Welcome to our Governing Body

The Governors of Hillborough Infant and Nursery School are very proud to take an active part in school life. Our vision is to ensure that everything possible is in place to enable our pupils to achieve to the best of their ability and make progress, to flourish socially and feel safe and happy whilst at school.

The three core functions of the Governors are:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

Many Governors have had children attend the school or still have children attending; we therefore can understand parental viewpoints. We are very approachable and more than happy to hear from you about any matters you may wish to discuss.

Governance Role

As Governors, a critical part of our role is to ensure we develop and maintain strong links with parents, staff and pupils. To support this, we can often be found in and around school, attending meetings and experiencing the many different activities that take place in school. We also try to attend as many school functions as we are able.

Governance Monitoring

The Governing Body will monitor in detail areas such as Finance, Personnel, Premises (which includes Health & Safety) and the Curriculum. We also ensure that legally required policies and documents are held and are available for Staff, Pupils, Governors, Parents and Carers and any visitors to school when and where relevant. 

Governors receive a report from the Headteacher once a term which keeps us up to date with pupil’s academic achievements, staffing, attendance, special projects, school life in general and other legally required reports.  We make crucial decisions about the school in our Governing Body meetings and ratify policies in action in the school.

We also ensure that we are aware of what is taking place within the ever-changing world of Education and Governance. We do this by attending courses held by the Local Authority and by being affiliated to the National Governance Association.

Governance Links

Through the Headteacher and Staff, we are kept informed of all aspects of school life. We have meetings with Key Stage and Subject Leaders to discuss how the National Curriculum is being followed and adapted to meet the needs of our pupils. We meet with the Senior Leadership Team to discuss areas of school development for the future. Link Governors with a responsibility for monitoring a particular subject and/or school development area provide feedback at the Governing Body meetings.

Governance Membership

Our focus is very much the future of the school for the benefit of the pupils. The Governing Body membership is currently eight Governors and we aim for our governance membership to grow to twelve Governors. 

Ian Ward is our elected Chair of Governing Body and brings a wealth of governance experience to our Governing Body. If you would like to contact our Chair, please email iward@hillboroughinfantschool.uk

Governance Structure

The Instrument of Government outlines the constitution of the Governing Body. The Local Authority considers whether it complies with the relevant legal requirements.

The Instrument of Government for Hillborough Infant and Nursery Governing Body was ratified by the Local Authority and it became effective from 1st September 2015.

The Governing Body reviews the document annually to ensure the constitution of the Governing Body remains relevant and meets the needs of the school's governance.

Governance Terms of Reference

The Governing Body must agree the Terms of Reference for the Governing Body and its Committees annually. The Terms of Reference outline the tasks and decision-making powers assigned to a Committee. The Governance Terms of Reference for Hillborough Infant and Nursery School were ratified on 27th September 2022 and are listed below.

Governance Meetings

The Governing Body meets at least three times per an academic year to consider the strategic aspects impacting the school and the pupils. 

The Resources and Finance Committee meets at least once per term to oversee, monitor compliance with statutory obligations under School Governance, DfE, Luton Borough Council and Data Protection. This includes the financial performance of the School, budget setting and monitoring, human resources issues and general organisation and administration of the school including Data Protection and Freedom of Information.

The Pay Committee meets once per academic year, in the autumn term, to assist in setting the school's pay policy, determine staff remuneration and review the targets for performance related pay.

The Headteacher's Appraisal Panel meets once per academic year, in the autumn term, to set objectives for the Headteacher, appraise the performance of the Headteacher and assess their performance in the role against the Headteacher Standards and their performance objectives. 

There are four Committees that meet on an adhoc basis linked to discipline and appeals for both pupils and staff. At Hillborough Infant and Nursery School, these Committees rarely meet however they form part of the governance structure.

Governance Register of Pecuniary Interests

Governors are forbidden from being involved in decision-making relating to the purchases by the school of goods and services from themselves, their relatives or any organisation in which they or those close to them have significant interest. The Governance Clerk is required to maintain a register of such interests. 

A Declaration of Interests Form is completed annually by all Governors to declare such interests. If interests change, a new form is completed.

At every governance meeting, Governors declare whether they have any pecuniary interests related to the agenda items listed for the governance meeting.

Governance Attendance Register

The Governing Body keeps track of all Governors who attend or are absent from Governance meetings. It is important for the development of the Governing Body that governor absence from meetings is kept to a minimum.

Governance Vacancies

The Governing Body currently has Parent Governor vacancy and Co-opted vacancies. If you would like to obtain further information on how you can support the school by joining the Governing Body, please contact the Chair of the Governing Body, Ian Ward at iward@hillboroughinfantschool.uk

Governance Contact Details

If you would like to contact a member of our Governing Body, please do so by sending your written correspondence to: Chair of the Governing Body, Ian Ward, C/o Hillborough Infant and Nursery School, Hillborough Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 5EZ.

Alternatively, you may wish to email:

Ian Ward, Chair of Governing Body at iward@hillboroughinfantschool.uk

Julie Warren, Governance Clerk at clerk@hillboroughinfantschool.uk