Governing Board update: February 2024
An additional full governing board meeting took place Wednesday 7 February 2024, in school - with a focus on the ‘local school’ executive headteacher support arrangement provided by Mr Whitehead.
The meeting replaced the planned curriculum committee meeting, which will be rescheduled.
Governors heard details about the support provided from Mr Whitehead and looked at the impact of the arrangement on Kildwick, including in relation to: statutory duties and safeguarding; school improvement; pupil performance; and staff well-being.
Governors also heard details about the opportunities for collaboration and staff-development through the arrangement over recent months for the Kildwick staff team.
Governors were able to question Mr Whitehead in some detail, including on staff work-load and well-being.
School has been asked to continue the current arrangement until the end of the summer term - governors are reassured that as structured this provides a good opportunity for the school and the education of Kildwick children and will not negatively impact on the staff team.
The arrangement will continue to be carefully monitored both at governing board meetings and by myself in discussion with Mr Whitehead and local authority officers.
Governors then looked at whether to pursue further opportunities for collaboration building on the current support arrangement, and what form such partnership might take. Governors agreed that there were positives to joint working and opportunities for Kildwick, and that following the recent Ofsted inspection whilst the school was in a strong position it could not risk becoming complacent.
Governors agreed to seek further information, and guidance, from the local authority and the diocese before considering whether to look in detail at such collaboration.
Governors noted that the discussion on collaboration would need to be considered in the context of the academisation agenda - academisation continues to be a key government policy approach for schools.
It is hoped that further details will be available for the March full governing board meeting. I am happy to discuss any issues - please contact me through: [email protected]
Further information on the work of the governing board can be seen on the school website at: www.kildwickceschool.org.uk
John Perry
Chair of Governors
February 2024