Scheme of Delegation

Governors Appointed by Education Swanage

Term Expires*                  

31/08/2025

Tanya Hamilton-Fletcher

31/08/2028

Laurie King

31/08/2025

William Knight

31/08/2027

Tim Marcus

31/08/2027

Amanda Rowley

31/08/2026

Jessica Starmer

31/08/2027

Isobel Tooley 

31/08/2026

Sophie Weld-Davies

31/08/2027

Parent Governors

Daniel Parker

05/07/2026

Staff Governors

Vacancy

Other Governors

Jenny Maraspin (Headteacher)

ex officio

Community & Engagement Committee

Internal Scrutiny Committee (formerly Audit & Risk Committee)

Amanda Rowley (Chair)

William Knight (Chair)

Phil Ashby

Claire Barnes

Laurie King

Tim Marcus 

Jenny Maraspin (Headteacher)

Amanda Rowley 

Staffing, Finance & Premises Committee

Student Committee

Tanya Hamilton-Fletcher (Chair)

Isobel Tooley (Chair)

William Knight

Hannah Etherington

Jenny Maraspin (Headteacher)

Tanya Hamilton-Fletcher

Tim Marcus

Dan Parker

Jenny Maraspin (Headteacher)

Amanda Rowley

Carol Platteuw

Isobel Tooley

Jessica Starmer

Composition and Membership

Minimum of 3 Governors including the Headteacher (as elected by the governing body) with the Clerk to the Governors in attendance

Quorum

3 governors

Chairing Arrangements

The Chair will usually be elected at the first meeting of the Full Governing Body of the academic year but may be brought forward or deferred as agreed by the Full Governing Body. Elections to fill vacant posts will be conducted as and when required.

Vice Chair: This Committee may appoint one or more Vice Chairs as it feels appropriate from time to time. The Committee Chair has the authority to delegate any of the Chair's functions to one of the elected Vice Chairs; any such delegation to be recorded by the Clerk and reported to the Committee.

Frequency of Meetings

Minimum of 3 per year

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by the Clerk to the Governors. Reports to the full governing body

Areas of Responsibility

See below

Delegated Decision Making Powers

See below

Overview

• To monitor and evaluate the impact of marketing, communication and engagement with:
  • parents
  • prospective parents
  • prospective students
  • feeder schools
  • local community
  • employers and business leaders
  • community and volunteer groups
  • local organisations (e.g Town Council, Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust)
  • colleges and universities
  • past students / alumni
• To monitor and evaluate admission targets
• To monitor how well the school and its brand are marketed, with reference to the school’s publicity, public presentation and relationship with the wider community
• To contribute to the community, engagement and marketing components of the School Development Plan and to monitor its implementation
• To have oversight of the marketing plan, its targets and success criteria
• To receive reports from the Headteacher and other staff on the delivery of engagement and marketing activities
• To monitor that engagement involving students is appropriately done, effective and has positive benefits for teaching and leaning
• To receive and consider reports from the school on how the school meets the requirements of disability discrimination legislation to ensure that disabled users of the school’s facilities are treated no less favourably than others
• To receive reports and survey results on community use of the buildings and facilities
• To have oversight of the school’s website
• To contribute to the identification of risks relevant to the committee’s remit, to monitor and evaluate the management of these, and ensure that internal scrutiny activities that are delegated to this committee are actioned at an appropriate time
• To monitor and evaluate the school’s provision of careers information, advice and guidance
• To have oversight of, and contribute to, the development of apprenticeship provision
• To have responsibility for engaging with, and the engagement of, Education Swanage members including arrangements for the Annual General Meeting
• To advise the Staffing, Finance & Premises Committee on relative funding priorities necessary to delivery effective marketing and engagement activities
• To establish working parties as it sees fit, to report to each of its meetings
• To report to the Full Governing Body on each of its meetings

When carrying out its delegated responsibilities, the committee will aim to make recommendations and decisions that help The Swanage School to achieve its stated aim of having relationships at the heart of the school and the school at the heart of the community. It will aim to ensure The Swanage School fulfils its ambitions of:

• ensuring every student in its learning community fully realises their potential
• engaging the whole of Swanage as a learning community in raising aspirations and achievement
• involving employers, businesses, community and volunteer groups as its partners in education, skills and training
• aiming to enable the Swanage community to enjoy a wide range of learning opportunities in a state-of-the-art environment

