Staff and Governors

 

Click this link to view staff year groups and subject leader roles: subject leader roles

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

 

 

Governors’ Statement –January, 2025

St Peter’s, being a Catholic School in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, is dedicated to providing the best education possible for all the children in school, rooted in the teachings and gospel values of the Catholic Church.

 

The three central functions of governing boards are:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent. (DfE)

 

As in all schools, the first priority for the Governing Board is to ensure that our pupils achieve the best they are capable of and make the best possible progress, in a nurturing learning environment, where each child is valued and all families are welcomed.

Governor Training

All governors are required to maintain and improve their knowledge and understanding of the standards and working of the school and the wider issues affecting education in England. Training courses and regular updates are provided by the Diocese of Shrewsbury and by Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust, both in person and online. Our governors regularly access these opportunities.

Clerking

We pay for the services of a professional clerk from One Education. Mr Ali Hussain became our clerk in the Spring of 2024 and is a source of advice, information and clarification – as well as producing clear and accurate minutes.

Listed here are examples of the activities, processes and systems that contribute to the effective leadership and monitoring of ongoing school improvement.

School Development Plan (SDP)

The School Development Plan is presented for approval by the Headteacher, at the second Local Governing Board meeting in October. The Governing Board receives updates from the Headteacher on the progress of its implementation at the subsequent termly meetings.

Standards and Safeguarding

The Standards and Safeguarding Committee meets termly. This committee scrutinises progress data for each class in school and receives reports from the Headteacher and from time to time, other staff, on curricular progress, attainment and developments. 

Assessment data is presented and explained so that governors are able to establish and maintain a firm grasp of the standards and progress achieved on a class-by-class basis by children throughout the school, giving an opportunity to governors to question and challenge the school’s leaders on the impact of their work and to compare the school’s outcomes against all other and similar schools in Tameside and nationally.

On planned cycles, this committee also receives pastoral and attendance reports and reviews and updates policies.

Financial Management & Monitoring

The governing body meets termly, at the LGB meeting for Strategic Planning, Finance and Resources,  to review the impact of financial planning and to scrutinize and plan the allocation of resources for the current and future years. This includes budget costs of materials, of the physical environment of the school, of running costs and staffing costs and salaries.

The link governor for Finance (Mr Lowe) meets with Mrs Murray, the School Business Manager, ahead of this meeting to scrutinize the school’s financial position.

The governing body statement of behaviour principles

The overriding principle for the governing body is that good behaviour in school is essential to ensure that all pupils can benefit from the opportunities provided by education. The Governing Body believes that high standards of behaviour must underpin every aspect of this school’s work. They know that good behaviour enables all pupils to benefit from a high quality of education without interruption or disruption. Good behaviour ensures that all pupils thrive, make good progress and enjoy school.

To promote excellent standards of behaviour the governing body has put into place a behaviour policy that sets the expectation for the behaviour of all in school.

The behaviour policy is based on the following principles:

• All pupils and staff have the right to feel and be safe in school.
• Mutual respect will be the basis for all behaviour and relationships.
• The statutory rights of groups that have been established in the Equality Act 2010 will be upheld at all times. Any discriminatory behaviour will be managed according to the principles of our school behaviour policy.
• Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.
• Tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths and cultures and lifestyles will underpin the good behaviour that is expected of all.
• Parents and carers will be encouraged to support the school’s behaviour policy.
• The expected standards of behaviour will be shared with and explained to all pupils.
• The behaviour policy will be consistently applied by all staff and regularly monitored for its effectiveness.
• Good behaviour will be commended and rewarded, and sanctions will be applied where behaviour falls below the expected standard.
• Good behaviour will underpin the ethos of this school, making it a happy and safe place which pupils and staff enjoy attending.

 

Our school behaviour policy is supported by other policies which have also been put into place to ensure that good behaviour is established in all aspects of the school’s life and work. Specifically, these are our policies on: Anti-Bullying, Child Protection and Safeguarding, Computing – Acceptable Use, E-Safety, Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing, Suspensions and Exclusions and SEND. The governing body delegates the implementation of the behaviour policy to the headteacher and staff and it fully supports them as they apply the principles of that policy in the day to day running of the school. The governing body will review this statement of principles annually, and when they find it necessary.

Other Committees

Other committees which meet during the year are:

• Admissions Committee
• Pay Committee
• Headteacher Performance Management and Review

There are committees which need to meet only as the need arises; these are:

• Discipline, Grievance, Capability and Appeals Committees (staff)
• Pupil Discipline Committee (pupil exclusions)
• Complaints Committee (parental complaints); this would convene only after the Complaints Policy procedures have been exhausted.
• Pay Appeals Committee
• Appointments Committee
• Headteacher Appointment Committee (this may well include all governors)

Governor Visits To School 

All governors are encouraged and are expected to be familiar with the school; to see the school at work. This includes visits to lessons to witness teaching and learning for themselves, to see the physical learning environment of the school and to liaise with individual staff for specific information-sharing purposes – for instance for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Safeguarding, subject responsibilities or Pupil Premium programmes and outcomes.

