The purpose of a governing body is to help provide the best possible education for pupils. Governors meet regularly with the Head teacher and staff to decide the school’s aims and policies, and to oversee the efficient running of the school.

The governors work in partnership with the school and local authority.

The governing body has the following core strategic functions:

Establishing the strategic direction, by:

• setting the vision, values, and objectives for the school
• agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
• meeting statutory duties.

Ensuring accountability, by:

• appointing the headteacher
• monitoring progress towards targets
• performance managing the headteacher
• engaging with stakeholders
• contributing to school self-evaluation.

Ensuring financial probity, by:

• setting the budget
• monitoring spending against the budget
• ensuring value for money is obtained
• ensuring risks to the organisation are managed.

Meetings for academic year 2025-2026

Autumn Term:

Curriculum Committee:  Tuesday  23 September 2025

Resources Committee:  Tuesday 7 October 2025

Full Governors:  Tuesday 18 November 2025

SEC: Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Spring Term:

Curriculum Committee:  Tuesday 27 January 2026

Resources Committee:  Tuesday 24 February 2026

Full Governors:  Tuesday 10 March 2026

SEC: Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Summer Term:

Curriculum Committee:  Tuesday 5 May 2026

Resources Committee:  Tuesday 19 May 2026

Full Governors:  Tuesday 7 July 2026

SEC: Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Meet the Governors

Governors are volunteers and come from a range of backgrounds, bringing varied knowledge, skills and experience to the role.

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School Governing Body (as at 01/06/25)

Mr. Les Rippon (Foundation) – Joined the Governing Body in September 2022

Chair of the Governing Body, Child Protection and Looked After Governor

Mrs. Mary Ormsby (Foundation) – Re-joined the Governing Body in September 2025

Vice Chair of Governing Body 

Deacon Peter Mawtus (Foundation) – Re-joined the Governing Body in November 2024

RE Link Governor

Mrs. Bernadette Halsall (Foundation) - Re-joined the Governing Body in November 2024

Mrs. Angela Molyneux (LEA) – Re-joined the Governing Body on 15th July 2024

Chair of the Curriculum Committee, SEN Governor

Mr. Andrew Doyle (Parent) – Joined the Governing Body October 2023 

Mrs. Nicola Gray (Parent) – Joined the Governing Body October 2023

Mrs. Dawn McGrath (Staff) – Joined the Governing Body May 2004

Mrs Joanne Preston (staff) - Joined 4 December 2023

Ms. Naomi Savoury (Clerk to Governors) – Joined March 2023

Father G Timney (Foundation) - Joined the Governing Body February 2025

Committees:

Curriculum Committee Membership:

Mrs. A. Molyneux (Chair), Deacon Peter Mawtus, Mrs B. Halsall, Mr. L. Rippon, Mr. A. Doyle, Mrs. D. McGrath, Mrs J Preston

Resources Committee Membership:

Mr L. Rippon (Chair) Mrs. A. Molyneux,

Deacon Peter Mawtus, Mrs. N. Gray, Mrs J Preston, Ms P Wright (observer)

Standards and Effectiveness Committee Membership:

Mr L. Rippon (Chair), Mrs. M. Ormsby (Vice Chair) Mrs. A. Molyneux,

Deacon Peter Mawtus, Mrs J Preston, Mr M Purcell (LCC School Advisor)

nb. from the beginning of academic year 2024-25 these committees be re-modelled as:

• Curriculum
• Resources
• Standards and Effectiveness

Statements of business interests and salary declaration.

At the start of each school year, members of the Governing Body sign a declaration of business interests to avoid any future conflict of interest. 

The Governing Body declare that no employees receive a salary exceeding £100k.