Meet the Governors
School Governors
The Local Governing Body of St Thomas CE Primary School plays a crucial role in the life and work of our school. It is made up of 10 volunteers from the local and wider community, plus the Headteacher and two members of staff. The role of the Local Governing Body is defined in its constitution.
Our school is part of the Liverpool Diocesan School Trust (LDST), a multi academy trust led by Liverpool Diocese which, “welcomes young people of all faiths and none and is committed to providing each of them with a high quality education and environment where Christian values and principles permeate all that is done”. More information on LDST can be found on the school website and at : http://www.liverpool.anglican.org/Liverpool-Diocesan-Schools-Trust-Update
Governors undertake their roles and responsibilities through committees. There are six committees, they are:
• Full Local Governing Body which meets normally 4 times a year
• Curriculum and Standards
• Resources
• Safeguarding & SEN
• Distinctiveness/Ethos
• Pay and Performance
Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Notice - please note that due to the exceptional set of circumstances created by the pandemic, all considerations and business critical decisions will taken by a core group of Governors made up of the Chairs of the respective committees until further notice as all face to face Governor meetings have been suspended due to social distancing and current lockdown regulations
In addition, we have ‘lead governors’ who undertake specific monitoring roles in such areas as: Safeguarding, Special Educational Needs and Disability, Pupil Premium, Health and Safety, GDPR.
Governors also undertake ‘learning walks’ in which a group of governors will undertake a visit to school with a specific focus eg how the school assess pupils progress.
The main work of the Local Governing Body is outlined below:
- Acting as a critical friend to the school and being accountable for its decisions.
- Continuously developing the partnership with parents, carers and pupils and seeking their views to help the Governing Body, Senior Leadership Team and all staff in moving the school forward.
- Establishing the strategic direction of the school by ensuring there is clarity of vision, values and objectives.
- Agreeing the school improvement strategy with appropriate priorities and targets.
- Ensuring accountability by appointing and performance managing the Head Teacher.
- Monitoring the educational performance of the school and progress towards agreed targets.
- Contributing to the school’s self-evaluation.
- Overseeing financial performance by setting the budget, monitoring spending against the budget and ensuring money is well spent and value for money is obtained.
You can find out what we have been doing by looking across the school website which has further information on governing teams, roles, biographies info and links.
St Thomas’ CE Primary School Local Governing Body 2020/21
Headteacher: Mr Mark Ward
Chair: Mrs Jane Dunn
Vice-Chairs: Mrs Rachael Baker & Mr Sean Reck
Clerk to the Governors: Mr Steve Travis
Name |
Category |
Date Appointed |
Appointed by |
Term of |
Roles and Committees |
Mrs Emily Alty |
Associate |
13/03/2019 |
Local Governing Body |
N/A |
Deputy Headteacher |
Mrs Rachael Baker |
Foundation |
12/10/2018 |
Diocese |
4 Years |
Vice Chair of Governors Vice Chair of Distinctiveness/Ethos |
Mrs Joely Gibbons | Foundation | 11/03/20 | Diocese | 4 Years |
Safeguarding and SEND Resources |
Mrs Laura Ben-Ali (currently on maternity leave) |
Staff |
