Governing Body Remit
The purpose of the Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Its three core strategic functions are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Welcome message from Chair of Governors – Mr Bob Woods
Annual Governance Statement 2025
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
NGA Code of Conduct & Guidance 2024
Governor Diversity
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
- target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
- develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
- prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
- address potential ‘blind spots’ through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risk
Our Governors are drawn from the local area and provide a wide and varied level of experience. The group has a high level of educational experience, from nursery through to Primary school. This is complemented with others bringing experience from working outside of education. Experience is further helped by the age profile of governors ranging from 30-34 band through to the 65-69 band. All governors have a minimum degree level education.
Compared to Bishop Auckland demographics*, (noted in brackets) our board is made up of: 29% Male : 71% Female (48:52) with 50% (61%) describing themselves as Christian. We have a 100% ‘White’ ethnicity (97%)
*Data taken from UK Office for National Statistics (web) 2021
Governors Activity Log
- Governors Activity Log – 2021-22
- Governors Activity Log – 2022-23
- Governors Activity Log – 2023-24
- Governors Activity Log – 2024-25
- Governors Activity Log – 2025-26
Timetable for Governing Body meetings
| Term | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn | 20th October 2025 |
| Spring | 23rd March 2026 |
| Summer | |
| Autumn |
Committee Meetings
| Committee | Term | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Finance, Premises & Staffing | Autumn | 20th October 2025 |
| First Pay Review | Autumn | 20th October 2025 |
| Curriculum & Standards | Spring | 4th February 2026 |
| Finance, Premises & Staffing | Spring | 23rd March 2026 |
| Finance, Premises & Staffing | Summer | |
| First Pay Review | Autumn | |
| Finance, Premises & Staffing | Autumn |
Members of the Governing Body
| Type of Governor | Name |
|---|---|
| Co-opted | Mr R Woods (Chair) |
| Co-opted | Mrs Y Etherington |
| Co-opted | Mrs L Jenkins |
| Co-opted | Mr J Redman |
| Staff | Mr T Cuthbertson (Headteacher) |
| Staff | Miss C Smith |
| Parent | Mrs B Corrigan |
| Parent | Mr A Soppitt (Vice Chair) |
| Parent | Mrs A Batten |
| LA | Cllr C Hunt |
| Associate (has voting rights) | Mrs J Harnaman |
Governors Interests
All governors and trustees are required to declare business and pecuniary interests that might affect their ability to make impartial decisions. Please find our register of Governor interests below.
Governor Vacancies
We currently have no vacancies for governors.
If you are interested in any furure vacanies, please enquire at the school office or speak to Mr Cuthbertson for further information.
