Impact statement 2026-2027

Overview

The Governing Body conducts its business in accordance with the three core roles of governance outlined in the Governance Handbook:

• Ensuring clarity of the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and ensuring that public money is well spent, with benchmarking and best value considered at all times.

The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team. Governors provide appropriate support and robust challenge across all areas of leadership and school improvement, ensuring that the progress, achievement, wellbeing and experiences of students remain at the centre of their work.

 

The composition of the governing body

The Governing Body is a strong and committed team of Governors who bring a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge to the Board.

 

During the year, Governors have left us due to outside working commitments and the Governing Body extends its sincere thanks to them for their commitment and service.

 

The Board also welcomes Amy Dennis and Louise Bowmaker as new Co-opted Governors, bringing a wealth of relevant experience.

 

The current constitution of the Governing Body is:

• 1 Headteacher.
• 1 Local Authority Governor.
• 2 Parent Governors, appointed by parents/carers of Pudsey Grammar.
• 7 Co-opted Governors, appointed by the Governing Body.
• 1 Staff Governor, elected by staff employed at Pudsey Grammar.
• 2 Foundation/Trust Governors, appointed by the Trust.

There are currently two vacancies on the Board: one Foundation Governor and one Local Authority Governor. The Governing Body is proactively seeking to appoint to these positions and ensure that the Board continues to have the appropriate balance of skills, experience and representation. 

Meetings and attendance

The Full Governing Board meets four times each year in school. Three sub-committees also meet three times each year, currently through online meetings. All meetings are clerked by a trained professional, ensuring that governance arrangements are properly recorded, and that actions and decisions are monitored.

 

To view the attendance at these meetings click

 

Governor attendance remains strong, despite the majority of Governors having significant professional and personal commitments. Where Governors are unable to attend, apologies are considered individually and in accordance with the Governing Body's expectations and Code of Conduct.

 

Governors understand the importance of regular attendance and active participation in meetings and recognise that effective governance depends upon Governors being sufficiently engaged and informed to provide appropriate challenge and support.

 

The work that governors do in our governing body and committees

Throughout 2025–2026, Governors have worked closely with school leaders to monitor the school's strategic priorities and progress against the School Improvement Plan. Regular reports from the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team have enabled Governors to scrutinise progress, ask challenging questions and contribute to discussions about the actions required to secure continued improvement.

 

The monitoring of the School Improvement Plan has been a key feature of Governing Body and committee meetings. Governors have sought evidence of impact rather than simply receiving assurances and have used information from different sources to test the effectiveness of school strategies.

 

A Staff survey has recently taken place, and Governors are waiting for the findings of this at a future meeting.

 

Financial Oversight

Governors have continued to monitor the school's financial position closely, particularly in the context of ongoing national funding pressures.

 

Regular meetings have taken place with the Director of Operations, with key information and recommendations reported to the Resources Committee and Full Governing Body. Governors have challenged and scrutinised expenditure, staffing proposals and financial priorities to ensure that resources are directed towards areas that have the greatest impact on students.

 

Safeguarding

This remains a fundamental priority for the Governing Body. The Safeguarding Governor meets regularly with the Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Headteacher to review safeguarding arrangements, Child Protection, SEMH provision and other relevant safeguarding matters. The Governor also oversees the school's Annual Safeguarding Return and monitors identified areas for development to ensure that actions are completed effectively.

 

The school was graded Outstanding in its recent safeguarding audit, providing external evidence of the effectiveness of the school's safeguarding arrangements.

 

The Safeguarding Governor also monitors safer recruitment procedures and undertakes appropriate spot checks to ensure that statutory requirements and school procedures are consistently followed.

 

Teaching, Learning and Outcomes

The quality of teaching and learning continues to be monitored through the Teaching and Learning Committee. Governors receive regular reports on teaching, learning, progress and outcomes and undertake visits to subject areas to gain first-hand evidence of practice.

 

Governors scrutinise student outcomes and seek to triangulate performance information with evidence obtained through school visits, student voice and reports from school leaders. This enables Governors to develop a well-informed understanding of the strengths and areas for development across the school.

 

The Teaching and Learning Committee also considers careers progression and equality issues, using student voice and other evidence to inform its discussions and recommendations.

