Community Council

Governance of our school 

The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust is the governance body responsible for the school as a whole with the Board of Trustees accountable for decisions made. For more information on the Trust and how our governance structure works, please visit www.elliot foundation.co.uk (Trust Governance and Community Council documents) noting in particular the Scheme of Delegation and Accountability and Representation documents. The Trust Legal and Governance Director can also be emailed on jem.shuttleworth@elliotfoundation.co.uk 

Welcome and Introduction to our Community Council 

The Trust governance model recognises that Community Councils are, whilst a full and formal part of the governance structure in line with the Trust’s Articles of Association, wholly advisory bodies who focus on;

○ The ethos and values of the school

○ The ambition, appropriateness and effectiveness of the school’s curriculum for its children

○ The wellbeing of pupils, families and staff

Both George Betts and Shireland Hall primary academies are committed to ensuring that the gaps caused by disruptions of the past 18 months are eradicated. Quality first teaching is the key priority for the federation as it is through this fantastic inclusive practice that gaps are closed and children achieve well. The other main focus this year is the development of our wider curriculum offers. We have been working hard to plan a cohesive and progressive curriculum and give pupils opportunities to develop a love of learning further, through the arts, humanities, physical education, technologies and science. 

Community councillors are a much valued group of volunteers that play a crucial role in our school offering challenging but positive and proactive support to the Principal and Senior Leadership team on behalf of the children and community that the school serves. They know and celebrate the strengths of the community that the school serves alongside holding the highest aspirations and expectations for our pupils. 

Community councillors are appointed from current parents, staff and pupils alongside committed individuals from the wider community. Councillors have an interest in the education and wider opportunities offered by the school to all pupils and have some free time to give to supporting the school to be federation to be hubs of lifelong learning, opening doors for pupils whilst they are Happy, Healthy and Safe.  

If you are interested in finding out more about George Betts and Shireland Hall Community Council, please contact 

George Betts - gbenquiries@gbshp.org , Shireland Hall - shpenquiries@gbshp.org

Terms of Reference for the Community Council

2.1. Purpose 

● Within the Elliot Foundation a Community Council is a group of volunteers appointed by the Trust to offer challenging but positive and proactive support to the Principal and Senior Leadership on behalf of the children and community that the school serves. 

● They do this by knowing and celebrating the strengths of the community that the school serves alongside holding the highest aspirations and expectations for all children. 

● Community Councils are, whilst a full and formal part of the governance structure in line with the Trust’s Articles of Association, wholly advisory bodies focused on; 

- The ethos and values of the school 

- The ambition, appropriateness and effectiveness of the school’s curriculum for its children 

- The wellbeing of pupils, families and staff 

● Community Councils support the Trust to work as one entity, in the interests of all its schools equally. 

● Community Councils provide a mechanism for meaningful Trust Board engagement with a school, its parents and local community enabling trustees to understand stakeholder views, needs and listen to their feedback. Each Community Council must have at least x 2 councillors who are parents/carers. 

Role in broader school life 

● The intention on the part of the Trust is that Community Council members are recognised and supported to add significant value at a local level to a school /federation with local governance being meaningful, effective and enjoyable. 

● As such it is hoped that Community Council members will be able to actively contribute to the broader life of the school; be that through attendance at class and whole school events, supporting identified local initiatives and positively promoting the school amongst the wider community. 

● It is also hoped that the Chair of a Community Council will act as a sounding board for the Principal and by so doing provide support and proportionate challenge within the recognised role of critical friend. 

● Community Council members will be invited to join Principals in providing annual feedback to the Trust Board alongside participating themselves in an annual end of academic year Trust initiated review of their own effectiveness in supporting school improvement. 

Scheme of delegation: 

https://elliotfoundation.co.uk/resources/academy-trust-documents

Complaints Policy: 

https://elliotfoundation.co.uk/resources/complaints-policy