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 2024-2025

Autumn Term:

Curriculum Committee:  Tuesday  24 September 2024

Resources Committee:  Tuesday 15 October 2024

Full Governors:  Tuesday 26 November 2024

SEC: Tuesday, 3 December 2024

Spring Term:

Curriculum Committee:  Tuesday 21 January 2025

Resources Committee:  Tuesday 11 February 2025 

Full Governors:  Tuesday 11 March 2025

SEC: Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Summer Term:

Curriculum Committee:  Tuesday 6 May 2025

Resources Committee:  Tuesday 20 May 2025

Full Governors:  Tuesday 8 July 2025

SEC: Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Meet the Governors

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School Governing Body (as at 18/10/24)

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 2021

Vice Chair of Governing Body 

Deacon Peter Mawtus (Foundation) – Joined the Governing Body in November 2024

RE Link Governor

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

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

Chair of the Curriculum Committee, SEN Governor

Mrs. Liz Smallwood (Foundation) – Joined the Governing Body in June 2017

Chair of the Resources Committee. Educational Visits 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 on 13th May 2004

Mrs Joanne Preston (staff) - Joined 4 December 2023

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

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:

Mrs. L. Smallwood (Chair), Mr L. Rippon (Vice 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.