Governance & Finance
The work of the Governing Body at our School is varied and challenging.
The guide below should help parents and carers, as well as the wider community, understand how Governors help support and challenge the Head teacher, leading to improving out comes for pupils.
I can be contacted through the school office if you would like to discuss any issues relating to our school. They will pass on my contact details.
Sarah Laverick
Chair of Governors,
Normanby Primary School,
Ironstone Academy Trust.
Governance at Normanby Primary School
- Governors work to “ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction” at our School
- The Head teacher was appointed by Governors as he represented the direction they wished school to travel in, meetings are open and Governors representing all sections of the school and community have opportunity to contribute to the schools development. Smaller working groups give Governors and staff the chance to develop their understanding of specific issues and work alongside our staff.
- Governors “contribute to the school’s self-evaluation and understand its strengths and weaknesses”.
- All Governors can attend the schools termly standards meeting where all pupil performance data is analysed, their feedback is used by Senior Leadership Team to revise the schools self-evaluation and plan future improvements.
- Governors “support and strengthen school leadership”.
- The HT has been supported in developing his leadership in the school and the wider school community ( as a National Leader of Education and an OfSTED Additional School Inspector), staffing decisions have allowed all teachers time to research teaching and develop their role in leadership in school and the wider educational community.
- Governors can “provide challenge and hold the headteacher and other senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching, pupils’ achievement and pupils’ behaviour and safety”.
- Governors have freedom to ask any questions of the Head teacher in full meetings, committee meetings have full access to reports and pupil data (eg RAISEonline) and training is made available to assist Governors understanding of the schools current position.
- Governors “use performance management systems, including the performance management of the HT, to improve teaching, leadership and management”.
- The use of an external advisor ensures that procedures for the Head teachers Performance Management are followed with due care, the Head reports to Governors on the Performance Management of all staff. The Senior Leadership Team have had training on current requirements for Teachers Performance Management and Pay Progression. The school has linked all Teachers, and Support Staff, targets to the School Improvement Plan.
- Governors “ensure solvency and probity and that the school’s financial resources are managed effectively”?
- The school complies with all guidance and returns all records to the appropriate bodies in a timely manner. The school employs a specialist advisory service to assist in budget planning and management.
- Do we “operate in such a way that statutory duties are met and priorities are approved”?
- Yes
- Do we “engage with key stakeholders”?
- Regular surveys of parents and carers indicate that the school is well led, but we are aware we can do more as Governors to support increased understanding of our role in the community.
- Do we “use the pupil premium and other resources to overcome barriers to learning including reading, writing and maths”?
- Data indicates that Normanby Primary School has had many successes in it’s skilful use of the Pupil Premium. Further details can be found on the Pupil Premium section of the website. Pupil Premium Page of the Website
- "Nothing within teaching gives me greater pleasure than when a child exceeds their targets - seeing the pride in their face and setting the next challenge with them is extremely fulfilling. Within school, I look after 'Normanby University' which provides children with the opportunity to extend their learning outside of the school day."
Mr Drage, Year 6
- "It's brilliant to see the children develop the confidence and skills needed for their next journey on to Secondary School."
Mrs Brallisford, Year 6 - If you asked me what makes me proud about working in Year Six, I would say - the satisfaction of seeing how much confidence they have by the time we reach SATs ; going on and seeing how much they enjoy our specially designed 'Island ' residential with them in Summer term and the end of year show where I get to pretend to be a director!"
Mrs Pentney, Year 6 - "Year Six is my second home! I enjoy the challenge of teaching our children in their last year of Primary School and making it their most memorable.
Mrs Pentney, Year 6 - "It's brilliant to see the children develop the confidence and skills needed for their next journey on to Secondary School."
Mrs Brallisford, Year 6 - "Working in Year 6 is a real privilege. I feel very lucky to be able to help the children leave Normanby Primary School having achieved their full potential and ready to start secondary school."
Mr Drage, Year 6
- “Learning about World War 2 was great. We found out what it was like to be an evacuee and even had a World War 2 Christmas party where we flipped the kipper and rolled the potato!”
Year 6 Pupil - “Our teachers get us ready for Secondary School”
Year 6 Pupil - “All the children take care of each other here. Words cannot describe how good this school is!”
Year 6 Pupil - “Normanby Primary School is great – we have the best teachers in the world. One of our fantastic P.E. coaches was even a professional footballer!"
Year 6 Pupil - “Year 6 is truly unique and fabulous – we use amazing technology like iPads to help us learn at home and in school”
Year 6 Pupil - “I got a sticker because I came in all by myself and that makes me happy!”
FS2 Pupil - “I always want to be here; we build bat caves and learn letters and sounds.”
FS2 Pupil - “I’m happy because I can play with my friends.”
FS2 Pupil - “It’s good because we have nice food and fresh water and some people in poor places don’t.”
FS2 Pupil - “I like it because it’s fun. We read a book and grow plants and flowers.”
FS2 Pupil - “I like my teachers; they play with me and learn me numbers.”
FS2 Pupil - “It’s the bestest place because we get to learn every day!”
FS2 Pupil - “I’ve got my teachers. They’re nice and help me to learn.”
FS2 Pupil - “You get to play every day… and build; I like building!”
FS2 Pupil - “We go to Rainbow Room to learn to read letters”
FS2 Pupil - “I love working with our children in FS2! Seeing them excited to learn and succeed at new challenges is an experience I feel lucky to be part of every single day!”
Mrs Musgrave, FS2 - “I enjoy having lots of fun with the children and staff in our Foundation Stage environment and visiting places like Build-a-Bear and Normanby. It’s fantastic to see how much the children grow in confidence and independence and are ready to start Y1”
Mrs May, FS2 - “FS2 is so much fun! It is wonderful to watch the children flourish as we go through the year”
Mrs Tyerman, FS2 - "At the fire station we got to sit in the fire engine and we learnt lots of things."