• To have overall responsibility for marketing & engagement
• To set priorities for the marketing plan
• To set targets for admissions
• To set budgets for marketing & engagement activities
• To identify and celebrate the school’s achievements
• To ensure that parents evenings and educational visits for prospective parents and students take place
• To ensure that the school is represented at key community events
• To ensure that the school meets the requirements of disability discrimination legislation to ensure that disabled users of the school’s facilities are treated no less favourably than others
• To ensure that the school provides appropriate careers advice
• To have overall responsibility for the development of apprenticeship provision
• To delegate functions effectively

• To make practical arrangements for the Annual General Meeting of Education Swanage

• To receive reports and recommendations from the committee

Composition and Membership

Minimum of 3 Governors (as elected by the governing body) with the Clerk to the Governors in attendance.

Employees of the trust, including the Headteacher, should not be Internal Scrutiny Committee members, but the Accounting Officer (Headteacher) and Chief Financial Officer (Business Manager) should attend to provide information and participate in discussions.

Any trustee (governor) may attend a meeting of the Internal Scrutiny Committee, including those who are not members of the Internal Scrutiny Committee.

At least one member of the Internal Scrutiny Committee should have recent or relevant accountancy or audit assurance experience.

Quorum

Unless otherwise determined by the Trust Board, a quorum shall consist of 3 governors (as elected by the governing body)

Chairing Arrangements

The Chair will usually be elected at the first meeting of the Full Governing Body of the academic year but may be brought forward or deferred as agreed by the Full Governing Body. Elections to fill vacant posts will be conducted as and when required.

Neither the Chair of Governors (Trustees) nor the Chair of the Finance Committee (Staffing, Finance & Premises) may be chair of the Internal Scrutiny Committee. Vice Chair: This Committee may appoint one or more Vice Chairs as it feels appropriate from time to time. The Committee Chair has the authority to delegate any of the Chair's functions to one of the elected Vice Chairs; any such delegation to be recorded by the Clerk and reported to the Committee.

Frequency of Meetings

Minimum of 3 per year

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by the Clerk to the Governors.

Reports to the Full Governing Body as follows:

• report back to the Trust Board regularly every term

• provide an annual summary report provided by the internal scrutineer and areas reviewed by internal scrutiny covering key findings, recommendations, and conclusions

Areas of Responsibility

See below

Delegated Decision Making Powers

See below

Overview

• To advise the board on the effectiveness and resources of the external/internal auditors or scrutineers to provide a basis for their reappointment, dismissal, retendering, or remuneration
• To consider the reports of the auditors/scrutineers and, when appropriate, advise the board of material control issues
• To direct the trust’s programme of internal scrutiny
• To ensure that risks are being addressed appropriately through internal scrutiny
• To report to the full governing body on the adequacy of the trust’s internal control framework, including financial and non-financial controls and management of risks

Responsibilities

• To maintain an oversight of the Academy Trust's risk management and internal control systems for governance and both financial and non-financial processes
• To report findings regularly and annually to the Trust Board (Full Governing Body) and the Accounting Officer (Headteacher) as a critical element of the trust's annual reporting requirements so as to provide assurance, recommend improvements and/or otherwise provide comfort that the Trust is doing the right things in the right way.

Authority

• The Internal Scrutiny Committee is a Committee of the Academy Trust Board and is authorised to investigate any activity within its terms of reference or specifically delegated to it by the Board.
• The Internal Scrutiny committee is authorised to:
  • request any information it requires from any employee, external audit, internal scrutiny, or other assurance provider.
  • obtain outside legal or independent professional advice it considers necessary, normally in consultation with the Accounting Officer and/or the Trust Board.
  • investigate on behalf of the governing body anything that materially threatens or adversely affects the accomplishment of the governing body’s aims and objectives, its assets, the reliability of all records and information, and its compliance with relevant laws, regulations, policies and its governing instruments.

The Internal Scrutiny Committee will:

General

• advise the board on the effectiveness and resources of the external/internal auditors or scrutineers to provide a basis for their reappointment, dismissal, re-tendering, or remuneration. Considerations may include:
  • the scrutineer's sector expertise
  • their understanding of the trust and its activities
  • whether the audit process allows issues to be raised on a timely basis at the appropriate level
  • the quality of scrutineer comments and recommendations in relation to key areas
  • where relevant the personal authority, knowledge and integrity of audit partners and their staff to interact effectively with, and robustly challenge, the trust's managers
  • the scrutineer's use of technology
• ensure there is co-ordination between internal scrutiny and external audit and any other review bodies that are relevant
• consider the reports of the scrutineers and, when appropriate, advise the Trust Board of material control issues
• encourage a culture within the trust whereby each individual feels that he or she has a part to play in guarding the probity of the Trust, and is able to take any concerns or worries to an appropriate member of the management team or in exceptional circumstances directly to the Board of Trustees
• provide minutes of all Internal Scrutiny Committee meetings for review at board meetings
• direct the Trust’s programme of internal security
• take delegated responsibility on behalf of the board of trustees for examining and reviewing all systems and methods of control both financial and otherwise including risk analysis and risk management; and for ensuring the Trust is complying with the overall requirements for internal scrutiny, as specified in the Academies Financial Handbook.

