First Committee
1. Focus Summary
The main functions of this Committee are:
i. to consider any complaints which neither the Head teacher nor the Chair of Trustees have been able to resolve following the procedure adopted by the Board of Trustees;
ii. Dealt with by full board to enact the operation of the Board of Trustees policies in relation to appraisal, staff discipline, redundancy and grievance of staff and the exclusion of pupils.
2. Membership
a) The membership of the Committee shall be 3 members of the Board of Trustees chosen on the basis of first availability and who have no prior involvement in the matter being considered nor connection to the pupil/member of staff/complainant who is the subject of the meeting of the committee.
b) No trustee employed to work at the School shall be appointed to this Committee.
c) One of those appointed to the Committee shall be appointed as chair of the Committee by the Committee.
d) The Board of Trustees will appoint the Clerk who cannot be the Head teacher.
In the event of a complaint, the panel of 3 will consist of 2 members of the Board of Trustees and one panel member who is independent of the management and running of the school.
3. Quorum
The quorum shall be all three (3) members of the Committee.
4. Meetings
a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary to fulfil its responsibilities.
b) Meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Clerk of the Committee.
5. Proceedings
a) The Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the School Funding Agreement and Articles of Association and be compliant with DfE requirements, Company and Charity Law.
b) Confidential minutes shall be kept of each meeting and shall be circulated to all members of the Committee before being signed by the chair. A report shall also be submitted to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.
c) The minutes shall be kept in a separate minute book.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. In relation to a formal written complaint to acknowledge it, investigate the complaint and send a suitable response to the complainant.
2. Where the complainant requests it, to hear representations from the complainant, the Head teacher and chair of trustees and to send a suitable response to the complainant.
3. To review annually the formal complaints received and to recommend to the Board of Trustees any changes to the School’s policies, practices or procedures.
4. To review the School’s complaints procedure every 3 years and the relevant prospectus entry, and recommend to the Board of Trustees any changes considered necessary.
5. Where the Head teacher:
a) excludes any pupil in circumstances where the pupil would, as a result of the exclusion:-
i) be excluded from the School for a total of more than 5 School days but not more than 15 School days in any one term, but only if the parent requests a meeting, or
ii) lose the opportunity to take any public examination,
b) excludes a pupil permanently, or
c) decides that any fixed term exclusion of a pupil should be made permanent;
The First Committee shall:
i) consider the circumstances in which the pupil was excluded;
ii) consider any representations about the exclusion to the Board of Trustees made by the relevant person
iii) allow the relevant person (in the case of a person under the age of 18 his or her parent/carer and in the case of a pupil who has attained the age of 18 the pupil him/herself.) to attend a meeting of the Board of Trustees and make oral representations about the exclusion;
iv) consider any oral representations so made;
v) consider whether, provided it is practical to do so, the pupil should be reinstated and if so give an appropriate direction to the Head teacher and inform the relevant person and the LA of their decision. If not they shall inform the relevant person the Head teacher and the LA of their decision and in the case of the pupil who has been permanently excluded give the relevant person written notice of his right of appeal.
6. In the case of all other decisions to exclude made by the Head teacher the Board of Trustees shall receive any written representations by a relevant person about the exclusion and shall consider those representations.
7. To agree a submission on behalf of the Board of Trustees, to nominate a member of the Committee to appear at and to make any arrangements for the Board of Trustees to be represented at the hearing of any appeal submitted by parents against a decision of this Committee to an independent appeals panel.
8. To hear any appeal by a member of staff employed at the School against the outcome of their appraisal, or pay or pay progression process.
Second Committee
1. Focus Summary
The main function of this Committee is to decide whether to uphold or overturn a decision taken by the First Committee of the Board of Trustees which has been referred to this Committee for consideration.
2. Membership
The membership of the Committee shall be:
a) 3 members of the Board of Trustees chosen on the basis of first availability and who have no prior involvement in the matter being considered nor connection to the pupil/member of staff/complainant who is the subject of the meeting of the committee.
b) No Trustee employed at the School shall be appointed to this Committee
b) One of those appointed to the Committee shall be appointed as chair of the Committee by the Committee.
c) The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Clerk who cannot be the Head teacher.
3. Quorum
The quorum shall be three (3) members of the Committee.
4. Meetings
a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary to fulfil its responsibilities.
b) Meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Clerk of the Committee.
5. Proceedings
a) The Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the School Funding Agreement and Articles of Association and be compliant with DfE requirements, Company and Charity Law.
b) Confidential minutes shall be kept of each meeting and shall be circulated to all members of the Committee before being signed by the chair. A report shall also be submitted to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.
c) The minutes shall be kept in a separate minute book
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. To hear any appeal arising from the decision of the First Committee or individual trustee or the Head teacher in whom any executive power has been vested which it is not the responsibility of any other Committee to hear. Any appeal will be conducted in accordance with the relevant procedure adopted by the Board of Trustees.