 

Governors closely monitor the development of SEND provision. Regular updates have enabled Governors to understand the transformation taking place within the department, scrutinise the impact of new leadership and consider the effectiveness of new interventions.

 

Attendance and Suspensions 

This has remained a key area of focus for Governors.

 

The Student Support Committee has received regular reports on attendance and suspensions, enabling Governors to challenge leaders about trends, strategies and outcomes. New strategies have been introduced, and their impact has been monitored through committee discussions and Governor visits.

 

The relevant Link Governor has met with the member of the Senior Leadership Team responsible for this area and has provided additional oversight and challenge, helping to ensure that reported outcomes are supported by evidence from the school.

 

Pupil Premium

The progress, attendance and outcomes of Pupil Premium students have continued to be closely monitored by the Student Support Committee.

 

The Pupil Premium Link Governor meets regularly with the Senior Leadership Team lead to review progress towards closing identified gaps. Governors have challenged leaders regarding the effectiveness of interventions and the extent to which additional funding is having a positive impact.

 

Evidence during the year indicates that progress and attendance for Pupil Premium students have improved, demonstrating the positive impact of targeted strategies and interventions.

 

Governor Visits and Engagement with School

Governors have continued to make regular visits to school and support a range of school activities and events. These have included House events, the Careers Fair, Open Evenings, art and photographic events, and school productions.

 

Each Governor has been allocated a specific link role, providing a clear focus for their engagement with school. Following visits, Governors complete a visit proforma outlining their findings, observations and developing understanding of day-to-day school life.

 

Evidence gathered through Governor visits is then triangulated with information presented by school leaders at committee and Full Governing Body meetings. This provides Governors with a stronger evidence base on which to challenge and support leaders.

 

Governor engagement with the school has therefore continued to strengthen the Board's understanding of the experiences of students and staff and has helped ensure that governance is informed by first-hand evidence.

 

Student Voice

Student voice has continued to play an important role in the work of Governors. Governors have engaged with students to establish whether their experiences are consistent with the school's ethos, values and strategic priorities. Student voice has informed Governor understanding and scrutiny in a number of areas, including:

• Safeguarding.
• English.
• Mathematics.
• Science.
• Attendance.
• Suspensions.
• Pupil Premium.
• SEND.
• Equality and inclusion.

This direct engagement provides Governors with an important perspective that complements the information provided by school leaders and enables the Board to test whether school policies and strategies are having the intended impact on students.

 

Governor Training and Development

Governors have continued to access appropriate training and development opportunities throughout the year. Training has included updates on changes to national educational data, examination structures and other developments relevant to effective governance. The Governing Body recognises that effective governance requires Governors to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills. Governors are encouraged to undertake training relevant to their specific roles while also developing an overarching understanding of the school and the wider educational landscape.

 

Overall Impact of Governance

Throughout 2025–2026, Governors have continued to provide effective support and appropriate challenge to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team.

 

The Board has maintained a strong focus on student outcomes, teaching and learning, safeguarding, attendance, suspensions, SEND, Pupil Premium, financial management and equality. Governors have used a range of evidence, including leadership reports, performance data, committee discussions, school visits and student voice, to inform their decisions and challenge.

 

The impact of governance is demonstrated through the Board's continued ability to:

• Hold leaders to account for student outcomes and school improvement.
• Monitor the impact of strategies and interventions.
• Ensure safeguarding remains a high priority and that statutory responsibilities are met.
• Scrutinise the use of school resources and ensure financial decisions represent value for money.
• Maintain oversight of attendance, suspensions, SEND and disadvantaged students.
• Gain first-hand knowledge of the school through regular Governor visits and engagement.
• Listen to students and use their views to inform governance.
• Support leaders while maintaining an appropriate level of challenge.
• Continually evaluate and strengthen the effectiveness of the Governing Body.

The Governing Body remains committed to the school's ambitious vision and to ensuring that every student receives the best possible education and opportunities. Governors will continue to challenge themselves, school leaders and the organisation as a whole to secure sustained improvement and the best possible outcomes for all students.

 

The commitment, time and expertise given by Governors throughout the year have made a significant contribution to the school's continued development. The Governing Body looks forward to building on this work during the next academic year and maintaining its focus on support, challenge, accountability and continuous improvement.