One Committee with Three Distinct Focuses

Impact

Terms of Reference

Chair:                                      Elizabeth Varley

Secretary:                               Morag Stead / Ross Brown / Gail Nicholson / Joanne Short

Committee Members:        Eileen Brewis, Rachael Dobinson,  Lisa Lumley-Imerson

                                                  Elizabeth Varley, Daniel Wheatley, Simon Whitehead

Purpose:

• In collaboration with school leaders, to have oversight of academic performance across all key stages within the Academy and to challenge school leaders in order to improve this performance.
• In collaboration with school leaders, to set priorities for academic improvement for the Academy and evaluate the impact of improvement plans which relate to pupil outcomes.
• To receive and critically review pupil progress and achievement data; monitor and evaluate rates of progress and standards of achievement against agreed targets for all pupils and for all groups of pupils, including those who are Looked After and those with Special Education Needs and those eligible for the Pupil Premium.
• To compare the academic performance of the Academy against national and local benchmarks including data provided by the Local Authority, Ofsted, FFT and others.
• To read termly and consider the ‘Headteacher’s report to Governors’ paying particular attention to the outcomes section, and ensure all governors have a good understanding of pupil progress and outcomes.
• To monitor and evaluate the provision for all groups of vulnerable students.
• To monitor entry into training, employment, FE and HE, and to support the reduction in the proportion of students classified as “not in education or training”.
• To assess the impact of pastoral support upon the opportunities and achievements of students entering the Sixth Form.

Impact:

• To support the identification of key priorities for the Academy Improvement Plan and for precise and timely intervention.
• To improve standards and narrow the ‘gaps’ in relation to whole cohorts and groups of students across KS3 and KS4.
• 16-19 students access a broad range of opportunities which enable them to achieve success and to progress into further education and careers which fulfil their most ambitious personal aspirations.

Implementation

Terms of Reference

Chair:                                      Elizabeth Varley

Secretary:                               Joanne Aitkin

Committee Members:        Eileen Brewis, Rachael Dobinson, Lisa Lumley-Imerson

                                                  Elizabeth Varley, Daniel Wheatley, Simon Whitehead

Purpose:

• To support the Teaching Learning and Assessment elements of the School Improvement Plan to prioritise and monitor, throughout the year, progress towards agreed actions and targets.
• To monitor and approve the Teaching Learning and Assessment policy
• To consider and analyse the quality of teaching, learning and assessment across the Academy.
• To support, promote and recognise high quality learning that contributes positively to attainment, progress and well-being.
• To monitor student and parent voice in order to improve the quality and Teaching Learning and Assessment.
• To identify the impact of strategies to promote improvements in the quality and breadth of provision offered by the Academy.
• To identify the focus and impact of professional development opportunities and take a lead in determining their own profession development needs.
• To identify and challenge inadequate practice and / or practice that requires improvement.
• To support strategies that recognise excellence and challenge ineffective teaching, learning and assessment.
• To monitor the breadth of the curriculum and the depth of learning offered in KS3 and KS4.
• To monitor the breadth of the curriculum and the opportunities offered to 16-19 students, and their impact upon recruitment.
• To assess the quality of provision and its impact upon outcomes for post-16 learners.
• To identify the ways in which curriculum opportunities and students’ positives attitudes to learning are promoted and enhanced through links with FE, HE and through business-links.
• To promote and assess opportunities for cross-curricular learning in relation to literacy, numeracy and STEM and to assess their impact upon learning and progress.
• To support the delivery of termly drop-down days to support the delivery of cross-curricular themes.
• To develop and utilise a modified Deep Dive process to enable Governors to support internal quality assurances processes and to promote effective practice.

Impact:

• Teachers are valued for their significant contribution to learning and to the life of the Academy.
• Teaching, learning and assessment is never less than good and promotes excellent learning, progress and attainment for all groups of students.
• Students are well supported and this support enables them to achieve ambitious academic and personal targets and goals.
• Teachers are well prepared for their role in the classroom and beyond.
• Key safeguarding requirements are met and staff are appropriately trained as a response to emerging national priorities.
• Staff are empowered to seek appropriate career development and to achieve early career progress.

Intent

Terms of Reference

Chair:                                      Elizabeth Varley

Secretary:                               Simon Whitehead

Committee Members:        Eileen Brewis, Rachael Dobinson, Lisa Lumley-Imerson

                                                 Elizabeth Varley, Daniel Wheatley, Simon Whitehead

Purpose:

• To ensure compliance with National Curriculum Programmes of Study.
• To consider the design and implementation of the curriculum to meet the needs of all students.
• To consider the effective deployment of staff to support a rich and varied curriculum.
• To review Schemes of Work and to ensure that they provide challenge and deeper learning opportunities for all students.
• To consider the links between different aspects of the curriculum and the sequencing of learning to support rapid progress.
• To promote cross-curricular learning opportunities and opportunities for curriculum enrichment.
• To promote the integration of cross-curricular themes within curriculum planning.
• To support the design of the curriculum and learning opportunities that help students to progress to chosen further and higher education opportunities and employment.
• To ensure that parents have access to curriculum information through the website and can use this to track their child’s progress.
• To oversee the Options Process and to ensure that students are able to make informed decisions about the curriculum they wish to follow.
• To support the Head of the Sixth Form in developing and articulating a vision for the development of post-16 education.

Impact:

• Governors fully appreciate the value and currency of the curriculum offered at King James both in terms of strategic planning and the way in which this impacts on classroom learning.
• Governors are able to contribute to the design of the curriculum in order to meet the principles set out in the Academy Intent Statement.