Meeting of FGB on 23/03/2026

In summary the following agenda items were discussed in the Valley Federation full governing body meeting on March 23^rd, in Edale:

• Governance issues – Rose Potter was welcomed as a new governor and it was decided to trial having two Committee meetings a year rather than three, to reduce pressure on staff time
• The Valley Federation school Improvement focus continues to look at three main targets: improvement of attainment in phonics; making Edale even more effective as a church school and improving adaptive teaching. Edale is due two visits from Rebecca Timperley (school improvement officer) in the summer term and Hope will receive one visit.  Our headteacher reported a pleasing volume of staff continuing professional development activity, which will help support school targets.
• Edale has had a SIAMS (Church of England) school inspection in March. The governors thanked the headteacher and all her team who had put in such hard work towards the SIAMS inspection
• The Chair highlighted the Buildings and Finance committee having completed their benchmarking work, looking at DFE data on similar small schools and financial comparisons on expenditure. The headlines of these findings were reported and the Chair reflected that a clearer picture should emerge as this becomes a regular exercise and therefore a meaningful oversight.
• The governing body agreed they would undertake a review of the previous Federation Vision and Strategy (June 2023 to June 2026) and get to work on developing, with staff, a new vision and strategy, including clear attention to pupil and parent voices
• Governors expressed their gratitude for FOHES in providing a minibus to the Federation on a six-year lease. Amongst other things this could support a demand for wrap-around care (breakfast club and after school care) from Edale parents, offering transport to Hope, which has the space and the ability to better utilise staff to support this: The headteacher has now applied to LA for extra staffing costs to cover transport of children and safeguarding.
• New critical incident management plans were agreed for Hope and Edale Schools

Best wishes

John Payne

Chair of Governors