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Governance

Hoe Valley School is a Single Academy Trust. Academy trusts have different governance arrangements to local authority maintained schools and as a Single Academy Trust, our governors have a wider range of duties than governors of maintained schools. Academy trusts have an additional layer of governance compared to maintained schools, known as the Members. The Governing Body is responsible for making strategic decisions about the day to day running of the academy. As an Academy is also a charitable company limited by guarantee, the governors have duties as directors under company law and trustees under charity law. These duties are similar to those they have as governors of the school. The Members oversee the work of the Governing Board. They meet only twice a year to receive a report from the Chair of Governors and consider the Boards overall impact. These meetings take place late in the autumn term and again in the summer term.

The Governing Board is made up of 12 volunteers with a variety of skills, knowledge and expertise that help the Board to fulfil all aspects of its role. There are currently 6 Members.

The Board of Governors meets formally three times each term. Once each term is a Full Governing Body (FGB) meeting at which the Board focusses on strategic matters and those matters requiring the formal consideration / approval of the FGB. Preceding this there are two committee meetings focussing on differing aspects. The Committee meetings are where the Board discharges its duties to hold the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its students (The Education Committee), and to oversee the financial performance of the school (The Resources Committee). Each of the committee meetings considers all aspects, allowing issues to be dealt with holistically.

In addition, the Board of Governors operates a Pay Review Committee to consider changes to Pay Policy, to review and approve changes in staffing structure and recruitment plans, and to conduct the annual pay review. There is also a Head Teacher Performance Management Panel drawn from the Governing Board.

Education Committee Responsibilities

The Education Committee is responsible for reviewing the curriculum at the school to ensure that it provides the best opportunity for learning for the children and supports the school’s vision, values and ethos, as well as holding the Head Teacher to account for delivering the curriculum with the focus on student development, achievement and success. The Education Committee is accountable for:

  • Strategic oversight of the school curriculum, ensuring fitness for purpose.
  • Strategic oversight of the governor visits/monitoring programme; strategic oversight of student achievement and teacher performance.
  • Strategic oversight of the provision of SEN in the school.
  • Strategic oversight of safeguarding in the school.

The Education Committee has full authority to undertake the above on behalf of the FGB. Notwithstanding this, the Committee may, if it feels it appropriate, refer items to the FGB for ratification.

Resources Committee Responsibilities

The Resources Committee is responsible for the strategic management of the financial and physical resources at the school, ensuring they are being used to best effect, monitoring efficiency and usage, and challenging and supporting the school in ensuring value for money. They report any issues of concern to the Full Governing Board (FGB). The Resources Committee is accountable for:

  • Strategic oversight of the school’s finances, including financial management, cost effectiveness and value for money.
  • Strategic oversight of the school’s premises.
  • Strategic oversight of the staffing structure of the school, ensuring it is maintained in line with the requirements of the School Development Plan and within the available budget.
  • Strategic oversight of Safeguarding in the school
  • Undertake the role of audit committee

The Resources Committee has full authority to undertake the above on behalf of the FGB, with the exception of the approval of the final budget and sign off of the annual accounts, authority for both of which rests with the FGB

Contacting the Governing Body

You can contact the Chair of Governors by email at chair@hoevalleyschool.org.
Paper correspondence can be sent to The Chair of Governors, c/o Hoe Valley School, Egley Road, Woking. GU22 0NH. Additionally, you can contact the Clerk to Governors by email at clerk@hoevalleyschool.org.

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