Terms of Reference
- To draft and review the staffing structure, in consultation with the headteacher and the Finance Committee;
- To be involved in the appointment of staff, as appropriate;
- To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff;
- To review relevant policies as appropriate and make recommendations to the governing body for discussion and ratification;
- To keep under review staff work / life balance, working conditions and well-being, including the monitoring of absence;
- To make recommendations on personnel related expenditure to the Finance Committee;
- To monitor and review the school’s pay policy, ensuring compliance with equalities and discrimination legislation and the principles of public life - objectivity, openness and accountability - and to make relevant recommendations to the governing body for consideration and approval;
- To apply the criteria set by the pay policy in determining the pay of each member of teaching staff at the annual review;
- To review, on an annual basis, the pay of each member of teaching staff and to determine any pay awards, as appropriate, and to ensure all staff members are advised of the outcome via the head teacher;
- To record clearly the reasons for all decisions and to report these decisions to the next full governing body meeting as a confidential item to be received;
- To recommend to the governing body the annual budget needed for pay, bearing in mind the need to ensure the availability of appropriate funding to support all pay decisions;
- To ensure that an annual report on the operation of the pay policy, a summary of the pay decisions made and an equality impact assessment of these decisions is prepared and submitted to the governing body for consideration;
- To seek professional advice from the Local Authority, or others, as necessary;
- To arrange for committee members to attend relevant training, as appropriate.
- To ensure that the school operates within the Financial Regulations of the Local Authority;
- To provide guidance and assistance to the headteacher and governing body in all matters relating to budgeting and finance;
- To monitor income and expenditure;
- To draft the budget in line with priorities set out in the school development/improvement plans;
- Present the draft annual budget to the full governing body for consideration and approval by 31 May each year;
- To monitor staffing levels in line with the budget;
- To determine whether sufficient funds are available for extra pay increments as recommended by the headteacher / pay review committee;
- To monitor pupil number trends to assess the effect on the budget allocation;
- To determine the financial delegation by the full governing body to the headteacher;
- To delegate to the headteacher the responsibility to vire up to £5000 between budget headings and to the headteacher, in consultation with the chair of the governing body and the finance committee, to vire up to £5000 within the school budget. Any virement to be reported to the next full meeting of the governing body;
- To determine lettings charges for other users of the school buildings and grounds;
- To manage tendering processes and the awarding of contracts with other relevant committees;
- To receive information on any claw back adjustments;
- To consider the Service Level Agreement and contracts in consultation with appropriate committees;
- To review expenditure with a view of achieving best value;
- Ensure there is an annual audit of the school fund, undertaken by an independent person, and to ensure the results of the audit are reported annually to the full governing body;
- To prepare and agree a financial statement for inclusion in the Annual Report to Parents;
- To provide guidance and assistance to the headteacher and governing body in all matters relating to the maintenance of the premises and grounds, and health and safety;
- To comply with the Health and Safety Policy, including the monitoring and review of the policy and procedures;
- To ensure that adequate resources are available to fulfil the aims and objectives of the above policy;
- To ensure that actions are taken in respect of relevant health and safety legislation;
- To advise the governing body on priorities, including health and safety and maintenance and development of premises;
- To oversee arrangements for repairs and maintenance of the premises;
- To make recommendations to the Finance Committee on premises related expenditure;
- To oversee premises related funding bids (in consultation with the headteacher and Finance Committee);
- To consider tenders for work, as appropriate;
- To monitor the effectiveness of services provided through the Service Level Agreement and contracts;
- To monitor efficient use of utilities such as water, electricity or gas;
- To ensure any necessary dialogue with the Local Authority regarding premises issues;
- To receive health and safety reports;
- To receive reports on the condition of buildings and school environment;
- To receive termly reports on the fire evacuation procedures;
- To ensure regular health and safety tours are conducted;
- To establish and keep under review an Accessibility Plan;
- To seek professional advice from the Local Authority or others, as necessary;
- To attend relevant training, where appropriate.