Risk

• oversee the annual review of the trust’s risk register and conduct a review of the risk register at each meeting
• monitor the effectiveness of risk management policy and processes
• review any risks to the academy trust’s systems of internal control and agree a programme of work to address, and provide assurance on, those risks to the trust board as appropriate
• review, monitor and assess periodically major aspects of risk such as:
  • damage to the trust’s reputation
  • loss of funds
  • changes in government policy
  • risks to standards, systems and controls that may arise from expansion.

External Audit

• review external auditor’s plan each year
• review the annual report and accounts
• review the auditor’s findings and actions taken by the Trust’s Senior Leadership Team in response to those findings
• undertake the annual review of the effectiveness of the external auditor and recommend to the members whether to reappoint the external auditor
• produce an annual report of the committee’s conclusions to advise the board of trustees and members

Internal Scrutiny

• take delegated responsibility on behalf of the board of trustees for examining and reviewing all systems and methods of control both financial and otherwise including risk analysis and risk management; and for ensuring the trust is complying with the overall requirements for internal scrutiny, as specified in the Academy Trust Handbook
• conduct a regular review of the risk register
• review/agree an annual programme of internal scrutiny, which is objective and independent, covering systems, controls, transactions, and risks.
• advise the trustees on the adequacy and effectiveness of the trust’s systems of internal control, governance, and risk management processes,
• review the scrutineer’s findings and actions taken by the trust’s SLT in response to those findings
• consider the appropriateness of executive action following internal scrutiny reviews and to advise the board on any additional or alternative steps to be taken
• undertake the annual review of the effectiveness of the internal scrutineer and decide whether to reappoint the internal scrutineer.

Other Responsibilities

• consider appropriate actions following any serious incidents, including fraud, which are reportable to the Education and Skills Funding Agency or would have a major financial or reputational risk to the trust
• ensure that all significant losses have been properly notified and investigated as required by the ATH
• undertake regular reviews of the committee’s effectiveness including benchmarking against best practice.

In reviewing the risks to internal financial control, the Internal Scrutiny Committee will refer to the main types of financial control that are set out in the Charity Commission publication CC8 - Internal Financial Controls for Charities, as well as to the Financial Procedures of Education Swanage Ltd and the Academy Trust Handbook.

The committee will have regard to the ESFA’s internal scrutiny good practice guide.

Accounting Officer (Headteacher)

and

Chief Financial Officer

(Business Manager)

• To provide information to validate that the information submitted to DfE and ESFA that affects funding, including pupil number returns and funding claims (for both revenue and capital grants), is accurate and in compliance with funding criteria.
• To take into account the outcome of the internal scrutiny work when preparing the accounting officer's statement of regularity in the annual accounts.
• The Headteacher must submit an Internal Scrutiny report to the ESFA by 31st December each year as from 2020.
• Propose a programme of work to address any issues raised in reports by the auditors at the request of the Committee

Clerk to the Governors

• To work with other committee chairs to ensure that internal scrutiny activities that are delegated to other committees are included on agendas at an appropriate time.
• To ensure that discussions of internal scrutiny at other committees are recorded accurately in the minutes of those meetings and submitted to the Internal Scrutiny committee.

   

Governing Body
(“Trust Board”)

• To receive reports and recommendations from the committee
• Taking advice from the Internal Scrutiny committee, to ensure there is an appropriate, reasonable and timely response by the trust's management team to findings by external auditors, taking opportunities to strengthen systems of financial management and control
• To keep its approach to internal scrutiny under review. If it changes in size, complexity or risk profile, it should consider whether its approach remains suitable.
• To submit its annual summary report of the areas reviewed, key findings, recommendations and conclusions (as presented to the Internal Scrutiny committee by the person(s) or organisation(s) carrying out the programme of work) to ESFA by 31 December each year when it submits its audited annual accounts
• Recommend to the Academy Trust members the appointment of External Auditor and to appoint Responsible Officer/Internal Auditor as appropriate

   

Composition & Membership

Minimum of 3 governors including the Headteacher (as elected by the Full Governing Body) with the Clerk to the Governors and the Business Manager in attendance. Staff Governors may not be members of the SF&P committee.

