Meet the Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section.

The Governing Body is made up of parent, staff, local authority and community representatives. The Governors' role is not about fundraising, neither it is about cheerleading for the school - though Governors might do both those things. School Governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the Headteacher and are involved in the appointment of other staff. It is Governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is Governors who work with the Headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

Each individual Governor is a member of the Governing Body, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual Governors may not act independently of the rest of the Governing Body. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the Governing Body.

 

The role of the Governing Body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the Headteacher (a critical friend)

 

Our Values and Ethos

 

• To promote Christ at the centre of our school
• To support the children in the development of their personal relationship with God
• To ensure that each child has the opportunity to explore education safely and be able to reach their full potential
• To continue to develop an inspirational centre of Catholic life-long learning as part of the wider community

 

Our Vision

 

• The Catholic mission will be actively understood by all stakeholders

• Safeguarding responsibilities will be identified and monitored regularly
• A secure and knowledgeable staff and Governing Body
• All pupils will make the expected progress each academic year and meet the national floor standards in Reading, Writing and Mathematics as a minimum
• A broad curriculum will equip the pupils to embark on their journey as responsible members of the community

 

 

The Constitution of our Governing Body provides for six categories of Governor.

 

• Foundation Governor – who is appointed by the Archbishop of Birmingham (or any other person exercising Ordinary jurisdiction on his behalf) through the Director of Education of the Diocesan Education Service

• The Headteacher – this is an ex officio appointment to the Governing Body

• Parent Governor – appointed, ordinarily, following election by a ballot of the parents of children registered at the school.

• Staff Governor – appointed following election by a ballot of those staff who are employed by either the Governing Body or the Local Authority under a contract of employment providing for those persons to work at the school

• Local Authority Governor – who is nominated by the Local Authority and is appointed as a Governor by the Governing Body

• Co-Opted Governor – appointed by the Governing Body

 

The term of office for each Governor is 4 years. The specific start and end dates for individual Governors is detailed in their profile below.

 

In order to maintain full transparency, Governors must declare any interests they have in the following categories:

• relevant business interests (where there could be an actual or perceived clash of interests with their role as a Governor)

• details of any other educational establishments they govern

• any relationships between them and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives

 

Any interest declared by an individual Governor is noted in their profile below.

 

 

Fr Brian McGinley – Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor serving as Chair on the Admissions and the Remuneration and Catholic Life committees and is a member of the Pastoral Care committee.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 01/09/16 to 31/08/20

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs Gill Gittins - Headteacher

Member of the Admissions, Finance & Personnel, Standards & Achievements, E-Safety, Catholic Life and Pastoral Care committees.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 11/04/16 onwards

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs Ruth Bader

Co-Opted Governor and member of the Standards & Achievements, E-Safety and Pastoral Care committees.

Serves also as the Safeguarding Governor and Science curriculum area Governor.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 21/09/15 to 20/09/19

 

 

 

Mr Peter Battle

Foundation Governor who is Chair of the Finance & Personnel committee.

Serves also as the Maths curriculum area Governor.

Class Governor to Year 3.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 04/08/14 to 03/08/18

 

 

 

Mr Michael Cairns

Local Authority Governor and member of the Admissions and the Finance & Personnel committees.

Serves also as the Health & Safety Governor.

Class Governor to Year 6.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 01/10/16 to 30/09/20

 

 

 

 

Mrs Jennifer Cooper

Staff Governor and member of the Standards & Achievements, Catholic Life and Pastoral Care committees.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 23/09/16 to 22/09/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foundation Governor serving on the Standards & Achievements committee.

Serves also as PE curriculum area Governor.

Class Governor to Year 5.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 22/10/17 to 21/10/21

 

 

Mrs Mairead Hayes – Vice Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor serving on the Standards & Achievements, Remuneration and Pastoral Care committees.

Serves also as the SEND Governor.

Class Governor to Reception.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 22/10/17 to 21/10/21

 

 

 

 

Mrs Ann-Marie Lockley

Foundation Governor serving on the Finance & Personnel and Remuneration committees.

Declaration of Governor interests: Employed by Liberata Ltd, a provider of payroll and Human Resources to St George's.

Term of office: 16/06/16 to 15/06/20

 

 

 

 

 

Mr David Palfreyman

Foundation Governor serving on the E-Safety, Catholic Life and Pastoral Care committees.

Serves also as RE curriculum area Governor.

Declaration of Governor interests: Husband of Mrs Palfreyman, Assistant Headteacher at St George's.

Class Governor to Year 4.

Term of office: 21/04/15 to 20/04/19

 

 

 

Mrs Margaret Powell

Parent Governor who is Chair of the Pastoral Care committee and serves on E-Safety committee.

Serves also as the English curriculum area Governor.

Class Governor to Year 2.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 01/09/16 to 31/08/20

 

 

 

Mrs Catherine Power

Foundation Governor who is Chair of the Standards & Achievements committee. Serves also as Assessment Governor.

Class Governor to Year 1.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 15/06/16 to 14/06/20

 

 

 

Mr Peter Sheeran

Foundation Governor serving on the Finance and Personnel committee

Serves also as the Arts curriculum area Governor and Pupil Premium and Attendance Governor.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 05/01/18 to 04/01/22

 

 

 

 

There is currently a vacancy for a Foundation Governor following the retirement of Mrs Marie Westwood.

 

Associate Member

Mr Ian Raine

Appointed by the Governing Body and serves on the Standards & Achievements committee and assists Mr Cairns with Health and Safety.

Mr. Raine has no Governing Body voting rights due to his Associate Member status.

Declaration of Governor interests: None

Term of office: 01/09/16 to 31/08/20

 

 

 

 

The Clerk to Governors is Mrs Kerry Aingel.

 

 

Recent former Governors

 

Mrs Maria Westwood

Former Foundation Governor who served on the Finance and Personnel committee.

Declared Governor interests: None

Term of office: 16/09/14 to 31/08/2017