What do we do? 

Our school is overseen by a volunteer Governing Body who, alongside the headteacher, set the vision for the school. Together they ensure that the school works effectively and efficiently to achieve its vision by: 

• Building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community; 
• Supporting and constructively challenging the school; 
• Ensuring accountability - judging the school's performance openly; and, 
• Compliance - ensuring the school meets all its legal obligations, for example safeguarding children and managing finances. 

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the headteacher, staff and the local authority. In practice, the headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school. However, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. They ensure the school functions well and set the direction and policies for the school, to provide ongoing support and advice and to monitor the outcome. 

Each sub-committee and the full governing body meets once per term and their areas of responsibility are: 

Education Committee 

Standards and Curriculum:   to discuss and monitor all aspects of the school’s work around pupil attainment and progress, and ensuring that the school’s curriculum is broad and balanced and meets statutory requirements. 

Pastoral Support:  to discuss and monitor all aspects of the school’s pastoral work which includes areas such as attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, health, and spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) provision. An important role of the committee is to ensure all Child Protection policies are fully understood and correctly implemented by all staff, and to monitor how the government PE grant is being spent to improve provision. 

Business Committee

Finance and Resources:  to ensure that the school spending remains within budget and that all funds are spent wisely to best meet the needs of the pupils. 

Full Governors

The full Governing Body will meet once a term to receive input from the sub-committees and make any necessary decisions.

Who are we? 

Somerset Bridge Primary School’s Governing Body consists of: 

• the headteacher 
• one elected staff governor 
• one appointed local authority governor 
• five co-opted governors* 
• two parent governors. 

*  Co-opted governors are people who in the opinion of the Governing board have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school 

 The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The chair and vice-chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year. 

The Governing Body of Somerset Bridge Primary School is currently: 

Name	Appointing Body	Responsibilities	Office Term	Business Interest	Attendance 24/25
Dan Grant	Elected Paretent	FGB Chair-Safeguarding/Data Protection	Jan 25/28	IT services provider/Wife school staff	100%
Heather Moffat	FG Board Co-Opted	Vice Chair - SEND	Sept 23/28	None	100%
Laura Devenish	FG Body Co-Opted	Governor - Finance	May 25/29	Somerset Council Staff	90%
Emma Kilner	FG Body Co-Opted	Governor - EYFS	March 22/30	Further Education Staff	90%
Susan Ley	FG Board Co-Opted	Governor - Health & Wellbeing	Jan 23/27	NONE	90%
Nathan Murdoch	FG Board Co-Opted	Governor - Behaviour	Sept 23/27	Teacher alternate provider/Wife works sports/fund provider	90%
	Co-Op Vacant
Barry Williams	Elected Parent	Governor - Curriculum	Sept 23/27	NONE	75%
Matthew Eva	Staff Gov	Governor - Health & Safety/Allergen Lead	Oct 24/28	School Staff	90%
	LA Gov Vacant
Mark Braund		Head Teacher	Sept 26	School Staff/ Wife works at another school	Appointed Sept 26
Kelly Evans	FG Body Associate Gov	Deputy Head	Sept 24	School staff	Appointed Sept 24
Matt Eva	Staff Gov	Governor - Health & Safety	Oct 24/28	School staff	100% Appointed Oct 24
Angela Barber	FG Body	Clerk	June 24	School staff	Appointed Jul 24
Resigned Govs
Darren Argrave	Co-Opted	FGB Chair	Resigned Aug 26
Kevin Bryant		Head Teacher	Resigned Aug 26
Harry James	Elected Parent		Resigned Sept 25
Shane Stevens	LA Gov		Resigned Jan 25

For further information on the Governing Board at Somerset Bridge please apply through the School Office.