Governance
Welcome to Southbrook School, Exeter. We are a Local Authority Maintained Special School that welcomes pupils from this vast county! The focus of the governors has always been to direct the school’s strategies, promoting the best possible standards and outcomes for all needs of each student, and to ensure resources are used to maximum impact.
Within the framework of our Terms of Reference and the Board Membership, governors work as a team with the students, parents, staff and community. As we develop together and share skills and knowledge, we strive to create a curriculum and extra curriculum that provides confidence to flourish.
We are constantly striving to improve our own skills to strengthen the leadership of the school in order to fulfil the aims and obligations. We continue to monitor the work of the school with support and challenge. We want to know about behaviour, safety of pupils, expenditure and value for money. This is part of our current and ongoing cycle of work.
Should you wish to correspond with the governors; please contact Jacqueline Brooks, the Clerk to Governors: jbrooks@southbrook.devon.sch.uk
Southbrook School, Bishop Westhall Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 6JB
Full Governing Board Membership
full governing board membership 24 25 may 2025.pdf
Scheme of Delegation
The Board operates a Lead Governor governance structure. Lead Governors report directly to the full Governing Board and have delegated responsibility for defined areas of work and policy review, as detailed in the Terms of Reference. Governors follow the Board's Annual Cycle of Work and have responsibility for monitoring the School Development Plan (SDP).
The Board currently has Lead Governors for the following areas - terms of reference can be viewed by clicking on each link:
Curriculum: English, Maths, PSHE
Health & Safety, Premises and GDPR
Committees
Please click on the links to view the terms of reference for committees detailed below.
Governors are also appointed to the Performance and Pay Committee and the Headteacher Appraisal, which both meet three times a year.
There are two further Committees for hearings and appeals which only meet if there is a need for them to do so. These committees are convened to consider any formal proceedings such as a staff disciplinary issue or the permanent exclusion of a pupil. These committees are formed from a pool of governors depending on availability.
Governors also sit on the SENtient Joint Panels Committee. The aim of this Committee is to share good practice and jointly discharge the governing boards functions for hearing staff grievances, parental complaints and pupil discipline issues.
Instrument of Governance
Annual Governance Statement 2023-2024
annual governance statement march 2024.pdf
Governing Board Diversity Data
The Governing Board undertook a diversity data evaluation in Summer 2024, but is not publishing the information as due to the small size of the Board, it would potentially be possible for individual governors to be identified. Governors are committed to making the Board as diverse as possible and to making the recruitment process for new governors welcoming and accessible. The outcomes from the evaluation are being used to inform recruitment planning.