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
Type of governor | Name | Term of office | Additional roles / responsibilities |
Parent | Hamandishe Mushayi | 28/9/2021 to 27/9/2025 | Premises Health and Safety |
Khalid Ahmed | 28/9/2021 to 27/9/2025 | Finance – shadow Governor Mathematics | |
Staff | S Bridgewood | 20/10/2021 to 19/10/2025 | N/A |
LA/foundation | Roy Sanders | 22/9/2022 To 21/9/2026 Prior to this served as a co-opted Governor | Mathematics. Finance NGA link Sports Premium |
Co-opted | J Donnelly | 28/9/2021 to 27/9/2025 | Vice Chair of Governors English Pupil Premium Training Link Governor |
H Johnson | 21/1/2020 to 20/1/2024 | Foundation subjects Safeguarding Deputy Governor Mark | |
J Bate | 23/6/2019 To 22/6/2023 | Chair of Governors Safeguarding SEND Early Years Community | |
Vacancy | (Add date) |
| |
Headteacher- Ex Officio | T Allport | N/A | N/A |
Clerk - Dudley MBC Governor services | J Price | Appointed for the academic year 2022-23 | N/A |
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
Name | Type | Term of Office | Responsibility | Business Interests |
Julie Bate Chair of Gov's | Governor | 23rd June 2019 - 22nd June 2023
| Safeguarding LAC Pupil Premium SEND
|
None |
Roy Sanders Vice Chair | LA Governor | 23rd June 2019 - 22nd June 2023 | Maths Sports Premium Governor Training Class: Year 1/6 |
None |
Hamandishe Mu | Parent |
| Health and Safety Class: Year 2 |
None |
Jayne Donnelly | Co-opted | 30th Jan 2018 - 28th Jan 2022 | Literacy KS2 Phonics/Early Reading KS1 Class: Year 4 | Partner employed |
Helen Johnson | Co-Opted | 21st Jan 2020 - 20th Jan 2024
| Class: Year 3/5
| None |
Sam Bridgewood | Staff | 20th Oct 2017 - 19th Oct 2021 |
| None |
Kal Ahmed | Parent |
|
| Sister in law employed |
Governors Attendance Autumn Term 2020
Name | Full Governors | Leading Teaching and Learning | Managing the Organisation |
Graham Moffitt | Present | Present | Present |
Roy Sanders | Present | Present | Present |
Julie Bate | Present | Present | Present |
Jayne Donnelly | Present | Present | Present |
Sam Bridgewood | Present | Present | Present |
Di Smith | Apologies | Apologies | Apologies |
Governors Attendance Spring Term 2021
Name | Full Governors | Leading Teaching and Learning | Managing the Organisation |
Graham Moffitt | Present | Present | Present |
Roy Sanders | Present | Present | Present |
Julie Bate | Present | Present | Present |
Jayne Donnelly | Present | Present | Present |
Sam Bridgewood | Present | Present | Present |
Di Smith | Apologies | Apologies | Apologies |
Governors Attendance Autumn Term 2019
Name |
Full Governors |
Leading Teaching and Learning |
Managing the Organisation |
Graham Moffitt |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Roy Sanders |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Julie Bate |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Jayne Donnelly |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Paul Skidmore |
Apologies |
Apologies |
Apologies |
Sam Bridgewood |
Present |
Present |
Present |
Di Smith |
Present |
Apologies |
Apologies |
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!