Buxton Junior School

Committee Structure Academic Year 2025 - 2026

At the meeting on 29th September 2025 the committees were revised and agreed as follows:

Resources and Development Committee: J Beswick (Chair), C Walker, M Dowling, R Brown.

It was decided that rather than have a separate Curriculum Committee, curriculum discussion would be an agenda item within full Governing Body meetings and the information below is still applicable in regard to our ethos and aims.

Our aim as a Governing Body is to measure in all areas:

Intent: Implementation: Impact

We also ensure the school continues to follow the school values below:

As a school we value ourselves, our environment and the wider community by;

• nurturing and inspiring lifelong learners who strive to be their best
• creating strong partnerships between the school, families and the wider community
• encouraging our children to be kind, responsible and active citizens
• ensuring wellbeing is at the heart of the curriculum
• exploring every opportunity for outdoor learning.

The Chair and Vice Chair will discuss any personnel; performance, training and development aspects of the school with the Headteacher and feedback at Full Governing Body meetings.

The Resource and Development Committee have responsibility for the oversight of the school budget, investments, property development plans and pupil premium/sports funding expenditure.

As agreed at the Full Governing Body Meeting on 29^th September 2025 for 2025/2026:

1. The Resources Committee shall consist of 5 members (Headteacher plus 4).

2. The Resources Committee does not have any delegated powers.

3. The Resources Committee will form the first committee for any teacher pay disputes.

Terms of Reference

1. 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.

2. To contribute to the formulation of the School Improvement 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.

3. To draw up, agree and present to the Governing Body for approval an annual budget reflecting priorities identified through School self-evaluation and set out in School Improvement Plan.

4. To draw up medium and long term financial plans for the school, reflecting school priorities and projected income and expenditure including staffing plans and plans relating to the repair, maintenance, development and use of premises, and to recommend action on these plans to the Governing Body.

5. To ensure that the Governing Body agrees, defines, and operates appropriate financial regulations, procedures, and controls that:

   1. clearly define the responsibilities of the Governing Body, its Committees, the Headteacher and staff;

   2. set delegated authority limits in line with the Scheme of Delegation as approved by the Governing Body;

   3. ensure all returns to the relevant authorities are made on a timely basis;

   4. monitor the implementation of such financial regulations, procedures, and controls in the school.

6. To agree effective procedures for monitoring the budget on a regular basis; to consider appropriate reports for the purposes of monitoring; and to report the outcomes of monitoring together with an evaluation of the use of resources and value for money to the Governing Body and make any appropriate recommendations.

7. To recommend virements between budget headings in excess of the agreed level of delegation.

8. To ensure that the Principles of Best Value (challenge, compare, consult and competition) are central to the school’s management and use of resources. 

9. To oversee and advise the Governing Body on the provision of resources and services to the school including (but not limited to):

   1. the overall staffing provision of the school, including the management structure;

   2. determining the appointment, duties and promotion of all staff other than the Headteacher;

10. To ensure that non-public funds (e.g., voluntary funds, school journey accounts) are accounted for to the same standard as public funds above and to ensure that these are audited annually and presented to the Governing Body.

11. To ensure that all Pupil Premium and Sports Funding are planned and used appropriately in school and that the use of this money can be linked to measurable benefits.

12. To consider and review all aspects of insurance which are necessary and desirable for the school, its staff and students.

13. To keep under review the following procedures, and to ensure they are appropriately implemented, and to ensure that Staff are consulted and kept informed as appropriate:

    1. Staff recruitment and training

    2. Safer recruitment, the policies on:

    3. Staff sickness

    4. Discipline and grievances

    5. Redundancy, pensions, and early retirement

14. To ensure the school has appropriate arrangements in place to provide for the necessary monitoring, support, and assessment of Newly Qualified Teachers.

15. To draw up a performance management policy and pay policy for approval by the Governing Body, to keep these policies under review (annually for the performance management policy) and ensure that all teachers are appraised in accordance with statutory requirements and that all non-teaching staff are appraised in accordance with the school’s policy.  In addition, to oversee its implementation within the school to maximise the training and development opportunities for all staff, having particular regard to the School Improvement Plan.

16. Visibility of succession planning. Consider and determine applications for premature retirement. Where such decisions would have long term cost implications for the school’s budget share, the prior agreement of the Governing Body or the Resources Committee, as appropriate, is required.

17. To formulate and maintain a policy on the community use of the school, including extended schools’ provision, and to review the lettings and charges.

18. To identify and access appropriate Governor Finance and HR training and as a committee and to ensure a continual drive to look outwards for best practice to help improve the performance of the committee.

Diversity 

The governors believe it is important that boards reflect the diversity of the school communities they serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people.

Governors use this awareness to inform their recruitment and training needs and to ensure there is always the greatest possible diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

Due to our relatively small governing board, we will not publish this diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.

Governors’ Terms of Office (Updated October 2025)

Academic Year 2025/2026

Attendance at Governor Meetings:

Our Instrument of Government (which was reviewed on 29/09/2025) states our number of governors as 12 (currently 11 with 1 vacancy). 

Date

Academic Year 2024/2025

Attendance at Governor Meetings:

Our Instrument of Government (which was reviewed on 30/09/2024) states our number of governors as 12. 

Academic Year 2023/2024

Attendance at Governor Meetings:

Our Instrument of Government (which was reviewed on 02/10/2023) states our number of governors as 12. 

Following resignation on 31/08/2023 the number of Governors is now 11 with one vacancy.

Following the meeting on 20/11/2023 the number of Governors is now 12.

Private School Fund

Our private school fund is kept in school and is independently audited at the end of each academic year. The audit is inspected and presented to the Governing Body every Autumn.