Governance

DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR MAPLE HAYES HALL SCHOOL
GOVERNANCE

PURPOSE AND INTENTIONS

The Proprietors of Maple Hayes Hall School (School) are:

Dr E Neville Brown & The Brenda Brown Trust (Trustees Michael Kay and Dr E Neville Brown)

These form the proprietor body, (The Proprietors) in whom the responsibility for operating the school rests.

The establishment of a Governance Board was suggested as a mechanism to advise and support the Proprietors in the fulfilment of their duties and responsibilities, to assist them in the day to day oversight of the operation of the school

The intention of this re-organisation is to involve more members (specialists in their various fields) to help The Proprietors hold the school more accountable. Particularly regarding the vision, ethos of the School as well as strategic planning,  safeguarding, quality of education and financial management. These terms of reference will define the roles and responsibilities of members and set out the meeting schedule and content for the year ahead.

OBJECTIVES AND MISSION OF THE SCHOOL

  • To give young people a fresh start enabling them rapidly improve their literacy in a supportive school community where all are included is a major part of the school’s success and underpins governance.

  • To maintain the school’s specialism as school for young people whose primary need is SpLD (Dyslexia)

  • To teach those pupils using morphemes and icons (The Icon Method as developed by Dr E Neville Brown and Dr D J Brown).

  • To teach pupils with a class-teacher dynamic without any withdrawal from lessons or from any other school activities.

  • To maintain a community of learners who, with staff, will mutually support each other in their education.

  • To provide pupils with a curriculum which enables them to make the maximum improvement to their literacy and, through appropriate examinations, widens their future opportunities

  • To maintain the social aspect of the school community by promoting social interactions and grouping to maintain the Maple Hayes ‘family’ community spirit - a safe and mutually supportive environment.

All of the above will form a Governance Plan with a thorough checklist to make sure all aspects of good governance practice are covered.

 

CONSTITUTION

The Governance Board shall comprise the Proprietors and such Associate Members as they appoint.

  • Associate Members will have an advisory role and will not have any voting rights.

  • Associate Members will be invited to serve by The Proprietors

  • Associate members will comprise.

    • Daryl Brown, Alastair Brown and Imogen Brown.

    • Headteacher Mr Lowe. (Headteacher)

    • A member of the staff of the school. (Staff member)

    • A parent of a pupil of the school. (Parent)

    • Individuals who are independent of the school who have specialist knowledge and are supporters of the school who can bring benefit to the development of the school. (Independent)

Associate Members will support pastoral and safeguarding, financial management, PR and website and the quality of education.

All members of the Governance Board must undertake to uphold the objectives and mission of the school and must comply with the Maple Hayes School Governance Code of Conduct.

Governance members are expected to keep up to date with training to ensure they are sufficiently knowledgeable and skilled to effectively have oversight of the school.

 

APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE FOR MEMBERS

The Chair of the Governance Board is Dr E. N. Brown and Dr D.J. Brown is the Vice-Chair.

The appointment of Associate Members is to be approved by The Proprietors.

Associate Members will hold office as follows:

Co-Principal Dr Daryl Brown, Alastair Brown, Imogen Brown - indefinitely

Staff member for one year.

A Parent will be appointed for one year.

Independent Associate members for three years.

Associate Members shall be eligible for reappointment.

REPORTING EXPECTATIONS

Half termly reports will be presented from both the headteacher and Co-Principal Dr Brown for to both full and operational meetings.

The reports will focus on finance the quality of education from all the monitoring and evaluation activities: learning walks, lesson observations, book scrutiny and pupil voice, and will include;

Reports on the implementation of the specialist literacy provision and on the literacy progress of pupils are a key priority

Pastoral and safeguarding

Reports from any external advisor findings and actions needed will also be considered

 MEETINGS

  • Autumn 1            Full Meeting in September to welcome new members

  • Autumn 2            Operational Meeting with selected Associated Members – mid October

  • Autumn 3            Full Meeting in December after the end of school day

  • Spring 1                Operational Meeting with selected Associated Members – late February

  • Spring 2                Full Meeting pre-Easter in April 2025 after the end of the school day

  • Summer 1           Operational Meeting with selected Associated Members mid May

  • Summer 2            Full Meeting early July 2025 after the end of the school day

Operational Meetings will have a specific focus on the quality of education using Ofsted handbook headings as continuous agenda items. Those relevant governance members will be invited.

Full Meetings will involve all governance members and a full discussion about progress made across the school development plan and any other current issues or aspects needing ratification will form the agenda.

The Proprietors may call for additional Full Meetings for which at least 14 days appropriate notice will be given.

Both the Operational and Full Meetings will give a high priority to improving literacy. (The school prides itself in combating gross underachievement due to dyslexia through the use of a unique teaching morphology using icons).

Other agenda items are likely to focus on safeguarding, policies, marketing including the School website.

Meetings are scheduled to take no more than two hours and minutes will be taken. Documents for meeting ideally will be distributed at least a week before meetings so that all members get a chance to read all reports and come to the meeting well prepared with questions and comments ready.

Other shorter meetings to deal with specific aspects may be called from time to time by The Proprietors.

CODE OF CONDUCT & CONFIDENTIALITY

Your attention is drawn to the Code of Conduct. If, for some reason, you are not in a position to keep to this code of conduct you are expected to discuss the situation with the Proprietors. In such a situation it may be appropriate for the Proprietors to withdraw your appointment to Governance.

All discussions as part of Governance and all documents circulated as part of Governance must be kept confidential.

After your term of office – all correspondence, electronic communications or other records you have relating to governance must be returned to the School for destruction.

QUORUM

A quorum for all meetings shall be at least one of The Proprietors and [three] Associate Members. If a quorum is not present, then the meeting will be adjourned, and another date will be set as soon as possible.

ADMINISTRATION ARRANGEMENTS

The Proprietors will appoint a person or persons to help to administer the meeting.

The roles to be covered will include

  • Remind members about the meeting date and arrangements two weeks before the meeting

  • Be responsible along with the chair for of drawing up the agenda and circulating it.

  • Be responsible for the distribution of documents and information as agreed by The Proprietors

  • Take minutes for each meeting

  • When the minutes draft is approved by the chair circulate copies to all Governance Members

 

All meeting proceedings will be recorded by taking minutes for each meeting. The draft minutes should be made available within two weeks after the meeting.

Minutes will be approved agreed at the next meeting and signed off by the chair. All action points will be followed up and progress on any action taken noted. The minutes will be filed and become a formal record of governance proceedings.

COMMUNICATION

All communication with Governance will be via governance@dyslexia.school  which will be administered by The Proprietors. This will maintain the appropriate levels of confidentiality. The Proprietors will share information received with the appropriate members of Governance as they deem appropriate or necessary. Should any communication be received by a member of Governance which relates in any way to their role it must be shared with The Proprietors via the governance@dyslexia.school .

 GOVERNANCE EXPENSES

Maple Hayes School will pay reasonable expenses to cover any costs that Governance Members incur carrying out their duties. For the elimination of doubt this does not include an attendance allowance or payment to cover any loss of earnings.

Reasonable expenses may include travel and subsistence costs, any telephone charges, photocopying, postage, stationary etc.

Travel expense where a member uses their own car should be claimed at the HMRC rate (currently 45p per mile).

All expenses should be agreed with Dr D. J. Brown in advance of Governance Board meetings and will be approved at the meeting.