and personnel matters including pay. Regular monitoring of the budget ensures solvency and robust discussions around financial decisions ensure that best value is achieved and that the funds delegated to the school are managed with probity. Allocation of Pupil Premium funds is considered. Any expenditure over £5,000 must be approved. Pay decisions are linked to the appropriate pay guidance for different groups of staff.

Maintaining a balanced budget is a key priority. This was again a significant challenge this year, but due to continued hard work, particularly by finance staff, a budget to support school priorities was agreed.

The Local Governing Body has responsibility for the quality of teaching and the progress and achievement of students. Regular reports have been received from senior leaders which detail progress of specific groups such as those eligible for the Pupil Premium and those on the Gifted and Talented register. Data for different subjects and year groups is also considered. Governors have questioned and challenged data and reports, particularly around 2018 GCSE results ensuring that appropriate actions have been taken to strengthen performance. The impact of interventions for students in receipt of Pupil Premium are regularly reviewed to ensure that the gap between disadvantaged and other students continues to narrow. Visits to the school by Governors assists with the department review processes and increase consistency.

Governors are required to attend meetings on a regular basis. All meetings in the past 12 months have been quorate.

Governors receive information on the views of parents which this year has been collected at Parent’s evenings and the information is presented at a Local Governing Body meeting. It has been encouraging to note the high number of parents who would recommend the school to others.

Governors would like to take this opportunity to thank staff for their hard work and commitment and students for their continuing progress.