Quorum

3 governors

Chairing Arrangements

The Chair will usually be elected at the first meeting of the Full Governing Body of the academic year but may be brought forward or deferred as agreed by the Full Governing Body. Elections to fill vacant posts will be conducted as and when required.

Vice Chair: This Committee may appoint one or more Vice Chairs as it feels appropriate from time to time. The Committee Chair has the authority to delegate any of the Chair's functions to one of the elected Vice Chairs; any such delegation to be recorded by the Clerk and reported to the Committee.

Frequency of Meetings

Minimum of 3 per year.

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by the Clerk of Governors.

Areas of Responsibility

See table below

Delegated decision making powers

See table below

Head (with SLT)

Deployment

Planning overall strategy for staff deployment – teaching, non-teaching, full, part-time posts

Recruitment and Appointment

• Arranging for short listing and interviewing of candidates (except Headteacher)
• Considering further options as opportunities arise – creation/deletion of posts
• Arranging for confirmation of selection panel decisions

   

Induction

• Deciding on strategies for the continuing development of staff for their own and the school’s benefit
• Drawing up job/person specifications
• Drawing up/placing advertisement
• Undertake safer recruitment training in line with national/local authority guidelines

   

Head (with Committee)

• Procedure with regard to statutory obligations, conditions of service
• Monitoring staffing issues within School Progress Plan

   

Remuneration

• Making recommendations on a pay policy which will apply to all members of staff (except the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Business Manager), involving criteria to be used and procedures to be followed

Recruitment

• Undertake safer recruitment training in line with national/local authority guidelines

Committee

• With the Chair of the Governing Body, arrange for short listing and interviewing for the position of Headteacher, recommending an appointment to the Full Governing Body
• With the Chair of the Governing Body and the Headteacher (who should have a veto) arranging for the short listing and interviewing for the senior leadership positions of Deputy Headteacher and Business Manager.
• Establish performance management policy and review and approve performance management policy annually
• Recommend staff pay policy to governors
• Taking into consideration implications for management of staff and school finances, approve changes to pay structures and scales, approve recommendations for pay progression and individual salary increases for staff appointed by the full governing body
• Establish and oversee a panel for the Headteacher’s performance management
• Monitor any aspects of School plans relevant to staffing
• Approve policy for use of supply teachers, cover supervisors and unqualified teachers
• Have oversight of all policies and processes used for the recruitment, retention and development of the staff of the School
• Contribute to the identification of staff-related risks, to monitor and evaluate the management of these, and ensure that internal scrutiny activities that are delegated to this committee are actioned at an appropriate time

   

Chair of Governors

• Agreeing leave of absence for the Headteacher

• Setting up a staffing panel

Governing Body (Panel)

(Grievance)

• for hearing employees’ grievances/complaints as provided for in the Grievance Procedure

(Discipline)

• for holding disciplinary interviews as provided for in the Disciplinary Procedure

(Termination of Employment)

• for hearing termination of employment cases as provided for in the Termination of Employment Procedure for appointment, dismissal or suspension of Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher or Business Manager

(Appeals)

• for hearing appeals as provided for under staffing procedures

Governing Body

Remuneration

• Ratifying a Pay Policy

The Headteacher is the Accounting Officer and takes personal responsibility (which must not be delegated) for assuring the governing body that there is compliance with the Handbook, the Funding Agreement and all relevant aspects of company and charitable law.  The Accounting Officer is personally responsible to parliament and the Accounting Officer at the ESFA for the resources under their control and must be able to assure parliament and the public of high standards of probity in the management of public funds.

