St Mary’s Catholic Primary School 
 
School Governors – 2023- 2024
Welcome to the section of the website where you can find out more about the school’s governors, and the work that we do. Our main role is to support the Headteacher and the staff – the phrase often used to describe this role is ‘a critical friend’. We help them to set and reach targets and to strive for excellence across the whole spectrum of school life.
 
The two key documents used for this are the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and the Self Evaluation Form (SEF). The SIP sets out a three-year strategic plan for the school, with targets that everyone works towards and the SEF sets out how well the school is doing and where we aim to make improvements.
 
Our legal duties include:-
· setting strategic direction, policies and objectives
· approving the school budget
· reviewing progress against the school's budget and objectives
· appointing, challenging and supporting the Headteacher
 
The Full Governing Body meet once every term. We have sub-committees to look at specific areas (such as pay, performance management, buildings development and curriculum). A small group, that includes the head teacher and the school business manager, meets twice a term to keep an eye on school finances between our full governor meetings. All governors are informed about what happens at these finance meetings.
 
There are several categories of a governor, appointed by different groups that have an interest in the school. These are the Local Authority (“LA”), Parents, Foundation and Staff. All governors have equal status, however, they are appointed.
 
We are committed to providing an excellent environment for all pupils to enjoy during their time at our school.
 
Officers to the Governing Body 
Mrs Carmen Tweed - Chair, Local Authority Governor and Building Fund Manager 

Patrick O'Gorman – Vice Chair, Foundation Governor

Fr Matthew King - Foundation Governor

Mrs Anne Berger - Foundation Governor

Vacancy - Foundation Governor

Mrs Kathleen Jones - Foundation Governor

Charlotte Pugh  – Foundation Governor

Mrs Nicky Wood - Parent Governor

Alex Cartwright - Parent Governor

Mrs Lauren O'Connor– Headteacher

Mrs Debra Scarsbrook – Staff Governor

In attendance at meetings:
Mrs Bridget Dean – Local Authority Clerk

Resource Committee
Mrs Carmen Tweed
Mrs Lauren O'Connor

Mr Patrick O'Gorman

Vacancy

Curriculum Committee
Mrs Carmen Tweed

Mrs Debra Scarsbrook

Fr Matthew King

Mrs Anne Berger
Mrs Lauren O'Connor
 
Pay Committee

Mrs Anne Berger

Mrs Kathleen Jones

Mrs Carmen Tweed
Mrs Lauren O'Connor

RE Self- Review Group (not solely for Foundation Governors)

Mrs Clare Fox (Staff and Parishioner)

Mrs Alison Ternan (RE Manager/Deputy Headteacher)

Fr Matthew King

Mrs Anne Berger

Headteacher’s Performance Review Panel

Vacancy

Vacancy

Our Governing Body meetings are usually held in the evening. We attend training sessions and seminars to help us keep up to date with changes in schools and education and to help us do our job effectively. We also go to the school to monitor and meet with the Pupils, Teachers and Headteacher, to help us find out how the school is progressing towards its targets.