Who are School Governors and what role do they play in a school?

School Governors are drawn from different parts of the community and can be parents and staff or from the LA, the community and other groups. This helps ensure the governing body has sufficient diversity of views and experience, but does not mean governors of a particular category represent that group on the governing body.

• Parent Governors are drawn from parents and carers of children at the school and are selected by election.
• Staff Governors are selected by election from teaching and support staff paid to work at the school.
• The Headteacher is always invited to join the governing body by reason of their role in the school.
• Foundation governors are appointed by the Bishop, through the Parish Priest and must be a practising Catholic in the Diocese of Lancaster.

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have a vital role in raising school standards and driving forward improvements. The role of the Governing Board is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school. In a catholic school the Governing Board are the employers

The Governing Board appoints a Chair and Vice-Chair annually and allocates its responsibilities across various committees.

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we have the following committees:

Resources (Chair – Mr George Andrew Pennington )

Quality of Education (Chair - Mrs Emma McGrath )

Performance Management and Pay

Pupil Admissions

Grievance

Pay Appeals

Staff Attendance/ Disputes/Dismissal

Appeals

Our Chair of Governors is Mrs Emma McGrath

Our Vice Chair is Mrs Katherine Higham

Each individual Governor is a member of a Governing Board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the Governing Board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the Governing Board

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The role of the Governing Board 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)

Please view the latest Governor List to see how our Governing Body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
We also hold a Register of Governor Interests which is updated annually.

If you wish to contact any of our governors you can write to them care of the school office or email

admin@sjps.lancs.sch.uk