Our Governors

The Governors help us make our school the best it can be. They meet regularly to support the Leadership Team in the decision making process and to ask challenging questions about how well we are doing and how we can improve.

The Governor's Vision for our school incorporates our "Caring, curious, courageous" motto but expands this further.  The reason for this vision plan is so that we as a board can focus on what we expect to see from our staff, children, parents and other stakeholders of our school.  Here is our vision.

The Chair of Governors is Mrs Liz Maisey (e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and our Clerk to Governors is Mrs Christine Killey. Our Governors are caring, curious and courageous people who give up their time voluntarily to support the school and we are very grateful for the contribution they make. 

We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor. If you are interested in becoming a parent governor please read this letter and the nomination form.  Nomination forms must be returned to the school by 12 noon on Friday 8th January 2021.  

Governor News

Welcome back to St. Marys!  It has been six months since the school corridors and classrooms have echoed with the voices of our all children.  It has been a challenging and strange time for all of us.  I have sorely missed visiting to watch the plays, events and seeing the pupils enjoy their learning.  Having witnessed how diligently the hard-working staff of our school have applied the new protocols, and continue to do so, I am invigorated and encouraged that our children are in safe hands whilst on the premises. 

The Board of Governors, like the children, have had to learn new ways of meeting, using MSTeams for communication, to ensure the continued safety of all.  Rest assured we are still there keeping in close touch with your school through regular meetings, keeping abreast of whatever the Dept of Education may conjure up for our school in these unprecedented days, and of course we'll be supporting St Marys to the very best of our ability. 

The PTFA faces a big challenge this year, in the short term many of their fundraising events have been cancelled.  The marvellous work they do helps the school to acquire the best possible equipment and they are working tirelessly thinking up new ideas to raise much needed funds.  My heartfelt thanks go out to them for their invaluable contribution to our school which benefits all our children.  If you are able, I hope that you will support them as much as you can. 

I am sure you will agree with me that hopefully the year ahead will be a more settled one as we get used to the "new normal" and our children are able to flourish once again.

Liz Maisey (Chair of Governors)  

Governing Committees

The Full Governing Body is responsible for:

• Monitoring and challenging the progress of the school in achieving its priorities;
• Setting the strategic direction, vision and ethos of the school;
• Recruiting and performance managing the headteacher;
• Exercising employer responisibility;
• Ensuring the school meets its statutory responsibilities;
• Ensuring financial probity;
• Ensuring the premises are well managed;
• Reporting to the school's stakeholders.

We also have two sub-committees - the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Resources Committee:

The purpose of the Teaching & Learning Committee is to monitor and improve standards of pupil performance and the teaching of the national curriculum. The committee will support and advise and challenge the Headteacher and the Governing Body on the distinctiveness of St Mary's as a church school and on communication and engagement with parents and the community.  The committee will also ensure safeguarding meets statutory requirements.

The purpose of the Resources Committee is to ensure effective use of the school's financial resources, that the premises are fit for purpose and meet relevant health and safety requirements and to provide guidance to the Headteacher on personnel issues.

Our Governors

Each Governor has a specific curriculum responsibilty and a defined term of office.