Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Message from the Governors

We are delighted to welcome you to our website which we hope provides the necessary information to parents and visitors about how our school is run and the aims and expectations we set ourselves.

St Mary’s values its reputation as a warm and friendly school. With a strong Catholic ethos, it serves as a witness to the Catholic faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and it is from this foundation that the success of our school is built.  Our school’s Mission Statement emphasises the value that is placed on the uniqueness of individual pupils, who are encouraged to develop and celebrate their talents and spirituality in order to achieve their full potential as children of God.

Under the outstanding leadership of Mrs Brown, our staff are conscientious and hard-working and ensure that all the children are valued.  In our school, we seek to achieve amongst our pupils academic excellence whilst also promoting their emotional, social and spiritual well-being. If you choose to visit our school you will see and hear pupils eager to learn and willing to express their ideas creatively.

The Governors are very committed to supporting Mrs Brown, staff and children, in setting and maintaining very high standards, and in the constant pursuit of improvement. Governors serve on a number of committees and, in addition, have particular areas of responsibility with links to individual classes. Linking up with a class allows us the fantastic opportunity to see directly how the children enjoy their learning at St Mary’s, and also enables us to feel very much a part of the St Mary’s family.  The 3 main committees at St Mary’s are Finance, Resources and Staffing, School Effectiveness and Admissions. All governors give their time freely and details of who we are can be seen below.

We are incredibly proud of St Mary’s school and all its achievements. We do hope our website answers many if not all of your questions, but Mrs Brown and the Governing Body are always happy to respond to any concerns or queries you may have.

Governors Vision

At St. Mary’s School we believe in a broad, balanced curriculum to develop each child to their full potential, on their journey to becoming happy and confident individuals. We want children to gain a love of learning in a safe, welcoming environment in partnership with our Teachers, parish, parents and carers with Our Core Values of Jesus Christ central to everything we do.

St. Mary’s Governing Board

The full Governing Board meets five times a year. Each member of the governing Board is also a member of one or more of our committees and may also have a specific area of responsibility. We have committees all of which give feedback to the full governing body:

• Resources: To deal with all matters delegated by the Governing Board regarding, Finance, the school premises and Health and Safety. To deal with matters arising regarding staffing, personnel and pay. Please see the Terms of Reference.
• School effectiveness: To deal with all matters delegated by the Governing Board regarding; Standards in school and Curriculum.
• Admissions: To deal with all matters related to school admissions.

Voting rights

Mr J Bourke – Can vote in sub committees but not in full GBM
 

These committees meet at least once each term. St. Mary’s Governing Board consists of:

• Local Authority Governors:  Appointed by the LA
• Parent Governors:  Parents are elected by other parents at school
• Foundation Governors:  Governors are appointed by the Diocese. These governors represent the views of the Bishop.
• Staff Governors:  Elected by the school staff.
• The Headteacher is also a governor.
• Associate Governors:  Associate members do not form part of the constitution of the governing board of governors. They are additional people who bring useful skills to an aspect of the work of the governing body.

The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.

The Chair of Governors is Mrs Alison Stones who can be contacted via the school office.

The main Roles of the Governing Board

• Ensuring clarity of the Catholic vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Link to statutory guidance- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/constitution-of-governing-bodies-of-maintained-schools

As a Catholic Voluntary Aided School we also have responsibility for maintaining the Catholic character of our school and ensuring that all our children have the opportunity to know, love and serve almighty God, and develop their full spiritual, moral, academic and physical potential in a caring atmosphere reflecting the true spirit of Christ’s love and compassion.

Governors

Alison Stones - Chair

• Foundation governor
• Term of office from 22 Sep 2025 to 21 Sep 2029
• First appointed on 1 Feb 2014
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: None
• Committee: Headteacher's Performance Management, Pupil Disciplinary Appeals, Resources, School Effectiveness, Staff grievance, discipline and dismissal 
• Subject Governor : English, Phonics and Science

Suzanne Brown

• Appointed : October 2024
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed: Headteacher
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: None
• Committee: Resources, School Effectiveness

Shelley Kinman

• Staff governor
• Term of office from 1 Sep 2024 to 31 Aug 2028
• First appointed on 1 Sep 2024
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: None
• Committee: School Effectiveness 

Peter Farley

• Foundation governor
• Term of office from 8 Mar 2023 to 7 Mar 2027
• First appointed on 8 Mar 2019
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: None
• Committee: Resources, Staff grievance, discipline and dismissal appeal
• Subject Governor: Religious Education

Hannah Barnett 

• Parent governor
• Term of office from 26 Nov 2024 to 25 Nov 2028
• First appointed on 26 Nov 2024
• Appointed by Election
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: one child attends the school
• Committee: Resources

Robert Jordan

• Foundation governor
• Term of office from 13 Feb 2026 to 12 Feb 2030
• First appointed on 13 Feb 2026
• Appointed by Diocese
• Committee: School Effectiveness

Nicola Walsh 

• Parent governor
• Term of office from 11 May 2026 to 10 May 2030
• First appointed on 11 May 2026
• Appointed by Election
• Committee: School Effectiveness

Fr Ernest Attah

• Foundation Ex-Officio
• First appointed on 10 Mar 2023

Carly Foulds

• Observer

Historical Members

Joe Bourke 

• Associate Member

• Term of office from 20 Nov 2021 - 19 Nov 2025

• First appointed on 19 November 2013
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: None
• Committee: Admissions, Resources, Staff grievance, Headteacher's Performance Management and discipline and dismissal 
• Subject Governor : History and Geography

Shelley Hennessey

• Appointed : January 2022
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed: Vice Chair
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: one child attends the school
• Committee: School Effectiveness
• Subject Governor : Mathematics, Computing and Safeguarding

Charles Magee

• Appointed : September 2023
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed: Foundation Governor
• Business, pecuniary or personal interests: None
• Committee: School Effectiveness