Holy Trinity Primary School

14 June 2022

Dear parents and Carers

Proposal to change the length of the school day

I am writing to inform you of some proposed changes to the structure of the school day here at Holy Trinity Primary School. They are:

School starting times

EYFS and key stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) to start at 8.45 am (currently 8.50 am)

Key stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) to start at 8.50 am (currently 8.50 am)

School finishing times

EYFS and keys stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) to finish at 3.15 pm (currently 3:15 pm)

Key stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) to finish at 3.20 pm (currently 3.25 pm)

Should the changes be approved, they will come into force from 5 September 2022.

We believe that these changes will be beneficial to the school community and will have a positive effect on your child’s education, bringing the Key Stage 1 and EYFS day more in line with the Key Stage 2 day; helping with internal school arrangements and cutting down on the time parents spend waiting for children who are across both Key Stages. It also brings the whole school in line with the government expectation that all children should spend 32.5 hours per week in school.

I appreciate that these changes may affect you, in terms of childcare or working arrangements, and in terms of your child’s education. For this reason, I would like to invite you to give your feedback by sending your responses to admin@holytrinitycofe.calderdale.sch.uk by 1 July 2022.

We will release the results of the consultation by 9 July on the school website and email.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Chapman

Headteacher

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Latest Letter

14 June 2022

Dear Parents / Carers

ELECTION OF PARENT GOVERNOR

There is an exciting opportunity to join the school’s Governing Board as a Parent Governor. Any parent or carer (an individual exercising parental responsibility) of a child on the register of the school may stand as a candidate by completing the enclosed nomination form and returning it to the Clerk to Governors, at the school, by the date shown below.

Governors play a very important role in supporting the school and in making decisions about the service provided to your children. For example, they are responsible for:

· Helping to establish the strategic aims and targets of the school;	· helping understand how the standards of education can be improved;
· helping to decide how to spend the school’s budget;	· selecting the Headteacher and holding them to account for the performance of the school;
· overseeing the appointment, promotion, support and discipline of staff;	· linking the local community with the school, and supporting the religious character of the school in accordance with the objects of trust;
· drawing up an action plan after an OFSTED inspection and monitoring how it is put into practice; and	· reviewing and monitoring the policies at the school.

All of these tasks are shared between members of the Governing Board.

Benefits of being a governor include:

Gaining experience at board level strategic planning
Developing skills in strategic finance and leadership
Contributing to the school and local community

To be a Parent Governor you should have:

A strong commitment to the role and to improving outcomes for children
Good inter-personal skills, curiosity, and a willingness to learn and develop new skills
The specific skills required to ensure the governing board delivers effective governance

The governing board is keen for candidates to have skills in the following:

Financial management & audit knowledge
Understanding of education performance data
Curriculum improvement

The expectations of governors include:

Attendance at meetings at Full Governing Board meeting (approx. 6 x per school year, in the evenings)
Maintaining confidentiality
Committing to development of knowledge regarding governance, and attending training sessions each year
Visiting the school in relation to assigned link areas and preparing a report for the board

It is essential that parents and carers be fully represented on the governing body, and that Parent Governors are in a position to commit the time necessary to play their part in ensuring that governance is effective.

In addition to being able to provide a parent’s perspective to the work of the governing body, it would be very beneficial if candidates were able to contribute specific professional skills and experience relevant to overseeing the effective operation of an organisation.

You do not need to be an “expert” in education and you will receive support from other governors. Training is offered to help you understand your role and responsibilities. While participation is not compulsory, it will be difficult to play an effective part in the Governing Board if you are not able to commit the necessary time to participate in training.

The term of office for Parent Governors is four years but you may resign at any time. Even if your child leaves the school you will be able to complete your term of office if you wish.

If you wish to know more before deciding whether to nominate yourself, please contact me at clerk@holytrinitycofe.calderdale.sch.uk and I can answer any questions you may have.

Please use the attached nomination form which should be returned no later than:

3.00pm on Friday 1 July 2022

Return a signed copy:

By email at clerk@holytrinitycofe.calderdale.sch.uk
By mail to ‘Attention Clerk to Governors, Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Savile Park Rd, Halifax HX1 2ES’
Or your child can hand your application form in direct to the School Reception

If we receive more than one nomination, then it will be necessary to hold an election by ballot so that all of our parents and carers have the opportunity to choose who will represent them on the governing body.

Yours sincerely

Eve Ransom

Clerk to Governing Board

PLEASE NOTE: You will be asked to complete a disclosure form about your eligibility to become a school governor as part of the school’s Child Protection procedures.

PARENT GOVERNOR NOMINATION FORM

Candidate name:
Candidate address:
Name of pupil at the school
Candidate statement:	In this section, outline: · The skills and experience you have that the governing board requires · Your commitment to undertaking training to acquire or develop the skills needed to be an effective governor · If applicable, details of your contribution to the work of the governing board during your previous term of office · How you plan to contribute to the future work of the board (Please use overleaf if required)