Tel: 01388 832 393     Email: p2426.admin@durhamlearning.net

Our Governing Body

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA).   The Governing Body meets regularly. They are committed to ensuring the highest quality of education and welfare for your child. All correspondence to the Chair of Governors can be be sent to c/o Toft Hill Primary School. If you wish to contact any members of the governing body, this can be done by contacting the school.

  • Mrs Amanda Majer – (Joint Chair) Co-opted Governor
  • Mrs Alison O’Sulliavn – (Joint Chair) Parent Governor
  • Mrs Kelly Reynolds – (Vice Chair) Co-Opted Governor
  • Mrs Leanne Nesbitt – Headteacher
  • Mrs Helen Pepper – Co-opted Governor
  • Mrs Victoria Bell – Parent Governor
  •  Mr Mark Dickinson- Staff Governor
  • Mrs Kirsty Wilkinson – Co-Opted Governor
  • Mrs Teresa Millward – Parent Governor
  • Miss Rachel Higgin – Parent Governor
  • Mr Lee Mitchell – Parent Governor
  • Ms Josephine Newberry – Parent Governor
  • Mrs K Wilkinson – Co-Opted Governor

Recent Retirements

  • Mrs Lisa Shaw (Retired from the Governing Body 2024)
  • Mrs Merion Owen (Retired from the Governing Body 2024)
  • Mr Ian Smithwhite – Parent Governor (Retired from the Governing Body 2023)
  • Miss P Gard – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing  Body 2022)
  • Mr John Stelling – Co-opted Governor (retired from Governing Body 2022)
  • Miss Jordan Donohue – Co-opted Governor (retired from Governing Body 2022)
  • Mr Marc Sproat – Staff Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2021)
  • Alex Eley – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2021)
  • Mrs Natasha Robson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing  Body 2020)
  • Miss Samantha Benson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
  • Mrs Paula Wilson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
  • Mr Martin Broom- Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
  • Mrs Leanne Crook – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
  • Mrs Karen Studholme – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
  • Dr Mark Ward – Co-opted Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)

Karen Booth – Clerk to Governors

The Governing Body of Toft Hill Primary School has a strong focus on its three core strategic functions
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Toft Hill Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the documents below.

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Committee Terms of Reference 25 May 2021

Governing Body Committee Structure

NameRepresentingTerm
of
Office 		CommitteeResponsibilitiesRegister
of
Interests		Relationship
to
Staff
Leanne NesbittHead Teacher
Appeals
Curriculum & standards
Finance, premises & staffing
First/Pay review		Head TeacherNone
Mrs Amanda MajerJoint Chair - Parent27/11/2024Finance, premises & staffing
First/Pay review
Head Teachers performance review		Equality & inclusion
Pupil Premium
None
Mrs Kelly ReynoldsVice Chair - Co-Opted13/11/2027Appeals
Finance, premises & staffing		Attendance
Online Safety
Safeguardinng		None
Mrs Alison O'SullivanJoint Chair - Parent23/05/2027Curriculum & standards
First/Pay review		EnglishNone
Mrs Victoria BellParent28/04/2025Appeals
Finance, premises & staffng		Foundation subjectsNone
Mrs Helen Pepper Co-Opted20/10/2025Appeals
Curriculum & standards
Foundation subjectsNone
Mrs Kirsty WilkinsonCo-Opted12/06/2026Curriculum & standardsWell-being
Personal development
PHSCE & RSE		None
Miss Rachel HigginParent2/05/2027Curriculum & standardsPersonal development
PHSE
RE		None
Mrs Teresa MillwardParent23/05/2027Finance, premises & staffing
First/Pay review		Pupil premium
School website
Training & development
None
Miss Samantha OverfieldCo-Opted04/12/2027Appeals
Curriculum & standards
Finance, premises & staffing
First/Pay review		EYFS
SEN		None
Mark DickinsonStaff16/04/2028Curriculum & standardsNone
Ms Josephine NewberryParent16/04/2028Curriculum & standardsFoundation subjectsNone
Mr Lee MitchellParent16/04/2028Finance, premises & staffingFoundation subjectsNone

Governor Attendance

Schools are now required to display Governor attendance at meetings for each academic school year.

Key

✓- Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted
N – Did not attend
n/a – Not a member of the committee

Record of Attendance 2024

NameFinance, premises & staffing
5.3.24		Full Governing Body
12.3.24		Curriculum & standards
19.3.24		Full Governing Body
4.6.24		Finance, premises & staffing
15.10.24
Mrs L Nesbitt✓✓✓✓✓
Mrs A Majer✓✓n/a✓
Mrs A O'Sullivann/a✓✓✓
Mrs K Reynolds✓✓✓✓
Mrs H Peppern/aA/An/aA/A
Mrs V Bell✓✓n/a✓
Mr M Dickinsonn/a✓✓✓
Mr L Mitchelln/an/an/a✓
Ms J Newberryn/an/an/a✓
Mrs T Millward✓✓n/a✓
Mrs K Wilkinsonn/a✓✓✓
Samantha Overfieldn/a✓n/a✓
Miss R Higginn/aA/An/a✓

You can view archived attendance on our website.

Governing Body and Committees

Full 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; and
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Finance, Premises and Personnel Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

  • In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
  • To monitor income and expenditure
  • To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council
  • Oversee the use of the premises and keep under review an asset management/building development plan.
  • To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee
  • To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff
  • To act as the pupil discipline committee for fixed term and permanent exclusions.

Standards and Curriculum Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

  • To review the school’s curriculum statement and policies regarding the National Curriculum, policies and provisions for sex education and for collective worship and RE.
  • To monitor and review information about school performance and reporting to parents according to statutory requirements.
  • Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Equalities Act
  • Monitor the provision of RE and PHSCE
  • Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
  • Monitor the school’s performance against targets set for achievement at KS1.
  • Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups.
  • Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
  • In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
  • Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy.

First / Pay Review Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

  • To act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy adopted by the governing body.
  • To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body.

Appeals Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

  • To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the First/Pay Review Committee.
  • Headteachers Performance
  • Remit The purpose of this committee includes:
  • To arrange to meet with the Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.

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