1/06/ 2017 |
Staff |
4 Years |
Curriculum & Standards |
Mrs Kate Rogers | Staff | 01/01/20 | Staff | 1 Year | Curriculum and Standards |
Mrs Holly Prince | Staff | 01/01/20 | Staff | 4 Years | School Business Manager |
Mrs Cheryl Danher |
Foundation |
1/10/2016 |
Diocese |
4 Years |
Distinctiveness/Ethos |
Mrs Jane Dunn |
Foundation |
1/03/2014 |
Diocese |
4 Years |
Chair of Governors Pay & Performance Curriculum & Standards Safeguarding & SEN |
Mrs S Ellis |
Parent |
17/10/2018 |
Parent Election |
4 Years |
Resources |
Mr Paul Gradden |
Foundation |
1/08/2015 |
Diocese |
4 Years |
Chair of Resources |
Mr Paul Illingworth |
Parent |
12/10/2018 |
Parent Election |
4 Years |
Resources Pay & Performance |
Mr S Reck |
Foundation |
13/3/2018 |
Diocese |
4 Years |
Vice Chair of Governors Chair of Curriculum & Standards Vice Chair of Pay & Performance Resources |
Mr Mark Ward |
Headteacher |
1/01/2016 |
Local Governing Body |
N/A |
Headteacher |
Mrs Debra Walker | Foundation | 27/07/2020 | Diocese | 4 Years | TBC |
Former Governors 2018/19
Name |
Category |
Date Appointed |
Appointed by |
Term of |
Stood Down |
Mrs Jean Cropper | Foundation | 1/09/17 | Diocese | 4 Years | 2020 |
Mrs Karen Pouton | Foundation | 1/03/16 | Diocese | 4 Years | 2020 |
Rev Paul Robinson | Foundation | 1/09/17 | Diocese | 4 Years | 2020 |
Committees
Safeguarding & SEN |
Resources |
Curriculum & Standards |
Distinctiveness & Ethos |
Pay & Performance |
|
Chair Mrs Jane Dunn |
Chair Mr Paul Gradden |
Chair Mr S Reck |
Chair Rachael Baker |
Chair Mrs Jane Dunn |
|
Mr Mark Ward |
Mr Mark Ward |
Mr Mark Ward |
Mr Mark Ward |
Mr Mark Ward |
|
Mrs J Gibbons |
Mr S Reck |
Mrs Laura Ben-Ali |
Mrs Cheryl Danher |
Mr S Reck |
|
|
Mrs Jane Dunn |
Mrs Kate Rogers |
Mr Paul Gradden |
||
|
Mrs S Ellis |
Mrs Jane Dunn |
Mrs Rachael Baker |
Mrs S Ellis |
|
|
Mr P Illingworth |
Mrs Cheryl Danher |
Mrs Rachel Cowen |
Mr P Illingworth |
|
|
Mrs J Gibbons |
Mrs E Alty |
|
||
|
Mrs H Prince |
Mrs Rachael Baker |
|
Mrs H Prince |
Register of Interests
Name of Governor |
Declared Interest |
Mrs Emily Alty |
No business interest declared |
Mrs Rachael Baker |
No business interest declared |
Mrs Laura Ben-Ali |
No business interest declared |
Mrs Cheryl Danher |
No business interest declared |
Mrs Jane Dunn |
No business interest declared |
Mrs Sarah Ellis |
No business interest declared |
Mrs J Gibbons | No business interest declared |
Mr Paul Gradden |
No business interest declared |
Mr Paul Illingworth |
No business interest declared |
Mr S Reck |
No business interest declared |
Mrs K Rogers | No business interest declared |
Mr Mark Ward |
No business interest declared |
Please note: Any declaration of personal interests between Governors and staff of St Thomas’ CE Primary School are made to the Chair of Governors and Headteacher.
Record of Attendance 2019/20*
Name |
Scheduled |
Meetings Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Mrs E Alty |
8 |
6 |
2 |
|
Mrs R Baker |
6 |
6 |
|
|
Mrs L Ben-Ali |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Mrs J Cropper (left 4.12.19) |
2 |
|
2 |
|
Mrs C Danher |
4 |
2 |
2 |
|
Mrs J Dunn |
10 |
9 |
1 |
|
Mrs S Ellis |
7 |
6 |
|
1 |
Mrs J Gibbons | 1 | 1 | ||
Mr P Gradden |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Mr P Illingworth |
7 |
6 |
1 |
|
Mrs K Pouton (left 9.3.20) |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
Mr S Reck |
10 |
8 |
2 |
|
Rev P Robinson (left 9.12.19) |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Mrs K Rogers | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
Mr M Ward |
10 |
10 |
|
|