2. Under the disciplinary procedure or capability procedure adopted by the Board of Trustees to consider any appeal against a disciplinary sanction short of dismissal issued by the head or by the first committee to a member of staff employed at the School for whom the Board of Trustees has an employment responsibility.
3. Under the relevant procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, to consider any appeal against a decision of the First Committee to dismiss from their post a member of staff employed at the School and for whom the Board of Trustees has an employment responsibility.
4. Before taking a decision on any appeal, to give the person concerned an opportunity to make representations or present their grounds for appeal at a formal meeting conducted in accordance with the relevant adopted procedure. (Under the adopted disciplinary procedures the Committee is empowered to issue a disciplinary sanction short of dismissal where it is determined that the member of staff concerned should not be dismissed).
5. To ensure that the member of staff concerned is notified of its decision on the appeal.
6. On behalf of the Board of Trustees to consider any formal complaints which the Head teacher and Chair of Trustees have been unable to resolve under the School’s complaints procedure.
Head’s Performance Management Committee
1. Focus Summary
The main functions of this Committee is to deal with all pay and performance matters relating to the Head teacher and to implement the approved pay policy in respect of the Head teacher’s pay.
2. Membership
a) The membership of the Committee shall be three Trustees and one/two named reserve(s) in order of precedence if two, who shall act if a member of the Committee is unable to attend a meeting.
b) No Trustee employed to work at the School shall be appointed to this Committee.
c) Members of the Committee and the named reserve(s) shall be appointed annually at the summer term meeting of the Board of Trustees.
d) One of those appointed to the Committee shall be appointed as chair of the Committee EITHER by the Board of Trustees OR by the Committee.
e) Should a vacancy arise on the Committee a successor shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees at its next meeting following receipt of the resignation and members so appointed shall serve until the next annual review.
f) The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Clerk who shall not be the Head teacher.
3. Quorum
The quorum shall be all three members of the Committee. A named reserve shall take the place of any member of the Committee who is unable to attend a meeting.
4. Meetings
a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary to fulfil its responsibilities.
b) Meetings shall be called by the Clerk of the Committee or and, wherever possible, seven days’ written notice should be given to members with an explanation of the purpose of the meeting.
5. Proceedings
a) The Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the School Funding Agreement and Articles of Association and be compliant with DFE requirements, Company and Charity Law.
b) Minutes shall be kept of each meeting and shall be circulated to all members of the Committee before being signed by the chair. A report shall also be submitted to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.
c) The minutes shall be kept in a separate minute book.
Terms of Reference
To operate in accordance with statutory performance management framework and the School’s adopted policy as follows:
- to select an external adviser (in all Schools from September 2007 a School Improvement Partner (SIP)) and to take their advice when agreeing objectives and reviewing the Head teacher’s performance.
- to agree performance objectives with the Head teacher.
- to conduct the Head teacher’s performance review.
- to determine whether the outcome of the Head teacher’s performance review meets the criteria for pay progression as covered under the adopted pay policy.
Salaries Committee
1. Focus Summary
The main function of this Committee is to make all determinations of pay in accordance with the Pay Policy for teaching and support staff.
2. Membership
a) The membership of each Committee shall be three trustees and one/two named reserve(s) in order of precedence if two, who shall act if a member of the Committee is unable to attend a meeting.
b) No trustee employed to work at the school shall be appointed to this Committee.
c) Members of the Committee and the named reserve(s) shall be appointed annually at the summer term meeting of the Board of Trustees.
d) One of those appointed to the Committee shall be appointed as chair of the Committee EITHER by the Board of Trustees OR by the Committee.
e) Should a vacancy arise on the Committee, a successor shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees at its next meeting following receipt of the resignation and members so appointed shall serve until the next annual review.
f) The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Clerk who shall not be the Headteacher.
g) The Headteacher shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Committee when the salaries of other staff are being reviewed.
3. Quorum
The quorum shall be all three members of the Committee. A named reserve shall take the place of any member of the Committee who is unable to attend a meeting.
4. Meetings
a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary to fulfil its responsibilities.
b) Meetings shall be called by the Clerk of the Committee or and, wherever possible, seven days’ written notice should be given to members with an explanation of the purpose of the meeting.
5. Proceedings
a) The Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the School Funding Agreement and Articles of Association and be compliant with DFE requirements, Company and Charity Law.
b) Minutes shall be kept of each meeting and shall be circulated to all members of the Committee before being signed by the chair. A report shall also be submitted to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.
c) The minutes shall be kept in a separate minute book.
Terms of Reference
To operate in accordance with statutory performance management framework and the school’s adopted pay policy as follows:
- To formally acknowledge and make decisions on the Headteacher's recommendations in relation to teachers performance related pay, otherwise known as pay progression, in accordance with the STPCD and the school's pay policy on an annual basis.
- To hear and resolve (if possible) any informal appeals by a teacher wishing to appeal against a decision made by the salaries committee.
