Francis Baily School

Governors Newsletter
Summer Term Report 2014
Asa Parker - Chair, Parent Governor
I have been a parent governor since 2010 and Chair of the Governing Body
since autumn 2013. I am a Chartered Surveyor and Commercial Director
of one of the UKs largest Support Services companies. I am particularly
interested in ensuring the school is a safe and welcoming environment and
that the Governing Body plays its part in full.
Welcome to this new Newsletter!
My name is Asa Parker and I have been a Parent Governor
for 4 years and took over the role of Chair back in Sept 2013.
We are very fortunate as a Governing Body to have a very
capable and experienced set of Governors with both a broad
knowledge base and keen willingness to be involved. Our
vice chair Steve Ardagh-Walter very ably led the Governing
Body for 4 years before me, so this adds to the strength and depth of our team.

The current academic year has been one of considerable change for Francis Baily,
with Chris Davis joining us as Head Teacher, the Ofsted inspection and of late the
extension project to our Year 2 area. I have also worked with the Governing Body to
refresh our own structure and roles in order to align with the ever evolving educational
framework and needs of our children of whom are always paramount in our thinking.

As a Governing Body we are very pleased with the progress Chris and the School
Senior Leadership have achieved this year, and whilst it was not unexpected, the
Ofsted rating has only honed further our plans to take Francis Baily forward in
providing the best possible learning environment and a place our children fnd fun
and engaging.

I hope you fnd this inaugural newsletter informative and I am looking forward to
updating you all further each term upon the activities of the Governing Body and
progress we are making as a school.
Introducing our Francis Baily Governors
Steve Ardagh Walter - Vice Chair, Community Governor
Im currently the vice chair, having been Chair of Governors for the last four
years. I have a specifc area of interest in IT and information management,
ICT in the curriculum and e-safety.
Gary Collins - Parent Governor
School Governor at FB for over 4 years. Professional Life in Graphic
Design, Media & Arts. Running my own design business, creative
consultancy, and lectures, writing and workshops in ethics, culture,
philosophy and spirituality. My specifc concern is with Special Educational
Needs provision, Pupil Premium, and Inclusion.
Sharon Briggs - Parent Governor
I am now a community outreach/development offcer for West Berkshire
working for a local charity. I have experience in supporting various commu-
nity projects, networking, writing for charities, funding bids and counselling.
I have a particular interest in Safeguarding, Inclusion and learning.
Chris Davis - Headteacher
The Headteacher is also a member of the Governing Body. We are briefed
regularly, and work closely with our Headteacher on all issues.

In addition to the Headteacher, we invite the Senior Leadership Team to
attend our meetings and update us.
Chris Burnell - Chair of Finance, Parent Governor
Ive been a parent governor at FB since September 2013. As a Chartered
Quantity Surveyor by trade, I have been appointed Chair of the fnance
committee and am also the Governor liaison for the Year 2 BLIP project.
Links with the wider Community
As a part of my input I am in school every Monday lunchtime
to catch up with pupils across the school. I hear about lots of
birthdays, holidays and other exciting things that pupils get up to. We
share many stories and it is a real joy to have so many great children at our school.
Listening to them gives you an interesting perspective as a governor, like having a
school council, I fnd this very useful. Often pupils tell me they see me outside school
too, Im very happy to say hello to them and to you as parents. As they grow up its
important that we help our children to make strong connections from school life into
the wider community, because all too soon they will take their place in it.
Rev Ken - Community Governor

