About the Governing Body
All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community.
The Governing Body works in close partnership with the headteacher, staff and the local authority. Whilst the headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives. The governors are also responsible for Safeguarding.
The Full Governing Body meets three times each year. Much of the work of the Governing Body is done by committees which meet at least every term (three times in the year).
At St. James', we have the following committees:
Standards and Curriculum: Its main purpose is to discuss and monitor all aspects of the school’s work around pupil attainment and progress, and ensuring that the school’s curriculum is broad and balanced and meets statutory requirements; it has various ‘link governors’ for English, Maths and Early Years (although these may very depending on the priorities set out in the School Development Plan).
Finance and Resources: This committee’s main purpose is to ensure that the school spending remains within budget and that all funds are spent wisely to best meet the needs of the pupils. This committee also deals with all issues related to Health and Safety.
The Governing Body
The members of the Governing Body are as follows:
The headteacher Mrs Angela Blacoe sits on all committees and reports to the governors on Curriculum, Standards, Finance & Resources including Health and Safety.
| Name of Governor | Role | Date of appointment | Term of office | Voting rights | Committee/s | positions of responsibility/ subject links | Relationship between governors and staff members |
| James Killoran | Foundation governor (Chair) | September 2019 | 4 Years | Yes | Standards & Curriculum Headteacher's appraisal committee | History and Geography | None |
| James Cairns | LEA governor (Vice Chair) | September 2019 | 4 Years | Yes | Standards& Curriculum Headteacher's appraisal | Music PSHE & Enrichment CLA | None |
| Ryan Hughes | Foundation governor | April 2021 | 4 years | Yes | Finance and Resources | Maths Science | None |
| Deacon Anthony Callaghan | Foundation governor | September 2018 | 4 years | Yes | Finance & Resources headteacher's appraisal | RE Collective Worship | None |
| Leanne Fletcher | Foundation governor | April 2021 | 4 Years | Yes | Standards & Curriculum Pay committee | Computing Safeguarding lead | None |
| Andrew Holden | Elected parent governor | September 2020 | 4 Years | Yes | Standards & Curriculum | PE MFL | None |
| Sarah MCVeigh | Elected parent governor | September 2020 | 4 years | Yes | Standards & Curriculum | EYFS | None |
| Jennifer Curry | Foundation governor | September 2019 | 4 years | Yes | Finance & resources Pay Committee Reconciliation of school fund | Art & Design technology | None |
| Fi Clague | Clerk to the governors | September 2018 | | N/A | All committees plus minutes | N/A | None |
| Sam Wohler | Elected staff governor | September 2020 | 4 years | Yes | Finance & Resources | PSHE SEN Pupil Premium | None |
| Dr, David Allan | Associate governor | April 2021 | 4 years | Yes | Finance & Resources | English | Spouse of Higher level teaching assistant |
"The governing body is regularly involved in the life of the school; it is supportive and challenges you appropriately."
OFSTED 2017
St James’ Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary Aided school and its Governing Body consists of both appointed and elected governors.
Foundation Governors
Foundation governors at the school represent the interests of the Diocese of Liverpool who are trustees of the school. The role of the foundation governor is to ensure that the school is clearly recognisable as Christian in its ethos and that its role is seen in the provision for Catholic children of the Diocese.
Parent Governors
Parents of pupils registered at the school are eligible to stand for election as a parent governor. They are elected by other parents at the school. The school has one elected parent governor.
Staff Governors
The Headteacher is automatically eligible to be a full member of the Governing Body by virtue of the office. Headteachers have the choice of being a governor. Both teaching and support staff who are paid to work at the school are eligible to stand as staff governors. They are elected by other members of the staff at the school. The school has two staff governors.
Local Authority Governors
Local Authority governors are appointed by the Local Authority of Lancashire. There is one Local Authority governor at St James’ Catholic Primary School.
Associate Members
Associate members are able to attend meetings of the Governing Body at St James’ Catholic Primary School. Their presence provides valuable expertise in a variety of areas. Associate members, however, do not have the right to vote at meetings. At The moment there are no associate members of the Governing Body at St James’.
Do Parent Governors have Special Responsibilities?
No. Parent Governors do not have ‘extra’ duties. All governors are equally responsible and discharge their responsibilities as a body, not individually. The Parent Governors speak as parents: they can’t speak for all parents.
Are there any restrictions which could disqualify parents from becoming Parent Governors?
Yes, but they are unlikely to apply to most parents considering becoming a parent governor. The restrictions are contained in the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003, Schedule 6 and subsequent amendment Regulations. A copy of these is available from school. Parents putting themselves forward for election will be required to sign a statement form and return it with a nomination form when an election occurs. If any of the restrictions apply you should not proceed with your nomination as a governor. Also, you are disqualified from election or appointment as a parent governor if you are an elected member of the local authority (or if you are paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours in any twelve month period commencing on 1 August and finishing on 31 July).
How are Parent Governors Elected?
Parent Governors must be people (aged at least 18) who have a child(ren) at the school when they are elected. Nomination forms are available from the school. Each form must be signed by the candidate. Candidates can also make a short statement about themselves – a maximum of 50 words will be allowed and this will be rigidly applied. A simple form for this purpose will be provided with nomination forms.
If more nominations are received than there are places to fill, there will be a secret ballot and the Headteacher will send to each parent, ballot forms (1 per parent) and envelopes for their return. The form explains how votes may be cast.
If the number of nominations received is the same as the number of places to be filled, then those people will be declared elected. If there are fewer, those nominated will be declared elected and it will be for the governing body to fill any remaining vacancy by appointing a parent governor.
The rules for the election are written down in Procedures set by the Local Authority, and these can be inspected at the school.
Correspondence for the Governors may be addressed to the Clerk to the Governing Body at the school.
All members of the Governing Body at St James’ have no Business Interests to declare.