- To keep up to date with relevant developments and any legal changes and to advise the Board of Trustees when the school's pay policy needs to be revised.
- To seek professional advice as necessary.
Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
1.Focus Summary
The main functions of this Committee are to:
- Direct the Trust's programme of internal scrutiny;
- Ensure that risks are being addressed appropriately through internal scrutiny;
- Report to the Board of Trustees (the Board) on the adequacy of the Trust’s inter-control framework (this includes financial and non-financial controls and management of risks);
- Monitor financial spending and budget setting;
- Review and evaluate the progress of the Premises Development Plan;
- Review and evaluate progress in the relevant section of the School Improvement Plan;
- Ensure consideration of issues of diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.
- Monitor procurement.
- Overview staffing structure and conditions of service.
- To act on matters delegated by the full Board of Trustees.
2. Membership
The membership of the Committee shall be:
a) At least five Trustees.
b) No Trustee employed to work at the School shall be appointed to this Committee, except the Head teacher, but the Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer should attend to provide information and participate in discussions.
c) Members of the Committee shall be appointed annually at the summer term meeting of the Board.
d) The Committee or the Board shall appoint the Chair who shall not be the Chair of Trustees or Head teacher.
e) Should a vacancy arise on the Committee a successor shall be appointed by the Board at its next meeting following receipt of the resignation and members so appointed shall serve until the next annual review.
g) The Board will appoint the Clerk who cannot be the Head teacher.
3. Quorum
The quorum for any meeting of the Committee shall be three.
4. Meetings
a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary to fulfil its responsibilities and at least 3 times a year.
b) Meetings of the Committee will be called by the Clerk and seven days written notice will be given with an explanation of the purpose of the meeting.
5. Proceedings
a) The Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the School Funding Agreement and Articles of Association and be compliant with DfE requirements, Company and Charity Law.
b) Minutes shall be kept of each meeting and shall be presented to the next meeting of the Committee for approval and signing. A copy of the minutes shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Board.
c) Any recommendations shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Board for consideration and approval.
d) The minutes shall be kept in a separate minute book.
Terms of Reference
- Agree a programme of work annually to deliver internal scrutiny that provides coverage across the year.
- Review the ratings and responses on the risk register to inform the programme of work, making sure checks are adjusted as appropriate each year
- Agree who will perform the programme of work.
- Consider reports at each meeting from those carrying out the programme of work.
- Consider progress in addressing recommendations.
- Consider outputs from other assurance activities by third parties including ESFA financial management and governance reviews, funding audits and investigations.
- Have access to the external auditor as well as those carrying out internal scrutiny, and consider their quality.
- Ensure findings of internal scrutiny are made available to all Trustees promptly.
- To receive reports from the Head teacher on the management of the School’s budget and establish and maintain a 3 year rolling, indicative oversight of the Academy budget.
- To submit to the Board at the autumn term meeting each year, a report on the management of the School’s budget in the previous financial year.
- To prepare and submit to the Board recommendations for the annual budget plan.
- To review expenditure against the budget plan, to take any action which might be necessary to avoid an unplanned deficit and to report any such action to the next meeting of the Board.
- To consider and approve proposals for single items of expenditure in excess of £25,000 which don’t form part of the budget plan, in accordance with the School’s Financial Manual.
- To consider and make recommendations to the Board on proposals to vire a sum exceeding £40,000, in accordance with the School’s Financial Manual.
- To recommend to the Board proposals for the use of any budget surplus, including investment.
- To prepare any other statement of School accounts as may be required.
- To deal with any other financial matters as which the Board may refer from time to time.
- To keep under review the strategic development of the School buildings and develop a rolling programme of repairs and maintenance.
- Through the Head teacher, to authorise action required to carry out repairs in an emergency at a cost of over £25,000, whether or not there is any budgetary provision for the expenditure, in accordance with the School’s Financial Manual.
- To consider and recommend to the Board any proposed improvement projects for which resources might be sought from the Local Authority or from private School funds.
- To consider procurement and any issues which may arise from procurement processes.
- To undertake an annual review of the staffing structure of the School and to recommend to the Board any alterations to the staffing structure for the following year so that proposals can be incorporated in the School’s budget plan. Where it is proposed that there will be a reduction or restructuring of the staffing establishment, to ensure that the appropriate staff consultation process is followed.
- To receive reports from the Head teacher on the management of the School’s staffing establishment.
- To consider and make recommendations on the introduction of or amendments to personnel policies and procedures.
- To deal with any other personnel matters which the Board may refer from time to time, except those which are the specific responsibility of a separate Committee.
- Review, amend or implement any policy relevant to this committee.
- Responsibility for diversity and inclusion is within the remit of this committee.
- To review the whole school pay policy as appropriate and make recommendations to the Board for discussion and ratification.
- To monitor the impact of spending decisions upon educational achievement in school.
- To deal with matters relating to competitive tendering.
- To review the trust’s tendering processes and consider and approve proposals over £60,000 then reporting this back to the trustees.