Staff and Governors

 

Click this link to view staff year groups and subject roles: Staff Roles and Responsibilities

 

 

 

 

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Governors’ Statement –September 2021

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.

 

There are 12 governors:

1. 7 foundation governors (appointed by the Diocese of Shrewsbury)
2. 2 parent governors (elected by parents & guardians)
3. the headteacher
4. 1 staff governor
5. 1 local authority governor (approved by Tameside MBC)

 

Covid 19

The academic year 2020-21 continued to throw up challenges as the Covid 19 Pandemic persisted and the nation faced further lockdowns. St Peter’s rose to those challenges with faith & determination and has maintained an unrelenting optimism and an impressive determination to deliver the best education possible despite the circumstances. Across the school community there have been again a plethora of public and personal challenges and though at times those challenges may have seemed overwhelming, the school has maintained a focus on the children first and foremost.  

 

Governor meetings continue to be all online. All the usual meetings go ahead and the Covid 19 sub-committee meets fortnightly online, as has been the case since Spring 2019, to receive reports and updates from Mrs Ryan. In addition, the Chair and Vice Chair maintain at least weekly contact with Mrs Ryan – usually more.

 

Headteacher 

Having stood as Acting Headteacher, Mrs Ryan was appointed as substantive Headteacher in January 2021. It has continued to be a baptism of fire, and a challenging time which the whole school community has faced together. It is fair to say that no headteachers anywhere have had to deal with the challenges of the last 18 months but the school staff have worked with professionalism, dedication and determination.

We have always been very confident that the leadership of the school is in the best hands possible and that the school has continued to move forward throughout this period.

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 Tameside Governors Services, both in person and online. Our governors regularly access these opportunities.

Clerking

We pay for the services of a professional clerk from the Tameside Clerking Service. Mrs Rachel Lees became our clerk in September 2018 and is an invaluable source of advice, information and clarification – as well as producing very clear & 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 first Full Governing Board meeting in October. The Governing Board receives updates from the Headteacher on the progress of its implementation at the subsequent termly meetings and receives curricular updates from subject coordinators on a pre-planned cycle.

Curriculum & Standards

The Curriculum and Standards Committee meets termly. This committee scrutinizes progress data for each class in school and receives reports from the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and from time to time, other staff, on curricular progress and developments. Though there are specific governors assigned to this committee, any governors are welcome to attend.

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 curricular reports from subject coordinators and reviews and updates policies.

Statutory National Tests

All primary school Statutory National Tests were suspended in England last year due to the pandemic. Teachers assessed progress as rigorously as they usually do to ascertain exactly where children are in core subjects and thus to be able to plan teaching programmes accordingly.  Currently the expectation is that they will be reinstated for 2021-22 in England. 

Financial Management & Monitoring

The Finance and Personnel Committee meets termly, immediately before the termly Full Governing Body meeting, 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 Chair of the Finance Committee meets with Mrs Chadwick, 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 minority 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, Mental Health and Wellbeing 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:

• Premises and Security Committee
• Admissions Committee
• Pay Committee
• Health and Safety Committee
• Headteacher Performance Management and Review
• Admissions Committee
• Covid 19 Oversight Panel

 

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

• Discipline, Grievance and 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 

In normal times, many governors are regular, and in some cases weekly, visitors to school for various purposes. All governors are encouraged and are expected to be familiar with the school, to see the school at work. This would include 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 purpose, for instance for Special Needs, Safeguarding, subject responsibilities or Pupil Premium programmes and outcomes. Eventually, these visits will all happen again.

Governor Professional Expertise

Although Governors work entirely as volunteers on behalf of the school, the governors have employment backgrounds in finance, sales, IT, education & training, administration, & business. 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

Rev Philip Atkinson

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2022-6

Committees: Finance, Admissions

Fr Philip has been parish priest here at St Peter’s for several years, before which he was parish priest at two other parishes in Shrewsbury Diocese, and was a governor at two previous schools. He is also a governor at St Raphael’s, Stalybridge.

Mr Mark Lowe

Category: Elected Parent Governor

Appointing Body: Governing Body

Term of Office: 2018-2022

Committees: Finance, Pay, HT Performance Review

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

Mr Philip Murphy (Chair)

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2021-25

Committees: Finance, Health and Safety, Curriculum and Standards, Pay, HT Performance Review, Admissions, Covid 19 Oversight Panel

Mr Murphy has served as Governor since 2012, the last 8 years as Chair, having retired from Primary Headship in Stockport in 2011. Prior to that he was as Deputy Head at St Raphael’s for 4 years , having taught here at St Peter’s for 11 years (during which time he served as teacher Governor).

His four children attended St Peter’s.

Mrs Honor Murray

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2019-2023

Committees: Curriculum & Standards (Chair), Covid 19 Oversight Panel

Mrs Murray has been a governor for 6 years, having retired from teaching in 2014, after a career the last 27 years of which was here at St Peter’s, where she taught across the three Key Stages and developed particular expertise in Special Needs and Science. She was also Acting Deputy Head for 18 months. She has in the past served as staff governor at St Peter’s and at Old Chapel School.

Her four children all attended St Peter’s. She is mother-in-law to Mrs K. Murray, the school’s Administration Assistant.

