Governance Statement 2025/26
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Who are we? |
We are local people, parents and staff who have volunteered to become school governors. |
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What is our purpose? |
The purpose of the Governing body is to work with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to set, monitor and evaluate the school’s aims and policies. The role of the Governing body is to provide strategic oversight, support and challenge for the Headteacher and Senior Leadership team; not to get involved in the operational running of the school. We strive to provide the best possible education for the children through a rich and varied curriculum in a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment where all children can thrive and reach their full potential. |
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Overall aims of the Governing Body: |
Ensuring that the school has a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction. Scrutinising pupil performance and ensuring that all are making the best possible progress. Holding the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to account for the school’s performance. Overseeing the appointment, development and management of staff to ensure consistent high quality teaching and wellbeing of staff. Overseeing the financial management of the school and making sure its money is well spent. Making decisions about the school buildings and ensuring they are properly maintained and that all health and safety requirements are met. Ensuring the safety of all including safeguarding of the children. Ensuring the needs of children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are met. Supporting delivery of a compliant as well as broad, balanced and inspiring curriculum, and an engaging learning experience for all both in and outside the classroom. |
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What are we responsible for? |
Ensuring that the school has rigorous safeguarding procedures and policies in place and that the well-being of the children and staff is paramount. Holding the school to account for the educational standards it achieves and the quality of education it provides. Planning for the school’s future direction. Selection of a Headteacher. Performance management of the Headteacher. Ensuring effective financial management of the school, including setting the school’s budget and planning resources and staffing. Making sure the National Curriculum is taught. Ensuring the school is encouraging pupils’ moral and cultural development. Making sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with additional needs. Investigating and dealing with formal school-based complaints, in line with the school’s complaints procedure. Providing strategic guidance on key decisions for the school. Ensuring school, local authority and government policies which relate to schools and education are implemented and reviewed regularly. Providing strategic guidance on communication with parents, the local community and other stakeholders. |
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What is expected of school governors? |
Attend regular and special meetings of the governing body, both Full Governing Body meetings and committee meetings (see below). Visit the school to evaluate and feedback on different aspects of the school’s work, including safeguarding. Attend training courses where appropriate. At Brandlehow Primary School we also expect our school governors to demonstrate a commitment to improving education for all, our school vision and our ethos as a community school. |
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Governance Arrangements |
Brandlehow governing body has a scheme of delegation with the core work delegated to two committees: Resources Committee, and Curriculum & Communities Committee. The Full Governing Body meets three times a year and each of the two committees meets at least once termly. The Resources Committee oversees: · finance (including scrutinising the budget); · lettings and charges; · staffing, personnel, HR and staff wellbeing; · school premises and grounds, security, health and safety and safeguarding; · data protection and GDPR. The Curriculum and Communities Committee oversees: · the curriculum, progress and attainment, quality of teaching, assessment; · provision for SEND (special educational needs and disability), children with EAL (English as an additional language) and PP (pupil premium) children; · safeguarding and child protection procedures, pupil admissions; · attendance and punctuality, behaviour, pupil wellbeing, equality and diversity; · engagement with parents, carers and the community. The staff pay policy is agreed annually by the Full Governing Body. The Headteacher’s performance is assessed by one of the Co-Chairs and one or two other members of the governing body, with the help of a Local Authority advisor. |
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Attendance Record |
The governing body has an excellent attendance record. Please see attendance records on school website for further details. |
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Assessment of effectiveness |
Brandlehow Primary School governing body is comprised of dedicated individuals with a broad range of skills that enable us to perform our role effectively. Each governor has opportunities to lead an area to enable the development of more detailed expertise on the governing body. Individual ‘link’ governors have responsibility for safeguarding, SEND, Pupil Premium & vulnerable children, finance, premises including health & safety, finance, behaviour & attendance, pupil wellbeing, staff wellbeing & development, and different aspects of the curriculum. We have good working relationships with the Headteacher and other school staff and our visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. We provide a strong mix of support and challenge, holding the school to account at governor meetings and interrogating performance data, targets, evaluation, budget setting and staff development to ensure that the school meets its overall objectives. We visit the school regularly, attend events, have good relationships with staff and are committed to promoting high standards across all areas of school life. The Headteacher and Chair and Vice-Chair of Governors meet regularly to monitor safeguarding and to share and review any concerns. Copies of non-confidential meeting minutes are available from the school office. |
