Governance
The Governors at St Edmund's and St Thomas' Catholic Primary School are the strategic leaders of the school and they have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. The school's governing body operates a fully delegated budget under the local education authority's scheme for the local management of schools. It is also responsible for the management and delivery of the national curriculum and for improving and maintaining the quality of teaching and learning in the school.
The Governors work closely in partnership with the headteacher, staff, pupils, and parents. Our Governors share a common belief that children should receive an education of the best possible quality. The role of a Governor within our Local Governing Body (LGB) is an important one - for the most part, it is made up of individuals drawn from our community, both as elected and appointed members.
Those serving on the LGB are accountable to the Pope Francis Catholic MAT Directors and the Archbishop, and must ensure that, at all times, they act in good faith and in the best interests of the school and the Trust, exercising care and skill, and with particular regard to local knowledge and experience.
Staff Governors are teachers or other employees of the school who are elected into office by their colleagues. Parent Governors are elected onto the Governing Body by parents of pupils currently attending St Edmund's and St Thomas' Catholic Primary School. Our Foundation Governors are appointed by Archbishop to represent and sustain their interests and priorities.
The specific functions of our LBG are laid out in the Scheme of Delegation, linked below; their responsibilities are:
- To ensure high standards of achievement for all pupils by supporting our Catholic vision and aims, in harmony with the Trust’s mission and strategic direction.
- Both support and challenge leaders on the educational performance of our school and its pupils, and their well-being and safety.
- Support SLT generally and with specific emphasis on target setting, pupil monitoring and analysing progress data to inform curriculum & budgeting priorities.
- Monitor the school budget ensuring prudence, probity & efficiency.
- Support SLT with staffing structure, recruitment and performance management.
- Responsible for staff welfare and well-being, support SLT in monitoring absence.
- Promote collaboration with all schools, ensure school is meeting community need.
- Develop and review delegated school policies (e.g. admissions, behaviour).
- Provide a point of contact for parents and other members of the community.
- Evaluate performance ensuring appropriate development, skills and behaviour.
Our Governors
| Chair of Governors |
Ms. Carmel Howard
|
| Vice Chair of Governors |
Mrs Anna Sweeney
|
| Foundation Governors |
Fr. Dominic Curran Mrs Margaret Kerbey Ms Carmel Howard Mrs Catherine Fitzsimons Mrs Anna Sweeney Mrs Anne Magennis Mr Ben Dolan
|
| Parent Governors |
Mr Nick Ayton Mr Simon Green
|
| Staff Governor |
Mrs. Elizabeth Devey
|
| LA Governors |
Cllr Paul Cummins
|
| Associate Members |
Ms Alison Pritchard Fr Dominic Curran
|
| Headteacher |
Mr Kieran Loftus
|
The governing body meets at least once a term to consider the headteacher's report, finance, local and national issues, and any other matters relating to the running of the school. Committees also meet once a term to review school standards and the curriculum and finances and resources. Governors Committees: Finance, Curriculum, Staffing, Admissions, Pupil Discipline, Pay Committee, Personal Development and Wellbeing. The Governors have a special subject monitoring responsibilities. Please see file on Link Governor Roles below.
Our Chair of Governors for the Local Governing Body at St Edmund's and St Thomas' Catholic Primary School is Carmel Howard, she can be contacted by email, or by sending a letter to school, care of the office to pass on to her:
Address: St Edmunds & St Thomas' Primary School, Oxford Road, Waterloo, Merseyside, L22 8QF
Email: admin@sest.pfcmat.org
Clerk to Governors: Mrs Sandra Toner
If you would like to review copies of any of our governance minutes, or if you have any questions at all about governance at Our Lady of Walsingham, or Pope Francis CMAT, please email info@pfcmat.org and we will pass this on to our Governance Director to help you.
Governance Documents
Governor Register of Business Interests
Trust Board
Governance at our Trust is strong and balanced. It offers professional support and challenge so that leaders push themselves while maintaining a strong focus on results and quality. The Pope Francis CMAT website contains the Trust's financial information, Articles of Association, Memorandum of Understanding, Master Funding Agreement, as well as up to date information on the Trust board's attendance, meetings and membership:
Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference
St Edmund's and St Thomas' Funding Agreement
Each school in our Trust has its own Local Governing Body, which are a committee of the Trust Board of Directors, and these layers integrate into a wider system of governance as detailed below. Our layers of governance interact with each other to ensure a clear flow of communication and accountability for leaders. Our Chair of Governors forum is made up of the Chairs of LGBs, which meets termly and provides a clear link between the Directors Board and the LGBs:
Members
The Members of The Pope Francis Catholic MAT are equivalent to shareholders of a trading company. As the Trust is charitable, with no power to distribute profit to shareholders, they are best viewed as guardians of the constitution - changing the Articles if necessary and ensuring the charitable object is fulfilled.
The Archbishop, through the Diocesan Education Department, also exercises oversight and supervision as diocesan authority. All Trust Governors are required to observe directions issued by on on behalf of the Archbishop.
Directors
Decision making and accountability for Pope Francis CMAT rests with the Directors, who are Directors for charity law purposes and company directors registered with Companies House. They are personally responsible for the actions of the Trust and its Academies, accountable to the Members, Secretary of State for Education and the wider community for the quality of education and spending of public money.
The Directors have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of the quality, safety and good practice of the affairs of the Trust. They meet as a board and delegate aspects of governance and the day to day oversight of school leadership to Local Governing Bodies within each academy. Other committees established by the Board may by tasked with fulfilling particular functions or advising the Directors on strategic matters.
Governors Area
Use these buttons to login to your account with NGA or GovernorHub, click to view our governance dashboards, and book your training with Sefton Governor Services:
National Governance Association
Joining our Governance Team
If you are a skilled and experienced sector leader looking to volunteer as a member of the Local Governing Body (LGB) at St Edmund's and St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, or as a Director on our Trust Board, please get in touch by emailing: info@pfcmat.org.
Our Governing Body is an integral part of the strategic running of our school and core members of our leadership team. The Local Governing Body (LGBs) holds the Headteacher to account for what is delivered in the school, each LGB in the Trust has a strong level of responsibility for their school's progress and success through our Trust's governing principle of subsidiarity. Our Directors are then responsible for the strategic priorities of the Trust and our Members Board ensure compliance with charity and Company law requirements.
Our Governors attend half-termly face to face evening meetings as a full board, and are often also Link Governors in areas such as SEND, safeguarding or Community and Catholic life, with some additional meetings or panels as relevant over the year. Our governors have a strong sense of integrity and live out the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the Academy Trust Governance Code. They are committed members of our community who can have a significant impact on how well our school is run and what pupils and staff can achieve.
You can find out more about becoming a Local Governor, or Trust Director (Trustee) through the NGA, and in their introductory video below: