Our governing body is made up of parents, staff and community members who all volunteer their time. The governing body is responsible for overseeing the strategic running of the school. This means we review and approve policies for various areas of school life, agree budgets and keep an eye on finances across the year. We discuss and vote on major strategic decisions, for example we agreed the new school nursery should be run by the school. The governing body is not involved in the day to day running of the school – that is the job of qualified staff.
Our Governors
Dr Jenny Search – Chair of Governors (Co-opted)
I was elected in 2014 to the governing body and was co-opted as chair of governors in 2016. I am a scientist by training and now work with secondary schools across the region to increase the access of under-represented groups to different subjects by implementing whole school equality projects. I also run my own business providing hands-on science workshops for primary schools. I enjoy being part of the team to help the school be the best that it can be.
Ms Michelle Hawronskyj – Vice Chair (Parent)
I was elected in 2017. I am a Head of Faculty for Art, Music & Technology at a Secondary School. I have three children at the school, Chloe, Sam and Joe Buckley. I wanted to be a governor to support the staff in caring for and teaching your children as well as mine. I enjoy bringing new ideas and working in collaboration with a committed governing body with common goals.
Dr Kate Garbash – Parent Governor
I have the privilege of being mum to Esme & Leah & work part-time as a local GP. I wanted to be actively involved in what was happening in their school and offer support where I could. I became a governor in 2017 & have a role on the Social, Moral, Spiritual & Cultural committee as well as English Link Governor. I enjoy knowing the staff better & appreciating all the work that goes into making the school what it is.
Mr Darren Knowd – Co-opted Governor
I became a parent governor several years ago when my children (now 23 and 21) attended the school. I have previously been Vice-Chair and Chair of Governors for several years and I am now a Community Governor. Professionally, I am Chief Procurement Officer at the County Council in Durham and have also been Purchasing Manager at Nissan Europe. I have a Master’s Degree from Durham Business School.
Mrs Nicola Oxnard – Co-opted Governor
Teaching at Neville’s Cross since Sept 2000; I became a governor in 2011. I have a wide experience of teaching across the school and I am also the Special Needs Co-ordinator. Committed to supporting the school in its continuing development, I am proud to have been part of the school’s growth and development across the years. I have 3 children of my own so understand life as a parent as well as a teacher!
Mr Rory Whaling – Parent Governor
I was elected as a parent governor in 2018, having 2 children in the school at that time. I have had a varied career in both the arts, IT and finance with a major focus on new business and relationship management. I also have experience in business strategy and personal development and I am very logical in my approach to challenges. My key driver for being a governor was to give something back to the young people in our community and helping Neville’s Cross be the best learning environment for our children helps me achieve that aim.
Mrs Claire Bovill – Staff Governor
To be updated.
Mr Philip Harvey – Parent Governor
To be updated.
Mrs Sophie Herd – Parent Governor
As a stay at home Mum to my two children, I wanted to be actively involved in their school by encouraging and supporting the staff wherever possible. I was elected as a governor in 2019 and enjoy working alongside others and seeing how the school operates.
Cllr Elizabeth Brown – Local Authority
To be updated.
Mrs Lynsey Finnemore – Co-opted Governor
To be updated.
Mrs Leonora Morgan – Co-opted Governor
To be updated.
Please see table below for statutory information that we are required to publish regarding the governing body.
| Name | Representing | Term of Office | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interest | Relationship to Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Pamela Monaghan | Head Teacher | ongoing | Finance SMSC First / Pay Review | Head Teacher | None | Staff |
| Dr Jennifer Search - Chair | Co-opted | 12/09/2020 | Finance First / Pay Review HT Performance SMSC | Chair of Governors KS2 Achievement and Standards | None | None |
| Mrs Michelle Hawronskyj | Parent | 19/09/2020 | First / Pay Review Finance and Premises | Acting Vice-Chair Health and Safety KS2 Achievement and Standards Safeguarding | None | None |
| Dr Kate Garbash | Parent | 19/09/2020 | Appeals SMSC | English SRE | None | None |
| Mr Darren Knowd | Co-opted | 22/03/2021 | Finance Personnel HT Performance Appeals | GDPR | County Council Employee | Married to Lisa Knowd |
| Mrs Nicola Oxnard | Co-opted | 31/08/2019 | Personnel SMSC | Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | None | Staff |
| Mrs Joanna Royle | Associate | 19/09/2020 | SMSC Appeals | SEND | None | None |
| Mr Rory Whaling | Parent | 07/2022 | Finance and Premises | to be confirmed | None | None |
| Mrs Claire Bovill | Staff | |||||
| Mr Philip Harvey | Parent | |||||
| Mrs Sophie Herd | Parent | |||||
| Cllr Elizabeth Brown | Local Authoruty | |||||
| Mrs Lynsey Finnemore | Co-opted | |||||
| Mrs Leona Morgan | Co-opted |
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Neville’s Cross Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of 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)
Governor Information (downloads)
Please click below for further statutory information that all schools are required to publish regarding their governing body.
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
Apologies – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
grey cell – Not a member of the committee
Record of Attendance 2019-2020
Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years attendance on our website.
Committee Terms of Reference
The governing body meets every half term to discuss key issues and are updated by the County Council of any new advice or legislation that we need to be aware of. We also meet as smaller sub-committees where we look at specific areas of the school such as finances, the school’s results and the progress children are making (as a whole group) as well as non-academic (social) development of the children. These subcommittees report back to the full governing body. We look at what the school is doing to improve, what impact it has on children’s progress and make sure money is well spent.
We try to make sure our discussions are well informed and balanced and we have the interests of the children at the core of all our decision making.
Finance and 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 School 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.
- To ensure as far as is practical that any Health and Safety (H&S) issues are appropriately funded in accordance with priorities.
- To ensure that Pay Review Committee and Pay Appeal Committee decisions are appropriately funded.
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. Associate members may not vote.
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 (eg. Disciplinary, pay review, capability for teachers etc.)
- To consider any appeal against selection for redundancy.
Meetings: as and when required. Must have no fewer members than the Hearing.
Disqualifications: Headteacher. Any Governor who was involved in the hearing Spouse/partner
Pay Review/First 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 oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To establish and review a performance management policy for all staff.
- Ensure the staffing structure is implemented in line with budget constraints and appropriate human resource policies and procedures.
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff.
- To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing body, eg disciplinary, grievance, ill health, capability etc where the Headteacher is the subject of the action.
- To make decisions relating to a member of staff (other than the Headteacher) under the personnel procedures, adopted by the Governing Body (unless delegated to the Headteacher)
- Ensure the staffing structure is implemented in line with budget constraints and appropriate Human Resources policies and procedures
Meetings: 2/3 per year with additional meetings to be arranged when the need arises. Pecuniary interest.
Delegation to the Headteacher
School Staffing (England) Regulations 2003.
Appointment: The Governing Body can delegate the power to appoint outside the leadership group to:
- The Headteacher
Delegate to the Headteacher as above for:
- Permanent teaching staff posts
- Permanent support staff posts
- Temporary staff.
Dismissals:
The dismissal of staff will be the responsibility of the Pay Review / First Committee.
Disqualifications: School staff if a declaration of interest is present. Pecuniary interest The Headteacher, the Chair of Governors (if he/she has prior knowledge or involvement) spouse/partner
Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Committee (SMSC)
- To report back to the Governing Body issues regarding children’s Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Development (SMSC).
- To monitor and review attendance
- To monitor, review and develop school improvement plan priorities associated with behaviour and SMSC.
- To monitor and review community links ensuring they reflect the demographic of the school population.
- To monitor racist incidents, bullying and behaviour
- To monitor equality policies and monitor and review provision for different groups of pupils
- To monitor and review safeguarding policies and procedures.
- To review pupil and parent voice
- To monitor the school’s promotion of British Values
- To monitor the provision of Relationships and Sex Education
- To keep under review work/life balance, working conditions and well being, including the monitoring of absence.
- To monitor pupil exclusions.
- Review online safety policies and procedures for all stakeholders.
Meetings: termly before each full Governing Body meeting.
Meetings: At least 2 per year.
Disqualifications: None.
Virement & Expenditure Limits
| Virement Limits | Expenditure Limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit set for Headteacher without prior written approval of Chair or Governing Body | £1,000 | Any items of expenditure up to | £5,000 |
| Limit set for Headteacher with approval from Chair of Governors | £5,000 | Above this limit if item was previously notified to the Governing Body. Prior Governing Body approval to be sought outside of this limit. |
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