Structure and Membership of Government

A governing body is made up of Local Authority, Parent, Staff and Co-opted governors from which a Chair and Vice Chair are elected. 2012 regulations require schools to have at least 7 governors including 2 parents, 1 ex-officio head, 1 elected staff, 1 Local Authority, with the remaining places filled with co-opted governors. Bents Green School governing body re-constituted on 12 July 2022. It was decided to form a governing body of 16 members which comprises:

(Co-opted governors can be parents, staff or community governors but the proportion of staff on a governing body, including the Head, cannot exceed one third of the total.)

A Chair of Governors and a Vice Chair are elected from the Parent, Local Authority and Co-opted governors (staff and the ex-officio head cannot take on these roles). Governors also choose, or are appointed, to serve on various committees and, additionally, to take on the responsibility for overseeing different priorities of the School Development Plan. Governors are encouraged to visit school on a regular basis. There is also a governor responsible for professional development. Committee meetings are chaired and clerked by appointed members of that committee.

Instrument of Government

• The name of the school is Bents Green School.
• The school is a maintained school.
• The name of the governing body is “The governing body of Bents Green School”.
• The governing body shall consist of:-
  • Three parent governors.
  • One Local Authority governor.
  • One Staff governor.
  • One Headteacher.
  • Ten Co-opted governors.
• Total number of governors: Sixteen
• The term of office of all Governors is four years.
• This instrument of government comes in to effect on 12 July 2022.
• This instrument was made by order of Sheffield Local Authority on 12 July 2022.
• A copy of the instrument must be supplied to every member of the governor body (and the headteacher if not a governor), any trustees and to the appropriate religious body.

Co-opted Governors

Is appointed by the governing body and who, in the opinion of the governing body, has the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Local Education Authority (LA) Governors

These governors are nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the Governing Body. It is for the governing body to decide whether their nominee has the skills to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school and meets any other eligibility criteria they have set. The authority advertises for LA governors and seeks members of the community who are interested in education and committed to being fully participating school governors.

Parent Governors

Every governing body will include parent governors, in community schools all of these will be elected by parents in the school (unless there are fewer interested parents than there are places), in Voluntary Aided schools a proportion of these parents will be appointed by other governors from amongst parents in the school.

School Staff Governors

These will be elected by the staff at the school. All Governing Bodies have positions for teachers and most have a position for support staff.

Associate members

Are volunteer members of the governing body but they are not governors and have no voting rights at full governing body meetings.  The governing body will decide if it wants associate members and how many. They may be removed from office by the governing body at any time. There is no limit of associate members

Co-opted Governors

Local Authority

Parent Governors

Head Teacher Ex-officio

Staff

A Chair of Governors and a Vice Chair are elected from the Parent, Local Authority and Co-opted Governors (staff and the ex-officio head cannot take on these roles). Governors also choose, or are appointed, to serve on various committees and, additionally, to take on the responsibility for overseeing different priorities of the School Development Plan.

Much of the work of the Governing Body is carried out in full governing meetings.  At Bents Green School our meetings are

Resources   |   Teaching and Learning   |   Safeguarding and Inclusion

Meetings take place monthly. 

Resources Meeting, Quorum: 6

• John Plant (Chair)
• All Governors
• Clerk: Jane Smith from Governor Support

Teaching and Learning Meeting Quorum: 6

• Laura Gillespie (Chair)
• All Governors
• Plus subject leaders as appropriate
• Clerk: Jane Smith from Governor Support

Safeguarding and Inclusion Meeting, Quorum: 6

• Natalie Brownell (Chair)
• All Governors
• Plus subject leaders as appropriate
• Clerk: Jane Smith from Governor Support

Strategy Meeting, Quorum: 6

• Laura Gillespie (Chair)
• All Governors
• Plus subject leaders as appropriate
• Clerk: Jane Smith from Governor Support

Clerk to Full Governors:  Jane Smith from Governor Support

The Quorum for the full Governing body is half of the members, not including associate members. Bents Green School governing body meets monthly for meetings. These are chaired by the chair of governors and clerked by a Learn Sheffield clerk. The head teacher presents a report which outlines the progress of teaching and learning in the school based on the results of lesson observations and data from assessments, along with progress on the School Improvement Plan, staffing, concerns, absences, exclusions and budget.

• A typical meeting includes:
• Declaration of interests
• Ratifying minutes of previous meetings
• Reviewing and approving policies
• Matters arising from previous meetings
• Reports from governors with special responsibilities
• Correspondence sent to the Chair
• Part A of the head teacher’s report
• Part B of head teacher’s report (confidential)
• Any other urgent business

Our Chair of Governors has completed the NCTL Leadership Development Programme. Please click below to view the certificate