• Oversee general expenditure during year and authorise major expenditure in line with delegated financial authority

Signatories as approved by FGB

• Are the designated signatories for banking

Headteacher with Chair of Committee

• Oversee general expenditure during year and authorise major expenditure in line with delegated financial authority

School Business Manager

• Prepare 3-year budget with reference to School Progress Plan
• Administer, collate and report financial information
• Ensure accurate accounts are kept in line with company and charitable legislation
• Prepare management accounts and reports on a monthly basis
• Send budget analysis to committee monthly
• Operate day-to-day within agreed financial procedures
• Make recommendations and proposals for virements
• Check budget information received from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and initiate queries
• Consider year-end over/under-spend impact on budget planning
• Incorporate projected local income into budget planning
• Is a designated signatory for banking
• Ensure payroll procedures are carried out efficiently and effectively
• Ensure tendering procedures are followed

   

Head and Chair of Committee

• Decide on major virements

Committee

To make delegated decisions and where appropriate to make recommendations to the Full Governing Body so as to ensure sound management of the school’s finances and resources.  To keep the full governing body informed of decisions made and to make recommendations in a timely manner. The committee has delegated powers on financial, building and environmental matters unless otherwise stated.  The committee is authorised:

• To consider the school's indicative funding, notified annually by the DfE, and to assess its implications for the school, in consultation with the Headteacher, in advance of the financial year, drawing any matters of significance or concern to the attention of the governing body
• To consider and recommend acceptance/non-acceptance of the academy's budget, at the start of each financial year
• To contribute to the formulation of the school’s development plan, through the consideration of financial priorities and proposals, in consultation with the headteacher, with the stated and agreed aims and objectives of the school
• To receive and make recommendations on the broad budget headings and areas of expenditure to be adopted each year, including the level and use of any contingency fund or balances, ensuring the compatibility of all such proposals with the development priorities set out in the development plan
• To liaise with and receive reports from other committees, as appropriate, and to make recommendations to those committees about the financial aspects of matters being considered by them
• To monitor and review expenditure on a regular basis and ensure compliance with the overall financial plan for the academy, and with the financial regulations of the DfE, drawing any matters of concern to the attention of the governing body
• To monitor and review policies and procedures for ensuring the effective implementation and operation of financial practice, on a regular basis, including the implementation of bank account arrangements and where appropriate to make arrangements for improvement
• To consider and action the Internal Scrutiny Committee's recommendations to the full governing body arising from the auditors on the annual report and account, to prepare the financial statement to form part of the annual report of the governing body to parents and for filing in accordance with Companies Act and Charity Commission requirements and prepare any other financial document as may be required from time to time by the DfE or other statutory body
• To approve delegated financial authority limits for the headteacher and staff, to approve any expenditure that is beyond these limits so long as it is within the current agreed budget and to make recommendation to the governing body when proposed expenditure cannot be catered for within the current agreed budget
• To ensure that best financial value is obtained including effective oversight of the procurement process
• Where appropriate, to provide guidance to the governing body on financial, premises and environmental matters
• To monitor and review policies and procedures for ensuring the effective implementation and operation of premises, grounds and the related environment with particular regard to matters security, health and safety and where appropriate to make arrangements for improvement
• To monitor and review financial, building and environmental risk registers ensuring that appropriate actions are identified and implemented
• To ensure that appropriate insurances are in place
• To approve and monitor arrangements for recording assets
• Contribute to the identification of finance-related risks, to monitor and evaluate the management of these, and ensure that internal scrutiny activities that are delegated to this committee are actioned at an appropriate time

Governing Body

• Approve budget
• Approve income generation activities in keeping with school ethos and policies
• Produce governors’ report as part of annual company accounts
• Approve major expenditure in line with delegated financial authority

Head (with SLT)

• Authorise emergency repairs in line with delegated financial authority
• Award contracts for repairs/maintenance in line with delegated financial authority                                                                           

   

School Business Manager

• Carry out and monitor policy on health and safety
• Ensure site is free from litter and refuse
• Authorise emergency repairs in line with delegated financial authority
• Monitor state of buildings and traffic management on site
• Formulate repair and maintenance budget as a rolling programme
• Seek and establish approved ground contractors
• Prepare monthly budget statement for repair and maintenance
• Propose phased strategy for improvements to general standard of premises
• Award contracts for repairs/maintenance in line with delegated financial authority

   

Committee

• Seek assurance that site, buildings, equipment and materials are safe and no risk to health
• Seek assurance that external repairs and alterations are carried out
• Seek assurance that use of premises is in accordance with the Lettings Policy
• Agree health and safety policies
• Monitor monthly budget statement for repair and maintenance
• Agree priority list for repairs/maintenance
• Agree phased strategy for improvements to general standard of premises and accessibility
• Review Asset Management Plan
• Seek assurance that buildings insurance is adequate
• Seek assurance that quality control procedures are in place and carried out effectively
• Monitor relevant aspects of School Development Plan
• Approve health and safety, lettings and other premises policies and related procedures
• Seek assurance that tendering procedures are followed
• Contribute to the identification of premises-related risks and to monitor and evaluate the management of these and ensure that internal scrutiny activities that are delegated to this committee are actioned at an appropriate time

   

Governing Body

• Receive reports from the Staffing, Finance & Premises Committee

Notify the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) of any notifiable data breach.                        

Ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Requirement (GDPR) and in particular

• To inform and advise the governing body, senior leadership team and employees about their obligations to comply with the GDPR and other data protection laws.

• To monitor compliance with the GDPR and other data protection laws, including managing internal data protection activities, advise on data protection impact assessments; train staff and conduct internal audits.

• To be the first point of contact for supervisory authorities and for individuals whose data is processed (employees, students, parents, volunteers, governors, members etc).

• Immediately notify the Headteacher of any notifiable data breach.

• Inform data subjects, as and when requested by the Headteacher, of any data breach which may affect them.

• On advice from the Headteacher appoint the DPO
• Receive reports from the DPO and assure themselves that The Swanage School are compliant with the GDPR

   

Receive assurance from the Staffing, Finance & Premises Committee on GDPR compliance

Composition & Membership

Minimum of 3 governors including the Headteacher (as elected by the Full Governing Body) with the Clerk to the Governors and Deputy Headteacher in attendance.

Quorum

3 governors

Chairing Arrangements

The Chair will usually be elected at the first meeting of the Full Governing Body of the academic year but may be brought forward or deferred as agreed by the Full Governing Body. Elections to fill vacant posts will be conducted as and when required.

Vice Chair: This Committee may appoint one or more Vice Chairs as it feels appropriate from time to time. The Committee Chair has the authority to delegate any of the Chair's functions to one of the elected Vice Chairs; any such delegation to be recorded by the Clerk and reported to the Committee.

Frequency of Meetings

Minimum of 3 per year.

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by the Clerk of Governors.

Areas of Responsibility

See table below

Delegated decision making powers

See table below

• To consider recommendations from external reviews of the school (e.g. Ofsted or local school improvement advisers), agree actions as a result of reviews and evaluate regularly the implementation of the plan
• To identify and celebrate pupil achievements
• To oversee arrangements for educational visits
• To ensure that all children have equal opportunities
• To ensure that the school meets the requirements of disability discrimination legislation, and to report on measures taken by the school to ensure that pupils with disabilities are treated no less favourably than other pupils, and to report at least annually to the Student Committee
• To ensure that policies are implemented effectively

   

• To set priorities for improvement
• To recommend for approval to the full governing body the:
  • self-evaluation form
  • School Development Plan
  • targets for school/academy improvement to the governing body

• To receive reports and recommendations from the Student Committee
• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of leadership and management

   

Composition and Membership                                               

Two governors appointed by the Chair of Governors and one member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) appointed by the Headteacher.  Where either the Chair of Governors or the Headteacher are not available then the Vice Chair or Deputy Headteacher will make the relevant appointments.  Both those appointing and appointed must have had no previous formal involvement in the specific incident which is to be reviewed.  If the normal appointee has been previously involved in the process then the appointment will be made by the Vice Chair, Deputy Headteacher or the Clerk as appropriate.

Quorum

Two governors plus one member of the SLT with a Clerk to the Governors in attendance

Chairing Arrangements

Agreed at start of meeting

Frequency of Meetings

As required

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by a Clerk to the Governors

Areas of Responsibility

See table below

Delegated Decision Making Powers

See table below

Governors                               

Admissions

• To consider the principles of admission of students to The Swanage School
• To consider and make a recommendation to the full governing body the principle of whether the School admits students in excess of its Published Admission Number (PAN)
• On those occasions when the total applications received exceeds the PAN to decide as to whether or not individual students who as yet have not been admitted should be admitted. This might be:
  • in the normal application round when the panel will, mindful of DfE guidance, allocated places and decide on tie-break situations according to the criteria set out in the school's admission arrangements, or
  • in deciding upon in-year transfers based on consideration of the circumstances and mindful of DfE guidance
• To report any decisions taken to the next meeting of the full governing body
• To notify the appropriate parties after considering such cases, including provision of information on the right to appeal
• Appeals against refusal by the panel to admit a prospective student shall be considered by an independent appeals panel. This will be arranged via Legal, Democratic & Strategy Services, Borough of Poole, or such other party that may be contracted to provide independent review panel services

   

Head

Responsibility Delegated by the Governing Body

• To consider admissions within PAN but outside the chronological year group

The Headteacher and panel will follow DfE guidance as follows:

• The Schools Admission Code

• The Schools Admission Appeals Code

Composition and Membership of the Exclusions and Exclusion Appeals Panel

Three governors (who are not employees) appointed by the Chair.  

