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Address : Farm Field Court,
Northampton,
NN3 8AQ
Phone : 01604 493384

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Thorplands Primary School is part of Northampton Primary Academy Trust. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees who delegate some of their functions for the school to an Academy Improvement Board (AIB). The AIB provides focussed governance for the school at a local level and works alongside the school leadership team to provide support, challenge and strategic direction. NPAT aims for an AIB to be in place for approximately two years during a period of rapid improvement after which time it will transition to a local governing body with representation from parents and staff.

The AIB is responsible for:

  • Supporting, monitoring and challenging senior leaders in relation to its educational and financial performance
  • Agreeing the school improvement plan and monitoring progress
  • Monitoring the risks to the school
  • Ensuring statutory policies are in place and being adhered to
  • Having regard to the voices of the school’s stakeholders, especially of pupils, parents and staff.

For more information about governance in Northampton Primary Academy Trust, including the Scheme of Delegation that sets out what functions are delegated, the Local Governing Body Terms of Reference that gives more information about the work of the local governing body and the Governance Code of Conduct that all governors sign up to, please see the NPAT Governance Webpage.

Who the School’s Governors Are

The Academy Improvement Board is made up of the Headteacher and six governors appointed by the Trust. These governors are usually experienced professionals from across the Trust and some independent people.

For more information about who the current governors are is available from the school’s page on Get Information About Schools.

There are currently no vacancies on the Academy Improvement Board.

Governor Monitoring

The AIB monitors in detail areas such as finance, health & safety, safeguarding, inclusion and the curriculum. They also ensure that legally required policies and documents are held and are available for staff, pupils, governors, parents and carers, and any visitors to school when and where relevant. The AIB receives a report from the Headteacher once a term which keeps them up to date with pupil’s academic achievements, staffing, attendance, special projects, school life in general and other legally required reports. They support and challenge the Headteacher and make crucial decisions about the school in meetings.

Governors triangulate information they receive about the school by visiting the school to undertake monitoring visits and to talk to pupils and staff. Governors with monitoring roles in a specific area meet with leaders responsible for that area in school and discuss plans and progress with them.

Contacting a School Governor

Should you wish to contact a Governor please telephone the school or email the Governance Professional to the AIB and your enquiry will be passed on to the relevant Governor.

The Chair of Governors is Sally Perkins. The Chair can be contacted via the school office or by writing c/o Northampton Primary Academy Trust, Headlands Primary School, Bushland Road, NN3 2NS.

The Governance Professional to the LGB is Rebecca Howell.  The Governance Professional can be contact via her email address  

Attendance at Local Governing Body meetings

The Local Governing Body keeps track of all governors who attend or are absent from meetings. It is important for the development of the board that governor absence from meetings is kept to a minimum.

Business and Pecuniary Interests of Governors

Governors are not allowed to be involved in decision making relating to the purchases by the school of goods and services from themselves, their relatives or any organisation in which they or those close to them have significant interest.  A declaration of interest is updated annually by all governors to declare such interests. If interests change, this is updated.

At every governance meeting, governors declare as to whether they have any pecuniary interests related to the items on agenda.

Minutes of Local Governing Body meetings

To view a copy of the minutes of the LGB, please contact the Governance Professional to the LGB, who will be able to provide you with an electronic or paper copy of the minutes.

Becoming a School Governor

School governors do not have to be experts in education and almost everyone has something they can contribute. Training about the role of governors is provided. Parent governors are very valuable as they have experience of the school and they can help us to keep in touch with what parents are thinking. We are particularly looking for candidates that can bring specialist skills to the governing body, such as in Finance, IT, Law, Marketing or HR. We also strive to have a governing body that is representative of the pupils at our school and their parents/carers, so those from diverse backgrounds, with protected characteristics and people under the age of 40 are encouraged to apply.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor or would like to find out more, please email the Governance Professional to the LGB via the email address above.

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About Us

Thorplands Primary School joined the Northamption Primary Academies Trust on June 1st 2018. We work closely with NPAT to ensure continued high standards of values, behaviour and encourage everyone to go beyond the expected.

Contact Us

Headteacher: Sam Mawer
Thorplands Primary School and Nursery
Farm Field Court
Thorplands
Northampton
NN3 8AQ

Tel: 01604 493384

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