Governance at The Bluebell Federation

Swingate Primary School is a maintained school which operates under the Medway Local Authority.

Swingate Primary School is part of The Bluebell Federation.

The Bluebell Federation was formed in April 2022 and includes Burnt Oak Primary School, Horsted Infant School, Horsted Junior School and Swingate Primary School.  

The Full Governing Body of The Bluebell Federation meets six times a year. These meetings are preceded by separate School Governing Committee meetings which feed into the Full Governing Body meetings. 

Governors are members of the general public who have an interest in the education of children and are prepared to volunteer to work alongside the Executive Headteacher, the Headteacher and school staff to improve teaching and learning and the general educational experience for all the children across the federation.

Day to day management of the school is delegated to the Executive Headteacher and the Headteachers.

The constitution of the full governing body provides for 12 Governors made up of 2 parent governors, 1 local authority governor, 1 Executive Headteacher, 1 staff governor and 7 co-opted governors. All governors are required to register any business interests they may have to avoid any conflict of interests that may arise in meetings.

All governors are volunteers and terms of appointment are for 4 years. Vacancies may arise at any time and efforts are made to fill posts with people who have appropriate skills or experience to offer the school.

The Swingate Governing Committee

There is a Swingate Governing Committee that meets three times a year at Swingate Primary School and is chaired by Tara Baker.

This committee ensures the school offers a broad and balanced curriculum in accordance with the National Curriculum; receives performance data and timely reports of pupils' achievements and progress; provides strategic advice and guidance on personnel matters; ensures well-being of pupils and staff is being considered, reviews proposed building projects, looks at current and future staffing and receives reports on safeguarding and child protection.  Finance is also discussed during these meetings and monitors the budget; agrees priorities for revenue and capital funding; ensures the school maintains internal financial controls; has initial oversight of school premises and grounds; receives proposals for capital projects and ensures best practice in procurement and implementation of works and takes a lead responsibility for health and safety and mandatory requirements.  

Different types of Governors

Parent governors are elected by parents of children in The Bluebell Federation. 

Staff governors are elected by all teachers and support staff from The Bluebell Federation. 

Local authority governor - appointed by Medway LA

Co-opted governors - appointed by the Governing Body. Co-opted governors are usually made up of local people who have an interest in the local community. They can be chosen to reflect the diversity in the school and the local community. 

Please see below The Bluebell Federation Governors, their terms of office and the specific areas they are responsible for

The Bluebell Federation Full Governing Body

Swingate Governing Committee