Governor Professional Expertise

Although Governors work entirely as volunteers on behalf of the school, the governors have employment backgrounds in administration, authorship, business, education & training, finance, insurance, law, police, trade union leadership and sales. Thus, they bring a wide and varied range of skills and experience to the task of leading and monitoring. Many governors are current or former parents of the school, which is indicative of a high degree of understanding, commitment and loyalty.

Staff Recruitment  

Governors participate in all staff appointments. The more senior the post, the greater the number and degree of governor involvement.

Appointments processes in all cases adhere strictly to Safer Recruitment principles and requirements.

ST. PETER’S GOVERNING BODY

Mr Dave Taylor (Chair)

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: until 31 August, 2027

Mr. Taylor has spent most of his career in policing with Greater Manchester Police. He is currently the Deputy Secretary of UNISON’s Greater Manchester Police branch. He is also qualified to teach in post-compulsory education. Mr Taylor has previously served as a Governor of St Peter’s. He has three children, all of whom attended St Peter’s.

Mrs Ann-Marie Worrall (Vice Chair) & Safeguarding Governor

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: until 31 August, 2028

Mrs Worrall has served as governor for 14 years and has been Vice Chair for the last 5 years. She works as an Insurance Compliance Officer. She regularly volunteers in school, taking a very active interest in many school activities. Her children attended St Peter’s.

Mrs Elaine Birch

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: until 1 December, 2028

Mrs Birch’s career was in the Civil Service, the last 5 of which were spent in Personnel/HR Management. She was employed as the Human Resources Manager at Ashton 6^th Form College for 10 years until retirement in 2016. She is a Leader at St Peter’s Guide and Rainbow Units and is actively involved in the Parish community. Both her daughters attended St Peter’s, and her grandson now does so, too.

Mrs Eleanor Wills

Category: Foundation

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: until 31 August, 2028

Mrs Wills serves as a Local Councillor and is the leader of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. She has three children, and the two younger ones attend our school.

Mrs Dolores Gordon-Smith

Category: Local Authority Governor

Appointing Body: Tameside MBC

Term of office: 11 February, 2028

Mrs Gordon-Smith is a published novelist and a qualified teacher. She has for a time worked as a Midday Assistant at St Peter’s and her five children all attended the school. Mrs Gordon-Smith is an active member of St Peter’s parish, and attends mass at St Peter’s Church weekly.

Mr Mark Lowe

Category: Elected Parent Governor

Appointing Body: Governing Body

Term of Office: until 31 December, 2026

Mr Lowe has a finance background, working as a Personal Finance Advisor. He has served on the governing body for 10 years and his four children have previously attended St Peter’s. 

Miss Shen Xu

Category: Elected Parent Governor

Appointing Body: Governing Body

Term of Office: until June, 2029

Miss Xu is a technical consultant. Her elder child attends St. Peter’s, whilst her younger one is of pre-school age.

Mrs Katherine Ryan  (Headteacher)

Category: Headteacher

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: ongoing

Mrs Ryan was appointed as Acting Headteacher in April 2020. She initially taught at St Peter’s for several years before moving into Special Education for 8 years & then was reappointed here in 2012. Mrs Ryan has a wealth of expertise in Early Years & KS1 and has served school in the role of Acting Deputy Headteacher following Mrs Summersgill’s retirement. Both her own children attended St. Peter’s School.

Mrs Katie Cooper

Category: Staff governor

Appointing Body: Governing Body

Term of Office: Autumn, 2029

Miss Cooper has taught at St Peter’s for 5 years. She currently teaches our Year 3 class. She herself was a pupil at St Peter’s, and as part of her service, has led our children beautifully in the programme of sacramental preparation.  

GOVERNORS IN LAST 12 MONTHS NO LONGER ON GOVERNING BODY

Father Philip Atkinson

Mr Phil Murphy

Mrs Jennifer Crane

 