Emilia, Year 2 - "I liked going to Grangetown Fire Station and learning about keeping safe. It was funny watching the fireman go down the pole."
Oliver, Year 2 - "We learn about Pirates and how they stole ships. I made a pirate puppet too."
Ryan, Year 2 - "I like Year 2 because Barnaby Bear tells us lots of information from different countries. He even went to Jamaica with Mrs Armstrong!"
Harriet, Year 2 - "I have learnt that a 'ph' are really clever because they make a 'f' sound like in elephant."
Jack, Year 1 - "Learning loads of new sounds helps me to read lots of new words."
Amalie, Year 1 - "I love learning lots of facts about space, like Saturn has lots of rings"
Scarlet, Year 1 - "Teaching has the rewards of inspiring the children to become independent learners."
Mrs Allamby, Year 1 - "I love how every day is different and the children's continuing ability amazes. Truly rewarding."
Mrs Foden, Year 1 - "I love the interaction and watching their faces light up when you share ideas and experiences or just from reading a favourite story."
Mrs Miller, Year 1 - "The most rewarding aspect of teaching in year 2 is how much the children love to learn and seeing their amazing learning journey."
Mrs Willox, Year 2 - "I love the varied curriculum that brings learning to life!"
Mrs Rutter, Year 2 - "I love the challenge and excitement of Year 2. I enjoy inspiring the children and it’s so rewarding watching them make progress and achieve their best."
Mrs Armstrong, Year 2 - "I like to come to Nursery to be with all of my friends' "
Matilda, FS1 - "Our Nursery is good because we have lots of toys."
Jessica, FS1 - "I like Nursery because it helped me to learn to listen."
Sonny, FS1 - "Why do you enjoy coming to Nursery?"
'Playing on the computers is fun!'
Daniel, FS1 - "I like using innovative technology to engage and enhance the children's learning experiences and build resilience."
Miss Herlingshaw, Year 5 - "I like working with the upper key stage 2 team to develop the children's thirst for life-long learning in preparation for secondary school and beyond."
Mrs Greenmon, Year 5 - "I like promoting links with and developing the children's awareness of the local area through our ironstone mining topic."
Miss Alderson, Year 5 - "Music is unbelievable! Performing all over the UK, broadcasting on the radio, singing with a 60 piece orchestra are just a touch of what we do at Normanby! Music has helped me grow in confidence."
Lily Booth, Year 5 - "In Year 5, we have lots of opportunitie to participate in exciting sporting activities. I've enhance by biking expertise with 'Bikeability' by learning how to take my hands off the handle bars, signal traffic behind me without falling off and learning how to be more aware of the road around me."
Adam Harvey - Year 5 - "Y5 artwork is phenomenal because we got to use a range of different art materials and study lots of different artists."
Konnie, Year 5 - "Being a new pupil in Normanby is so cool, especially in Year 5 because we have awesome teachers and interesting research topics which make us want to learn even more!"
Harry, Year 5 - "In Year 5, we have lots of fun using our iPads like a second brain to help us learn."
Mille, Year 5. - "I have been practising my counting, I can count to 100 hundred and back without stopping."
Oliver, Year 1 - "In Year 4, I particularly enjoy teaching French and also using iPads and Chromebooks to teach Computing across the year group. The Year 4 show in the Spring term is always a highlight for staff and children."
Mrs D'Inverno, Year 4 - "I know when I write I have to use capital letters and read it to see if it makes sense, I have made a book so I am an author."
Andie, Year 1 - "I enjoy teaching in Year 4 because of the wide curriculum we get to cover. We research new areas such as The Anglo-Saxons and Rivers. I particularly enjoy teaching Maths and always look forward to the Year 4 Zenith residential to Osmotherly in the Summer term."
Mrs Gills, Year 4 - "In Year 4, this term we are performing an Easter show. I am so excited because the whole year group will be performing together. We are all really curious to find out what the show is going to be about!"
Eve, Year 4 - "All the children and staff have welcomed me into Year 3 after returning from my Maternity leave in January. It is lovely to be surrounded by smiley, hard-working children each day."
Mrs Wardill, Year 3 - "In Year 4, we have enjoyed Zenith outdoor education classes and can’t wait to go on our residential to Osmotherley where we will be staying overnight. We are excited about mountain biking, canoeing and abseiling down a waterfall! Last year, the children made bows and arrows and built dens. I am looking forward to learning new skills and trying things I haven’t done before."
Ella, Year 4 - "As I taught this cohort last year as Year 3's, I have found it very rewarding to see the progress the children have already made in Year 4. It has been very valuable as a team in terms of continuity and progression."
Mr Wood, Year 4 - "There’s a lot I like about Year 3.I liked the sleepover the most because of the movie and the food. I like doing PE with Mr Robinson. The teams are good, I am in orange house. I like everything in school."
Isaac, Year 3 - "I like going to some of the after school clubs in Year 3, I went to gym club and I have now been chosen for Normanby University. I made my own rainforest and called it ‘Parrot Paradise’ "
Ava, Year 3 - "It’s a privilege to work alongside children who want to learn and work to the best of their ability. They not only work hard, they have lots of fun too. This is great to witness."
Mrs Tye, Year 3 - "One of my favourite things we have done in Year 3 was our visit to Tesco to learn about ‘Farm to Fork’. We went into the bakery and saw bread buns being made. I also like Art, I made a Diva lamp."
Ratu, Year 3 - "I loved the sleepover in Year 3, I enjoyed the film ‘Night at the Museum’. I liked our rainforest work, I made my own rainforest."
Keller, Year 3
