School Governors

The Structure and Responsibilities of the Governing Body

All schools have a Governing Body, which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school.

The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main these responsibilities relate to:

• Setting targets and promoting high standards of education
• Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
• Being part of the schools senior leadership team and to be strategic in their thinking e.g monitoring the progress of all groups of children, evaluating the impact of the school’s curriculum and promoting good teaching and learning.
• Acting as a ‘critical friend’. A ‘critical friend’ offers support, constructive advice, a sounding board for ideas, a second opinion on proposals and help where needed. However a ‘critical friend’ may also challenge, ask questions, seek information, improve proposals and so arrive at the best solution for the pupils, staff and whole school community.
• Making decisions on the school’s budget and staffing;
• Being accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community;
• Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based
• Ensuring that Health and Safety and Safeguarding policy and procedures are followed and embedded.
• Approval of all school policies;
• Making sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special educational needs.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the Archdiocese and the Local Authority. Whilst the headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved, for example with such things as staffing, curriculum, health and safety, safe guarding, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives. The Governing Body works as a team with shared responsibilities. Governors never make decisions on their own, nor do they act as individuals.

Our Governors are representatives of the local parish community, parents, school staff and the Local Authority. They bring a range of interests, knowledge and skills to the school and they all work in a voluntary capacity and as you will see in this section of the website there are various types of Governors. 

• Governors give their service voluntarily and no formal qualifications are necessary although there are eligibility criteria.
• Governors are ordinary people, aged over 18, with a special commitment to the education and well-being of children.
• Terms of office will be a minimum of one to a maximum of four years.

Membership

The school’s governing body comprises of 11 Governors:

• 6 Foundation governors
• 2 parent governors;
• 2 staff governors – the Headteacher, plus one teacher staff governor elected by their colleagues;
• 1 LA governor, appointed by the council and governing body

Foundation Governors are appointed through the Archdiocese.  Parent Governors are appointed by Parent Governor Election through the school as and when a vacancy arises.  LEA Governors are appointed through the Local Authority via a Panel and recommendation.  Staff Governors are appointed via staff election at the school.

Our School Governing Body

School Governing Body

Chairperson: Mr M Burke - Chair of all committees/Data Protection Officer

Vice Chair: Kevin Crooks

Headteacher: Mrs L Burgess

Foundation Governors: Mr Kerr
Mr Bielby
Deacon K Taylor
Mr Crooks

Elected Parent Governors 

Mrs G Oakdene
Ms E Hampson - Link Governor for Safeguarding

LA Governor - Mr Gary Anders

Elected Staff Governor Mrs Rogan

Clerk to the Governors - Governor Services

Please contact Clerk for further enquiries regarding contact or vacancies of the Governing Body.

The next Full Governing Body Meeting provisional date is July 2026.

Governors complete a declaration of interest at each Governing Body meeting of which there are 6 per academic year.  There are no business or financial interests noted or governance roles in other schools.

*wef 23rd March 2020 Governors adopted a Terms of Reference for a single FGB meeting 6 times per year.

Governing Body 2025/2026