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Key Governor contribution 2025-2026 |
Governor Contribution 2025/26 The academic year 2025/26 has been a significant year for Brandlehow School, marked by leadership transition, strategic development and continued commitment to ensuring the best possible outcomes for all pupils. We were delighted to welcome our new Headteacher in September 2025 and have worked closely with her throughout the year to support her transition into the role. Governors have supported and challenged school leaders in delivering the new School Strategic Plan, with a focus on improving the quality and consistency of teaching and learning; promoting positive behaviour and wellbeing, and ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources across the school. Governors maintained close oversight of the school's finances, working alongside the School Business Manager and leadership team to review and approve the 2026/27 budget and three-year financial forecast. The governing board is confident that the school remains in a strong financial position, with robust financial planning and effective budget management supporting its long-term sustainability. We continued to monitor pupil outcomes carefully, scrutinising performance data to ensure that every child is able to thrive and achieve their full potential. Particular attention was given to vulnerable groups, including pupils with additional needs and those eligible for Pupil Premium funding. Throughout the year, governors visited the school regularly to monitor progress against the School Strategic Plan. Visits focused on areas including safeguarding, health and safety, finance, data protection, SEND, curriculum development, behaviour & attendance and Early Years provision. The governing board made the decision for the school to move to a 32.5 hour week in line with Department of Education guidance; reviewed and improved the school’s approach to policies, and developed a monitoring schedule for link governor roles. Urgent maintenance work to repair the school roof was completed early in 2026, funded by a capital grant from the Local Authority, combined with funding from the PTA. Governors continued to undertake regular training to ensure they remain well informed and equipped to fulfil their statutory responsibilities while providing effective support and challenge to school leaders. There have been some changes to the membership of the Governing body. We welcomed a new co-opted Governor and two newly elected Parent Governors, strengthening the experience and representation of the governing board. At the end of the academic year we said farewell and thank you to our Co-Chairs of Governors and one other longstanding governor, whose commitment and service to Brandlehow School have been greatly valued. We welcomed a new Chair and Vice-Chair of Governors. The governing board looks forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Headteacher, staff, pupils and families to deliver the ambitions of the School Strategic Plan and ensure Brandlehow School continues to flourish. |
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Actions and to further develop |
Governors will continue to support and challenge the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team as they navigate a period of change, including staff changes, ongoing financial pressures and the continued impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our families and wider school community with particular regard to:
Continue monitoring the implementation and impact of the School Strategic Plan, providing appropriate support and challenge to school leaders through regular governor visits and committee work. Maintaining robust oversight of the school's financial management to ensure long-term sustainability in an increasingly challenging financial climate. Supporting the school in improving its learning environment, including the refurbishment of the KS1 and KS2 toilets and the development of new toilet facilities. Strengthening collaboration with local schools and governing boards to share effective practice and continue to learn from others. Further embed a culture of governor training and continuous professional development, ensuring governors have the knowledge and confidence to fulfil their roles effectively. Ensure that strategic risk is a standing consideration across all governing board and committee meetings, embedding risk management into our decision-making at every level. With several governor vacancies anticipated during 2026/27, we will use our Effectiveness Audit to identify the knowledge, skills and experience needed on the board, enabling us to recruit governors who will further strengthen our collective expertise and support the school's continued success. |
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Further Information |
For further information about Brandlehow Primary School governing body please visit the school website: |
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Contact the governing body |
Dafydd Townley is the Chair of the governing body. He can be contacted via the school office, or email: info@brandlehow.wandsworth.sch.uk or leave a written message with the school office. |
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