St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Our Dedicated Governing Body

As a Voluntary Aided school, St Mary's Catholic Primary School has a committed governing body that plays a vital role in supporting the school's vision and values. Our governors are a dedicated group of volunteers who meet six times each year to provide strategic leadership and ensure the school is run effectively.

The governing body is chaired by Joyce Monaghan, whose contact details can be obtained from the school office. Our governors come from a range of backgrounds, but they are all united in their genuine commitment to the school and its community. Guided by the principles of the Catholic Church and the Gospel values of love, respect, and inclusion, our governors work tirelessly to uphold the school's mission and ensure the best possible outcomes for our pupils.

Roles and Responsibilities

The governing body is responsible for a wide range of duties, all carried out with a commitment to upholding the Catholic character and mission of our school. These responsibilities include:

• Setting the school’s strategic direction and policies, ensuring they reflect Gospel values and the teachings of the Catholic Church

• Monitoring the school’s performance and holding the leadership team accountable, with a focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, and the formation of the whole child

• Ensuring the school’s finances are managed responsibly, so that resources are used wisely to support learning, inclusion, and the Catholic life of the school

• Overseeing safeguarding and well-being practices, ensuring that every child is nurtured in a safe, respectful, and faith-filled environment

• Supporting the professional development of staff, encouraging growth in both educational practice and understanding of Catholic education

• Representing the views of parents and the local community, fostering strong partnerships between home, school, parish, and wider society

The governing body works in close collaboration with the Headteacher, staff, and parish to ensure that Christ remains at the heart of all we do, and that our school continues to be a place of welcome, prayer, learning, and love.

Joining the Governing Body

We are always on the lookout for passionate and dedicated individuals who share our vision and values to join our governing body. If you are interested in becoming a governor, please contact the school office for more information.

At St Mary's Catholic Primary School, we are proud to have a governing body that is deeply committed to our school's ethos and the well-being of our pupils. Together, we strive to create a nurturing, inclusive environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

Governors

Joyce Monaghan. Chair of Governors

Father Michael Hartley. Parish Priest

Sarah Rushton. Teacher Governor

Sue Maguire. Foundation Governor. 

Amanda Welsh. Foundation Governor and Vice Chair.

Jayne Taylor. Parent Governor.

Tina Knight. Local Authority Governor

Governors’ Impact Statement 2025

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

“The newly restructured governing body is working very effectively to challenge and support the school leaders. Governors systematically check the effectiveness of the school’s work.”

Our Core Purpose

The primary concern of the governing body is to ensure that all pupils at St Mary’s make appropriate progress in their education and personal development. We recognise that this can only be achieved through a well-led, professionally competent, enthusiastic, and motivated staff team working together within a safe, nurturing, and distinctly Catholic environment.

As governors, we are committed to maintaining and promoting the Catholic identity of our school. We ensure that Christ remains at the centre of all decision-making and that Gospel values underpin every aspect of school life—from curriculum design to pastoral care.

Accountability & Evaluation

To fulfil our responsibilities, governors continually evaluate the impact of their work and publish relevant information to stakeholders. This statement forms part of that reflective and transparent process.

Governors work closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to contribute to and monitor the School Improvement Plan (SIP). The SIP is informed by school data, self-evaluation, and Ofsted priorities, and sets out clear aims, key tasks, and success criteria. It is reviewed termly, with progress reported to governors alongside the Headteacher’s report.

Catholic Life & Ethos

Our Foundation Governors play a vital role in safeguarding the Catholic character of the school. They ensure that all members of the community are welcomed, respected, and treated with dignity. Their work helps ensure that our school remains a place of prayer, worship, and spiritual formation.

Father Michael visits weekly to support pupils and staff, and recently conducted lesson observations and pupil voice activities in Religious Education. Governors regularly attend school events such as Masses, Harvest Festival, the Summer Fair, and Christmas celebrations, ensuring visibility and accessibility to pupils, staff, and parents.

RE inspectors validated our Catholic ethos, noting that St Mary’s:

• Has a strong value system rooted in Gospel values, with Christ at the centre

• Fosters positive relationships among learners, staff, and families

• Is committed to the formation of the whole child

• Places worship and prayer at the heart of school life

• Promotes social responsibility and prepares pupils to make a difference in society

Monitoring & Support

Governors conduct regular visits to monitor the SIP and specific areas of school life. Link governors follow a structured cycle of activities including lesson observations, data scrutiny, and policy reviews. These visits have led to impactful developments in areas such as:

• Special Educational Needs

• Safeguarding and compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education

• Effective interventions in Reading, Writing, and Maths

• Monitoring progress of pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium funding

Governors receive ongoing training to strengthen their effectiveness, including sessions on Safer Recruitment, PREVENT, Extremism, and Evaluating Impact. This enables us to ask informed questions and hold leaders to account.

Finance & Resources

Governors work with the LA Finance Team and the School Business Manager to ensure sound financial management. We have achieved the Schools Financial Value Standard accreditation and have overseen the strategic use of Sports Premium funding to enhance teaching and learning in PE.

Recruitment & Staffing

Two governors and the Headteacher are trained in Safer Recruitment. Governors are involved in all teaching appointments, ensuring that new staff share our Catholic mission and values. Newly qualified teachers are well supported, and governors monitor their development to ensure they quickly become effective practitioners.

Governance & Commitment

There are six formal governor meetings each academic year, with consistently strong attendance. Absences are rare and always explained and approved. Governors demonstrate high levels of commitment and engagement.

Looking Ahead

The governing body and leadership team are united in their ambition to continually improve and develop the school. Key priorities for the coming year include:

• Sustained progress and attainment across all pupil groups, including vulnerable learners

• Embedding the new RE curriculum and maintaining the Catholic Ethos of our school. 

• Increasing pupil numbers

Register of Business Interests