COMMITTEES	QUORUM	GOVERNOR
Local Governing Body Meetings: – Standards and Safeguarding – Strategic Planning, Finance and Resources	QUORUM 3	David Taylor, Ann Marie Worrall, Elaine Birch,  Dolores Gordon-Smith, Mark Lowe,  Eleanor Wills, Shen Xu, Katherine Ryan, Katie Cooper In Attendance: Kaye Murray (School Business Manager) Sinead Barber (Deputy Headteacher)
Admissions	QUORUM 3	Dolores Gordon-Smith, David Taylor, Ann-Marie Worrall, Katherine Ryan
Complaints Committee(Parental complaints)	QUORUM 3	Any eligible Governor
Pupil Discipline Committee (Pupil Exclusions)	QUORUM 3	Any eligible Governor  (Members should have attended training on Exclusions)
STAFFING COMMITTEES
Appointed Governors for Headteacher Performance Review	QUORUM 2	Mark Lowe, David Taylor, Ann-Marie Worrall
		In Attendance: Sacha Humphries (Chief Executive Officer of Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust)
Pay Committee	QUORUM 3	Mark Lowe, David Taylor, Ann-Marie Worrall In attendance: Katherine Ryan
Pay Appeals Committee	QUORUM 3	Any eligible Governor not on the original Pay Committee
Discipline, Grievance and Capability Committee	QUORUM 3	Any eligible Governor
Discipline, Grievance and Capability Appeal Committee	QUORUM 3	Any other eligible governor not on the original Discipline and Grievance Committee
Appointment of Headteacher		All governors
Appointments Committee (Teaching and Support Staff)		Any eligible Governor

Pecuniary Interests

As a governing body, the governors state the following pecuniary interests:

• Mrs Wills -Parent
• Mr Taylor – Family member of members of staff
• Miss Cooper – Family member of volunteer
• Mrs Ryan – Family member of volunteer
• Miss Xu – Parent

Attendance-at-Governor-Meetings-2024-5

Attendance at Governor Meetings 2025-6

Standards and Safeguarding – Autumn 2025

Attendance

Name	Governor type	‘End of Term of Office’ date	Present (P) / Apologies (Ap) / Absent (A)
Katherine Ryan	Headteacher (HT)	Ex-officio	P
Elaine Birch	Foundation	01.12.2028	P
Eleanor Wills	Foundation	31.08.2028	P
Ann-Marie Worrall	Foundation (Vice Chair)	31.08.2028	P
Shen Xu	Parent	31.08.2029	P
Katie Cooper	Staff	31.08.2029	P
David Taylor	Foundation (Chair)	31.08.2027	Ap
Dolores Gordon-Smith	LA	11.02.2028	Ap
Jennifer Crane	Foundation	31.08.2027	Ap
Mark Lowe	Parent	31.12.2026	Ap

 

Others present

Name	Role
Sinead Barber	Deputy Headteacher (DHT)
Ali Hussain	Clerk, One Education

Strategic Planning, Finance and Risk – Autumn 2025

Attendance

Name	Governor type	‘End of Term of Office’ date	Present (P) / Apologies (Ap) / Absent (A)
Katherine Ryan	Headteacher (HT)	Ex-officio	P
David Taylor	Foundation (Chair)	31.08.2027	P
Elaine Birch	Foundation	01.12.2028	P
Ann-Marie Worrall	Foundation (Vice Chair)	31.08.2028	P
Shen Xu	Parent	31.08.2029	P
Katie Cooper	Staff	31.08.2029	P
Jennifer Crane	Foundation	31.08.2027	P
Dolores Gordon-Smith	LA	11.02.2028	P
Mark Lowe	Parent	31.12.2026	A
Eleanor Wills	Foundation	31.08.2028	A

 

Others present

Name	Role
Karen Wong (via phone)*	Deputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO)
Sinead Barber**	Deputy Headteacher (DHT)
Fr Paul Shaw	Observer
Ali Hussain	Clerk, One Education

*Joined for Item 4 only.

**Left at Item 4.

 

Class Link Governors 2024-25
Nursery	Eleanor Wills
Reception	Mark Lowe
1	New parish priest
2	Ann-Marie Worrall
3	David Taylor
4	Shen Xu
5	Elaine Birch
6	Dolores Gordon-Smith

 

Subject Link Governors:

Core Subjects

	Teacher	Governor
English	Mrs Russell	Dave Taylor
Maths	Mrs Barber	Shen Xu
RE	Mrs Sibson	Ann-Marie Worrall
Science	Mrs Cooke	Dave Taylor

 

Leadership and Management Areas

	Teacher	Governor
Child Protection and Safeguarding	DSL: Mrs Ryan Deputy DSLs: Mrs Barber, Mrs Russell	Ann-Marie Worrall
Faith, Prayer and Liturgy	Mrs Sibson, Mrs Ryan	Ann Marie Worrall
Standards	Mrs Barber	Eleanor Wills
Early Years	Mrs Walker	Dolores Gordon-Smith
Attendance	Mrs Russell	Ann Marie Worrall
Cared For Children	Mrs Ryan	Dave Taylor
Pupil Premium (attainment and progress)	Mrs Cooke	Dave Taylor
RSHE	Mrs Barber	Elaine Birch
SEND, Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing	Mrs Russell	Dave Taylor
Health and Safety	Mrs Ryan, Mrs K Murray and Mrs Taylor	Elaine Birch
Finance and Pupil Premium (resources)	Mrs K Murray	Mark Lowe