Governors

My name is Julie Bate and I have been proud to be a co-opted Governor at Brierley Hill Primary School, since 2015 and elected Chair since October 2022.

 I have a French and Linguistic degree and am retired from a 30-year career in retail. In one of my roles, as PR Ambassador, I was privileged to work with many local charities, organisations and schools in the Brierley Hill area, during which time; I forged a unique bond with staff and pupils at Brierley Hill Primary School.

 I have two grown up children who were educated locally and am a devoted Nanny to three grandchildren. I am currently a Director of Brierley Hill Community Forum and Deputy Poppy Appeal Organiser for Amblecote and Wordsley.

 It is a privilege for me to work alongside a highly dedicated group of Governors, who work tirelessly with the Senior Leadership and staff, in school, to ensure each and every pupil flourishes, in an environment where “every child achieves” and reaches for the stars.

My role as a Governor is to act as a "Critical Friend" to the school. To challenge the Senior Leadership Team around the Quality of teaching and the progress of the children. To ensure that we strive to close the gap between disadvantaged and other children, whilst ensuring that the more able children are stretched. It is also my role to make sure that at the heart of teaching are the British Values of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

Brierley Hill Primary School Governing body

The Governors at Brierley Hill Primary School are a group of people who work collaboratively with the Headteacher and Senior Leaders to ensure that the school delivers good quality education for its pupils.

We support the school to achieve its aims and priorities.

The group of Governors at Brierley Hill Primary School is made up of elected parents, co-opted governors, an LA Governor, a staff governor and the Headteacher. All Governors are expected to abide by the Nolan Principles of public life.

The Governor role is intended to be strategic in nature whilst being a “critical friend” to the Head teacher and the senior leadership team, (SLT), who are responsible for the day-to-day operational running of the school. Our work is a fair mix of support and challenge school.

In accordance with the DfE Governance Handbook, the 3 core strategic functions of our governing body are:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, values, and strategic direction.

2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and for the effective and efficient performance management of staff.

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The Governing body at our school endeavours to fulfil the role defined by Government supported by the Local Authority. In doing so we hope that we can help to make our school the very best it can be for the benefit of our children.

Who can be a school Governor? You don’t have to have children in the school to be a school governor, but you do have to: Be over 18 Pass a check for your suitability to work within a school Have the skills, time, passion, and commitment to help our school to continually improve

How to contact the Governors.

Our Chair of Governors is Mrs Julie Bate.

She can be contacted via the school office Email: Info@brierley.dudley.sch.uk

Phone:01384 816980

We welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas and are happy to provide more information if you are interested in finding out about becoming a Governor Message from the Chair of Governors

2022-23 Governor Membership and meetings At Brierley Hill Primary School

members of the governing body are all volunteers who give up their own time to fulfil the role. They have played, and continue to play, a strong role in driving the school forward. Our governing body is comprised of governors from the following categories:

 2 parent governors.

 1 staff governor.

 1 Local Authority governor.

 4 co-opted governors.

 The Headteacher.

We use the NGA skills audit to analyse our strengths and areas of expertise. This in turn influences recruitment to vacant posts when they arise and informs our training and development needs. We have a very experienced clerk that helps us to ensure all the topics we are required to discuss each year are covered within our termly full GB meetings.

There were 2 full Governing Body meetings in 2021-22. The third, due late in the summer term was cancelled due to staffing circumstances. We also have a number of sub-committees that perform much of the detailed work in accordance with their terms of reference.

As a small Governing Body, we invite all Governors to attend these

These committees are:

Leading Teaching and Learning.

Ensuring a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered and that policy on collective worship is implemented Setting standards of pupil behaviour and discipline Setting and monitoring the school aims and policies Monitoring pupil progress and the school’s overall standards

Managing the Organisation Determining how the school budget is allocated and spent and monitoring and reviewing the school budget and the school funds at regular intervals. Involved in the selection and recruitment of staff, and dealing with any matters relating to existing staff Making sure that the building and site are well maintained, are safe and welcoming

Two further committees carry out statutory functions Pay Committee. Performance Management Committee. We also have a Governance Development Group and on occasion ad hoc working parties, who meet to discuss matters of general governance and school improvement.

To further support our work and to keep us well informed, we also ask individual Governors to take lead roles in specific areas. In 2021-2022 these roles included: Safeguarding Governor, English and Maths lead Governors Pupil and Sport Premium Governors Foundation subjects Governor Premise/Health and Safety Governor SEND Governor Lead Finance Governor Training Link Governor Link governor to wider Governor associations e.g. Dudley Association of Governing Bodies.

Current Governors for the academic year 2022-23

Register of Business Interests

No Governors have any business interests; however, two governors have a link to members of staff at Brierley Hill Primary

Governors 2020-2021

Governors Attendance Autumn Term 2020

Governors Attendance Spring Term 2021

Governors Attendance Autumn Term 2019

Firstly I would like to welcome all back to a new term here at Brierley Hill. I hope that everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year with lots of family time as well as getting some rest and relaxation. 

Well last term saw not only just Santa visiting the school but also a visit from this little chap. I'm not sure whos visit the children enjoyed most. 

The Govenors have now had several meetings of the Attendance Working Group, looking at how we can improve attendance levels at the school. This is work in progress. Current data supports that the attendance levels are better than in previous terms. 

We are now looking at setting up a second working group looking at Mathematics and how we can improve on every day maths within the school.

I would like to wish all at Brierley Hill Primary School a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you all have a joyous and peaceful time and wish all a prosperous New Year.

We have had lots of festive goings on at school with a Breakfast with Santa last Saturday. The children had a lovely time and Santa wants to say a big thank you to all his little helpers who made it such a magical time for all who attended.

Today 17/12/18 saw all the children arrive at school in their Pyamas ready for the Polar Express day. Once again Santa popped into school to visit all of the classes with presents for every child. Santa commented on how festive the school looked and how polite and well manored all of the children were.

Tomorrow sees another visit to the School by Santa in his sleigh this time, thanks to Kinver Rotary Club for arranging this. Friday 21/12/18 there will be a Christmas Carol service in the playground with hot drinks and mince pies while the school choir sing Carols and I'm told their is to be a very special choir performing a Christmas favourite during the service. One not to be missed!