Other attendees to be invited in accordance with the DfE guidance (below).  

Where either the Chair of Governors or the Headteacher are not available then the Vice Chair or Deputy Headteacher will make the relevant appointments.  

The appointed governors must have had no previous formal involvement in the specific incident which is to be reviewed.  If the normal appointee has been previously involved in the process then the appointment will be made by the Chair, Vice Chair or the Clerk as appropriate.

Quorum for the Exclusions or Exclusions Appeal Panel

Three governors with other attendees as required by the DfE Guidance (below)

Chairing Arrangements

Agreed at start of meeting

Frequency of Meetings

As required

Evidence, Information, Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Where the governing body is legally required to consider the decision of the Headteacher to exclude a pupil they should where possible, circulate any written evidence and information, including a list of those who will be present, to all parties at least five school days in advance of the meeting

Minutes of the meeting must be taken.

If possible, the minutes should be taken by the Clerk to the Governors.

Minutes should be made available to all parties on request.

Areas of Responsibility

See table below

Delegated Decision Making Powers

Head                                        

Exclusions

Exclude a pupil for one or more fixed terms (not exceeding 45 days in total in a year) or to permanently exclude a student.

To notify relevant parties of exclusions made:

• The head teacher must, without delay, notify parents of the period of the exclusion and the reasons for it (and must provide parents with certain information – see DfE Guidance below).
• The Headteacher must, without delay, notify the governing body (specifically the Chair of the Exclusions Panel and the Chair of Governors) and the local authority of: 
  • a permanent exclusion (including where a fixed period exclusion is made permanent)
  • exclusions which would result in the pupil being excluded for more than five school days (or more than ten lunchtimes) in a term; and 
  • exclusions which would result in the pupil missing a public examination or national curriculum test
• For all other exclusions the head teacher must notify the local authority and governing body (specifically the Chair of the Exclusions Panel and the Chair of Governors) once a term. 
• Notifications must include the reasons for the exclusion and the duration of any fixed period exclusion 

• For a permanent exclusion, if the pupil lives outside the local authority in which the school is located, the head teacher must also advise the pupil’s ‘home authority’ of the exclusion without delay.

Governors

Exclusions and Exclusion Reviews

The panel has three jobs (summarised in Annex A of the DfE guidance) and a notification duty.

• To consider (within 15 school days of receipt of the exclusion notice) reinstatement of excluded students where the exclusion is permanent OR the exclusion would result in the student missing a public exam or National Curriculum Test
• To consider reinstatement requests from parents for exclusions which would take the student’s total days of exclusion above 5 days for the term
• To consider representations made by parents for exclusions which would not take the student’s total days of exclusion above 5 days for the term (but there is no power to overturn the head teacher’s decision in these cases)
• To notify the appropriate parties after considering such cases (see section 6.3 of the DfE guidance)

The panel will also:

• On behalf of the Academy Trust, arrange an independent review panel to review their decision if an application is made within the applicable time limits (this will be via the Legal, Democratic & Strategy Department, Borough of Poole, or such other party that may be contracted to provide independent review panel services)

Managed Transfer Reviews

On receipt of a request from parents/carers:

• To consider the parents'/carers' views on whether the school has followed the procedures set out in the Behaviour & Exclusions Policy in arranging a permanent managed transfer.

Guidance 

Exclusions and Exclusion Reviews

The Headteacher and panel will follow DfE guidance on exclusions from academies in England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion

Composition and Membership

Staff Grievance, Staff Dismissal, and Redundancy/Restructuring Appeals Panel: Two governors appointed by the Chair of Governors and one member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) appointed by the Headteacher.  Where either the Chair of Governors or the Headteacher are not available then the Vice Chair or Deputy Headteacher will make the relevant appointments. 

Redundancy/Restructuring Panel/s:
Decided by the Governing Body, including at least one governor (who is not the Headteacher) appointed by the Chair of Governors, and at least one member of the Senior Leadership Team appointed by the Headteacher.

Where either the Chair of Governors or the Headteacher are not available or in the case of appeals have been previously involved in the matters to be reviewed, then the Vice Chair or Deputy Headteacher, or Chair of the Staffing, Finance & Premises Committee, will make the relevant appointments. 

