TreeHouse School Governing Body

Since April 2008 TreeHouse has been a Non Maintained Special School. This is a type of special school run by a charity rather than a Local Authority, which can receive certain types of Government funding.  When we were an independent school we did not have to have a Governing Body but now it is a legal requirement.  The Governing Body is separate from but over-lapping with the Board of Trustees in that two Governors are also Trustees and the Trustees receive reports from the Governing Body.  By law we do everything that a Governing Body does in a Local Authority School except manage the budget and the premises although we are given the opportunity to comment and advise on both by Trustees and the Executive.

Our Articles of Government allow for membership of the Governing Body from stakeholders and the wider community:  at least two Trustees; at least two elected parent Governors; three elected staff Governors, one to be a qualified teacher and one to be an ABA professional; one Local Authority Governor (currently vacant); the Head of School and the Executive Headteacher, the Chief Executive, one Community Governor appointed by TreeHouse, one Sponsor Governor appointed by TreeHouse from amongst those helping the School, financially or in kind, one Associate Governor appointed by TreeHouse from amongst those who would like to contribute to the School their expertise in particular areas.

The full Governing Body meets six times in the year as do its two sub committees: Curriculum, Assessment and Pupil Progress Committee and the Pupil Welfare Committee but Governors are also actively involved in many aspects of school life and completely committed to the success of the school and to ensuring the best possible provision for our pupils. At our annual Away Day we meet to agree our direction and focus for the following year. We hope to provide support as well as challenge in meeting the school’s aims and we do this through our work with the staff producing and evaluating key documentation and practice as well as keeping an eye on pupil progress.  At TreeHouse Governors carry out their monitoring responsibilities in equal partnership with school staff by evaluating progress towards the five Every Child Matters outcomes.

TreeHouse School Governors