What the Governing Body Does...
The Governing Body (GB) is a voluntary group of people representing Staff,
Community, Local Authority and Parent interests within a School. It is the task of
the GB to steer and manage the strategic direction of the school. This role is often
described as being a Critical Friend to the school. To offer support, encourag-
ment and feedback, whilst also raising questions, challenges and concerns.
We meet approximately every six weeks, with the Headteacher, the Senior
Leadership Team and the School Business Manager. We discuss all issues
relating to school management, fnance, issues, direction and strategy.
Governance is also a critical area for OFSTED, and Governors are expected to
show that they are working effectively together, remain briefed, and also
undergoing regular training.
If this all sounds heavy, it should be said that being a Governor is also really
enjoyable and rewarding! Its a great way to be involved closely with the school,
and to offer skills and experience to both support staff and to enhance the learning
of our pupils.
SEN / Pupil Premium
The school continues its excellent
work with SEN and Pupil Premium
children, despite experiencing a time
of change with the maternity leave of
both our Inclusion Head; Mrs Higgs,
and SENCO, Mrs Wood.
All Staff are making really excellent
efforts to give support to our children.
The number of children on the SEN
register remains around 24%, 7 with
Statements, 29 with School Action,
and 29 with School Action Plus.
Pupil Premium, (a top-up fund which
allows Children from disadvantaged
circumstances to fully access the
curriculum), remains a key part of the
schools work. Both the School and
GB are obliged to closely monitor
and ensure that funding is
deployed as effectively as possible.
Changes to Special
Educational Needs (SEN)
Major changes to SEN provision are
set to be rolled our nationally from
Sept 2014, and completed within
3 years.
The aim is to place Pupils right at
the centre of planning, and to hold
all agencies accountable for their
progress. The most notable change
is that the Statement will be re-
placed by an Education, Health and
Care plan (EHC) which will continue
to age 25. School Action interven-
tions will be incorporated within the
EHC.
For some Pupils, there will be an
optional personal budget, (similar to
direct payments), although its not
yet clear how this will be deployed.
The school and GB will do all it can
to keep SEN parents informed.
Hazel Inman - Local Authority Govenor
Appointed as a Local Authority Governor at the end of 2013, I am now
sitting on the Finance committee, and bringing 25 years of experience as
Finance & Operations Director for an international manufacturing company,
My belief is that an entitys best & most important asset are the people work-
ing within it - especially true for the school.
Rashida Samsudin - Staff Governor
I am currently in my fourth year of teaching and started my teaching career
at Francis Baily. I have taught in both Years 4 and 6. By being a governor, I
hope to learn more about how the school is run and the impact I can have in
order for the school to continue improving.
Tina Skipworth - Staff Governor
I have been a member of Francis Baily support staff for over 13 years.
I have in the past been a governor at a local secondary school but my
passion and professional experience is the Early Years and recently KS1.
I am also a Director and Company Secretary of a successful proftable
23year old established company.
Dr Steve West - Community Governor
I have been a Community Governor at Francis Baily since 2012. I am
an Assistant Headteacher at Kennet School, and Head of 6
th
Form.
I was previously responsible for community outreach and had liaison
with our nine main partner primary schools.
Pauline Ford - Clerk to Governors
5 years experience as Clerk to Governors.
Works full time at the school as Administration Offcer..
Rev Ken Franklin - Community Governor
Currently in my 6th year of partnership with Francis Baily. Pastor at
Thatcham Baptist Church. I visit the school weekly to talk to pupils. I take
assemblies regularly through Years 1-6. I walk with the school in its wider
community engagement, and support staff, pupils and their families.
Helen Sayers - Local Authority Govenor
My professional life has been in Human Resources mainly in the
automotive, retail and medical industries. My interests lie in people
development and coaching.
Update... Ofsted & HMI
On Friday 16th May the school was visited by a member of
Her Majestys Inspectors (HMI). This was a follow up visit
to determine whether the school was taking effective action
to improve following the Ofsted Inspection carried out in
January which determined that we were a school requiring improvement.
After a strenuous day we were delighted to receive a very positive report. I have
included below several key points but you can read the full report on the Ofsted
website or via the school website.
Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit
to Francis Baily Primary School

The visit was the frst monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require
improvement following the section 5 inspection in January 2014. It was carried out under
section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring
improvement identifed at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further
action to:

clarify the role of the governors in monitoring the progress the school is making and the
impact of leaders actions in securing improvement.
Whilst the report makes this comment regarding further action it goes on to
recognise that;

Governors have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of
the school. The recent addition of three new governors has further strengthened the ex-
pertise of the governing body. Members of the governing body are now linked to specifc
areas of the schools work and they plan to use this structure to more fully check and
challenge the progress the school is making.

You and your senior leaders are working together as an effective team and have re-
sponded positively to the fndings of the inspection. You are determined to bring about
the necessary improvements to the school and you have communicated a clear sense of
purpose and direction.
Following this very positive monitoring report it is likely that the school will be
inspected by Ofsted within a 2 year period from the initial inpection.
We feel very confdent that with the continued support of the Local Authority that
we will return the school to its former status at the earliest opportuntiy.
Chris Davis - Headteacher
Joining the Francis Baily Team; refections of a new Governor
November 2013, with trepidation I attended my Governors interview at
Francis Baily School. The Head Teacher and Chair of Governors, both
soon put me at ease and concluded with See you at the next FGB.
FGB...?? Clearly, I had a lot to learn!
Fortunately, there were several courses made available to me, enabling a good level
of comprehension for my frst Full Governing Body meeting.
It was obvious from the start that everyone involved in the school, Head Teacher,
fellow Governors and Teaching staff alike, have a clear determination for the school
to achieve the best it can for all its pupils, supported by the various authority reports
made available to the Governors prior to the meeting.
I am proud to have been recruited, and sit with a board of knowledgeable people who
care passionately about your school.
Hazel Inman - LA Governor
School Development - The Blip Project
As you will probably be aware, a building project has commenced to enlarge the
Year 2 area. This is a project brought about by a larger than usual intake in
September 2012. These additional children could be accommodated as the cohort
passed through the school but the Year 2 area was just too small to provide an
adequate learning environment. The proposal has therefore been to construct a new
classroom whilst reconfguring and refurbishing the existing space to provide three
new classrooms ft for 21st Century teaching together with associated cloakrooms,
breakout and art spaces.
As a governing body we are acting on behalf of the children to ensure that they are
provided with the best possible environment and facilities to enhance their learning
and meet with the aims of the school.
Chris Burnell - Parent & Finance Governor
Contact. Please do get in touch...
Should you have any questions or wish to feedback your thoughts and experiences,
formal contact to the Governing Body should be made to the
Chair of Governors, Asa Parker - through the Clerk to Governors, School Offce.
Additionaly, a number of the Governors can be found in and around the
school during the day, during public events, or at collection time.
Brief
Reports