ST PETER’S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

& SIXTH FORM CENTRE

 

BEST VALUE STATEMENT

 

Introduction and Aims

The Governing Body is accountable for the way in which the school’s resources are allocated to meet the objectives set out in the school's development plans. Governors and staff are committed to secure the best possible educational and social outcomes for students, in the most efficient and effective way, at a reasonable cost. This will lead to continuous improvement in the school's achievements and services.

 

What Is Best Value?

Governors will apply the four principles of best value:

·       Challenge - Is the school’s performance high enough? Why and how is a service provided? Do we still need it? Can it be delivered differently? What do parents want?

·       Compare - How does the school’s student performance and financial performance compare with other Gloucestershire schools? How does it compare with similar schools nationally?

·       Consult - How does the school seek the views of stakeholders about the services the school provides?

·       Compete - How does the school secure efficient and effective services? Are services of appropriate quality, economic value?

 

The Governors’ Approach

 

The Governors and staff will apply the principles of best value when making decisions about:

·       the allocation of resources to best promote the aims and values of the school.

·       the targeting of resources to best improve standards and the quality of provision.

·       the use of resources to best support the various educational needs of all students.

 

Governors, and staff, will:

·       Regularly review the cost effectiveness of the curriculum provision throughout the school, staffing decisions, school environment and facilities, provision of financial resources and the overall financial management of the school.

·       Monitor outcomes, compare curriculum and performance and make comparisons with other / similar schools using data provided by the Local Authority and the Government.

·       Consult an appropriate range of stakeholders as a regular step in decision making at whole school and curricular level.

·       Ensure that competitive tendering is used; require suppliers to compete on grounds of cost, and quality/suitability of products and services.

 

 

This will apply in particular to:

·       staffing

·       use of premises

·       use of resources

·       quality of teaching

·       quality of learning

·       purchasing

·       students’ welfare

·       health and safety.

 

Governors and staff:

·       will not invest time and resources to make minor savings in costs nor on investigating minor areas where few improvements can be achieved

 

The pursuit of minor improvements or savings is not cost effective if the administration involves substantial time or costs. Time wasted on minor improvements or savings can also distract management from more important or valuable areas.

 

Staffing

Governors and staff will deploy staff to provide best value in terms of quality of teaching, quality of learning, adult-student ratio, and curriculum management.

 

Use of Premises

Governors and staff will consider the allocation and use of teaching areas, support areas and communal areas, to provide the best environment for teaching & learning, for support services, and for communal access to central resources, e.g. the library.

 

Use of Resources

Governors and staff will deploy equipment, materials and services to provide students and staff with resources which support quality of teaching and learning.

 

Teaching

Governors and staff will review the quality of curriculum provision and quality of teaching, to provide parents and students with:

·       a curriculum which meets the requirements of students

·       teaching which builds on previous learning and has high expectations of student’s achievement.

 

Learning

Governors and staff will review the quality of student’s learning, by cohort, class and group, to provide teaching which enables students to achieve individual and whole school targets.

 

Purchasing

Governors and staff will develop procedures for assessing need, and obtaining goods and services which provide “best value” in terms of suitability, efficiency, time, and cost. Measures already in place include:

·       competitive tendering procedures (for goods and services above £5,000)

·       procedures for accepting “best value” quotes, which are not necessarily the cheapest (e.g. suitability for purpose, whole life costs and quality of workmanship)

·       procedures which minimise office time by the purchase of goods or services under £1000 direct from known, reliable suppliers (e.g. stationery, small equipment).

 

Students’ Welfare

Governors and staff will review the quality of the school environment and the school ethos, in order to provide a supportive environment conducive to learning and recreation.

 

Health & Safety

Governors and staff will review the quality of the school environment and equipment, carrying out risk assessments where appropriate, in order to provide a safe working environment for students, staff and visitors.

 

Monitoring Evaluation and Review

 

These areas will be monitored and evaluated for best value by:

1.    In-house monitoring by the Headteacher, senior management team and heads of department , e.g. classroom practice, work sampling

2.    Target setting meetings between line managers and heads of department

3.    Annual Performance Management

4.    Annual Budget Planning

5.    Financial reviews

6.    Analysis and benchmarking of whole school and individual pupil performance data results

7.    Ofsted Inspection reports

8.    Governors’ Annual Finance Review

9.    Governors’ Meetings

 

 

 

 

Reviewed July 2011

 

Date for next review July 2013