Governing Body

Welcome to the section of the website where you can find out more about the school’s governors, and the work that we do. If you would like a copy of the latest approved minutes from the Governing Body please request via the school office.

Hello and welcome to the Governors pages of St Matthew’s High Brooms CE Primary School.

Laura Masson, who has served on the Governing Board for over 2 years, including as Chair of Governors since January 2024, has taken the difficult decision to resign. In her resignation letter to Staff and Governors, Laura noted that it had “been a privilege to serve this school community” and “one of the most rewarding experiences of [her] professional life”.

As a Governing Board we are immensely grateful to Laura for her hard work and dedicated service over the last 2+ years. We wish her every success for the future.

Elections for both Chair and Vice-Chair of Governors will be held at the next meeting of the Governing Board and the outcome communicated shortly afterwards.

In the meantime, Lynn MacKay will continue in her role as Vice-Chair of Governors and will also be Acting Chair.

Claire Harris

Headteacher

St Matthew’s High Brooms CE Primary School

Jan 2025

Our main role is to challenge and support the school leaders. We help them to set and reach targets and to strive for excellence across the whole spectrum of school life.

All Governing Bodies have three key roles:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and setting the strategic direction of the school;
Challenging the head teacher on the educational progress of the school’s pupils and ensuring school improvement, whilst being supportive – this is often describe as being “a critical friend”; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent and has a positive impact on school improvement.

Governing Body Membership

At St Matthew’s we have ten governors in the Governing Body:

One Foundation Governors – representing the Church and appointed by St Matthew’s Church and the Rochester diocese;
Two Parent Governors – elected by the parents of children registered at the school;
Four Co-opted Governors – recruited and appointed by the Governing Body, often from the local community;
Two Staff Governors – including the Head teacher and a further staff governor elected by staff; and
One Local Authority Governor – normally recruited by the Governing Body and then approved by the Local Authority or they can be appointed by the Local Authority with agreement from the Governing Body.

All our Governors term of office runs for four years from the date they are appointed.

The Governing Body also has the ability to appoint Associate Governors with specific skills and expertise. Associate governors do not necessarily have a vote and their term of office can vary.

How Our Governing Body Works

The governing body at St Matthew’s operates the Circle Model, which means that the Governing Body works as a whole team without separate committees – exceptions to this are the pay and appraisal committee and discipline/appeals committee, both which meet when needed.

The Governing Body meet six times a year; three meetings are used for focus/monitoring sessions; for example, data, school improvement and budget and; three meetings for policies, updates and reports.

In order for the Governing Body to be effective, the governors at St Matthew’s are organised into monitoring pairs, each pair is responsible for a particular aspect of the School Improvement Plan.

Additional safeguarding, pupil premium, SEND and financial monitoring visits, take place throughout the school year.

Finally all Governors at St Matthew’s are expected to attend and complete training, in order to enhance their skills and knowledge, ensuring that the Governing Body continues to improve its effectiveness.

Click on the link below to see the Governing Body Information.

Governing-Board-Members 2024-25 Jan 2025

2023-24 Circle Model Terms of Reference

Standing Order for the Election of Chair and Vice Chair 2024

Standing Order for the Appointment of Co-opted Governors 2024

Standing Order for Virtual Governance Meetings 2024

Group-Diversity-St Matthew’s High Brooms Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

*ALL GOVERNORS SERVE A 4-YEAR TERM OF OFFICE

Vacancies: 1 Co-opted

Clerk to the Governors: Sue Buchanan

2023-2024 FGB Attendance Register