Both those appointing and appointed should be impartial in relation to the specific incident which is to be reviewed and, where possible, have had no previous formal involvement in the matters.   

In circumstances where the Chair of Governors (or in their absence the Vice Chair or Chair of the Staffing, Finance & Premises Committee) determines it is not possible for any member of the SLT to be impartial, they may instead appoint another governor or an independent panel member, having regard for the necessary expertise.

Staff governors are unable to be a member of a panel.   

Quorum

Staff Grievance, Staff Dismissal, and Redundancy/Restructuring Appeal Panels: Two governors plus one other appointee with a Clerk to the Governors in attendance

Redundancy/Restructuring Panel/s:
Two persons, including one governor who is not the Headteacher. Business may be conducted outside the meeting, for example by email. 

Chairing Arrangements

Agreed at start of meeting

Frequency of Meetings

As required

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by a Clerk to the Governors

Areas of Responsibility

See table below

Delegated Decision Making Powers

See table below

Head (with SLT)

Staff Grievance & Staff Dismissal

The Headteacher is able to dismiss staff in line with the Disciplinary and Appraisal & Capability policies

• To make a business case to the Governing Body for restructure/redundancy
• To manage the application of the Redundancy/Restructure Procedure (or delegated authority may be given to another individual or a Redundancy/Restructure Panel) and to make decisions regarding the process, including making dismissals on behalf of the governing body. 

Governors                              

Staff Grievance & Staff Dismissal

• To consider staff member’s appeal against dismissal, demotion, or suspension
  - Appeals to be considered in line with the Staff Disciplinary Policy.
• To consider staff member’s appeals against a decision made at Stage 2 of the Staff Grievance Procedure.
  - Appeals to be considered in line with the Staff Grievance Policy.

   

The Governing Body will;

• Consider and approve the business case for redundancy/restructure.
• If satisfied of the need to proceed, instruct the Headteacher to begin a consultation process.
• Delegate authority for the application of the Redundancy/ Restructure Procedure to the Headteacher, another individual or to a Redundancy/Restructure Panel. 
• identify appropriate panels, as necessary, to have delegated responsibility for managing particular steps within the process. 

If convened, a Redundancy/Restructure Panel will:

• manage the application of the Redundancy and Restructure Procedure (or delegated authority may be given to the Headteacher or another individual) and to make decisions regarding the process, including making dismissals on behalf of the governing body. This includes:
  - considering feedback given by staff on the proposals outlined in the business case during any period of formal consultation
  - ensuring that all significant communications (whether spoken or written) are approved before issue by a member of the panel who did not draft them
  - involvement in the selection process where required.

The redundancy/Restructure Appeals Panel will:

• Hear appeals regarding redundancy/restructure in accordance with the Redundancy/Restructure Policy and Procedure. 

Composition and Membership                                

Two governors and one independent assessor appointed by the Chair of Governors.  Where the Chair of Governors is not available then the Vice Chair will make the relevant appointments.  Both those appointing and appointed must have had no previous formal involvement in the specific incident which is to be reviewed.  If the Chair has previously been involved in the process then the appointment will be made by the Vice Chair or the Clerk as appropriate. 

Quorum

Two governors plus one person independent of the management and running of The Swanage School, with a Clerk to the Governors in attendance

Chairing Arrangements

Agreed at start of meeting

Frequency of Meetings

As required

Minuting and Reporting Procedures

Minutes taken by a Clerk to the Governors

Areas of Responsibility

See table below

Delegated Decision Making Powers

See table below

Governors                                                       

Complaints

• To consider complaints in line with Stage 3 of the Complaints Policy & Procedure, with a view to determining whether to:
  • dismiss the complaint in whole or in part
  • uphold the complaint in whole or in part
  • decide on the appropriate action to be taken to resolve the complaint
• recommend changes to the school’s systems or procedures to ensure that problems of a similar nature do not recur

   

Chair of Governors

Complaints about the Headteacher

To consider formal complaints made about the headteacher, in line with the Complaints Policy & Procedure.

Clerk and Chair of Governors

Selection of Independent Panel Member

To select and appoint an independent panel members in a manner consistent with any guidance issued by the Department for Education (for example its Governance Handbook). The Complaints Toolkit 2016 (School complaints procedures: guidance for schools) may also provide useful pointers, though as at October 2017 this does not formally apply to The Swanage School.

The independent person must not be a governor of The Swanage School or a member of Education Swanage, and they must not have a vested interest in the outcome of the complaint.