Mrs Clare Stevenson

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2019-2023

Committees: Finance, Pay, Covid 19 Oversight Panel

Mrs Stevenson has a background in local authority administration. She is a parent, whose two children both attended St. Peter’s. Mrs Stevenson volunteers in school and was appointed as Foundation Governor from September 2015

Mrs Katherine Ryan  (Headteacher)

Category: Headteacher

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: ongoing

Committees: All Committees other than Pay

Mrs Ryan was appointed as Acting Headteacher in March 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 Ann-Marie Worrall (Vice Chair) & Safeguarding Governor

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2020-24

Committees: Finance (Chair), Admissions, Pay Committee, HT Performance Review, Covid 19 Oversight Panel

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. She is also a Governor of All Saints Academy. Her children attended St Peter’s.

Mrs Dolores Gordon-Smith

Category: Local Authority Governor

Appointing Body: Tameside MBC

Term of office: 2019-23

Committes: Admissions, Curriculum and Standards

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.

Mrs Elaine Birch

Category: Foundation Governor

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2020 – 2024

Committees: Finance, Premises, Health and Security (Chair), Covid 19 Oversight Panel

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.

Mrs Claire Jackson

Category: Elected Parent Governor

Appointing Body: Governing Body

Term of Office:  2020 – 2024

Committees: Curriculum & Standards

Mrs Jackson is a serving teacher employed by Trafford Local Authority. She has two children at St. Peter’s, and a third who is of pre-school age.

Mrs Eleanor Wills

Category: Foundation

Appointing Body: Diocese of Shrewsbury

Term of Office: 2020-2024

Committees: Curriculum & Standards, Health and Safety, Covid 19 Oversight Panel

Mrs Wills serves as a Local Councillor for Tameside MBC. She has three children in school.

Mrs Gemma Kirkpatrick

Category: Staff governor

Appointing Body: 

Term of Office: 2022

Committees: Curriculum & Standards

Mrs. Kirkpatrick is a part time Class Teacher at St. Peter’s and also has two children who attend our school. She previously served as a Parent Governor from 2018-2020. 

 

 

GOVERNORS IN LAST 12 MONTHS NO LONGER ON GOVERNING BODY

NONE

 

COMMITTEES	QUORUM	GOVERNOR
Finance and Personnel	QUORUM 3	Ann-Marie Worrall (Chair), Fr Philip Atkinson, Elaine Birch, Mark Lowe, Phil Murphy, Katherine Ryan, Clare Stevenson
		In Attendance: Trish Chadwick (School Business Manager)
Curriculum and Standards	QUORUM 3	Honor Murray (Chair), Dolores Gordon-Smith, Gemma Kirkpatrick, Claire Jackson, Phil Murphy, Katherine Ryan, Eleanor Wills
		In Attendance: all governors welcome
Covid-19 Oversight Panel	QUORUM: 3	Phil Murphy (Chair), Honor Murray, Clare Stevenson, Eleanor Wills, Ann-Marie Worrall, Katherine Ryan In Attendance: Trish Chadwick (Health and Safety co-ordinator) Rachel Russell (SENDCO)
Health and Safety	QUORUM 3	Father Philip Atkinson, Elaine Birch, Mark Lowe, Phil Murphy, Katherine Ryan
		In Attendance: Trish Chadwick (School Health and Safety co-ordinator)
Admissions	QUORUM 3	Fr Philip Atkinson, Dolores Gordon-Smith, Phil Murphy, 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	Fr Philip Atkinson, Mark Lowe, Phil Murphy, Ann-Marie Worrall
		In Attendance: External School Improvement Partner – Nye Goodwin
Pay Committee	QUORUM 3	Fr Philip Atkinson, Mark Lowe, Phil Murphy, Clare Stevenson, 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 form Finance & Personnel committee

Pecuniary Interests

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

• Fr Philip – Foundation governor at St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School
• Mrs Kirkpatrick – Staff
• Mrs Jackson – Parent
• Mr Lowe – Parent
• Mrs Murray – related to Admin Assistant at St. Peter’s Catholic Primary School
• Mrs Wills -Parent
• Mrs Worrall – Foundation governor at All Saints Catholic High School

 

Attendance at governing Body Meetings, 2019-20 

Attendance-at-governor-meetings-2020-1

Attendance at Governor Meetings, 2021-2

 

Class Link Governors 21-22
Nursery	Claire Jackson
Reception	Honor Murray
1	Elaine Birch
2	Dolores Gordon-Smith
3	Eleanor Wills
4	Mark Lowe
5	Clare Stevenson
6	Ann Marie Worrall

 

Subject Link Governors:

Core Subjects

	Teacher	Governor
English	Mrs Russell	Clare Stevenson
Maths	Mrs Barber	Phil Murphy
RE	Mrs Sibson	Fr Philip Atkinson
Science	Mrs Cooke	Claire Jackson

Foundation Subjects

	Teacher	Governor
Art & Design	Mrs Kirkpatrick	Elaine Birch
Computing	Mr Gould	Mark Lowe
Design & Technology	Mrs Kirkpatrick	Elaine Birch
Geography	Mrs Sibson	Honor Murray
History	Miss Cooper	Dolores Gordon-Smith
Modern Foreign Languages	Mrs Summersgill	Ann-Marie Worrall
Music	Mrs K Walker	Clare Stevenson
PE	Mrs S Walker	Dolores Gordon-Smith

Leadership and Management Areas

	Teacher	Governor
Assessment	Mr Gould	Eleanor Wills
Early Years	Mrs K Walker	Clare Stevenson
Cared For Children	Mrs Ryan	Phil Murphy
Pupil Premium	Mrs Cooke	Phil Murphy
RHSE	Mrs Barber	Claire Jackson
SEND	Mrs Russell	Phil Murphy