The Governing Board
Our Governors attend regular briefings and training, including from the Diocese of Salford, EducareM and LA. Governors evaluate the strategic development of our school using the CSI & Ofsted Education Inspection Frameworks and other materials. They operate by the Nolan Principles.
Foundation Governors
Foundation Governors are appointed by the Episcopal Delegate on behalf of the Bishop of Salford. Their term of office is 4 years. The Parish Priest post holds a reserved ex-offico governor role, and the term of office is linked to time in role as Parish Priest.
Elected Parent Governors
Parent Governors are voted in by eligible parents. They have a 4 year term of office. Parent Governors do not carry an obligation to express any views apart from their own and do not represent the parent body.
The definition of parent under education law covers:
- all natural parents whether they are married or not;
- any person who has parental responsibility for a child or young person;
- any person who has care of a child or young person i.e. lives with and looks after the child.
The school will need to decide who comes within the definition of parent in respect of a particular pupil but generally parents include all those with day to day responsibility for a child.
Staff Governors
One staff governor is elected by eligible members of the staff team. Their term of office is 4 years. The Headteacher is an ex-offico governor, and the term of office is linked to time in role as executive leader of the school.
Associate Members
The option for governing boards to appoint associate members was introduced in 2003. Associate members are not governors and do not form part of the constitution of the board of governors. They are additional people who bring useful skills to an aspect of the work. We do not currently have any associate members of the governing board.
L.A. Governor
L.A. governors are nominated by the Local Authority (Bolton), and appointed by the Governing Board, for a term of 4 years.
Historic governor roles (left within last 12 months & dates of last term of office)
Clerking:
Our full Governing Board meet for 7 formal meetings each academic year. We have a flat structure, meaning that the board works at full board level for core committees. Our Clerk to the Governing Board for these 7 meetings is provided by Bolton Governance Services.
Other occasional clerking duties, for example for pupil admissions, staffing appointments and budget setting meetings are completed by our school office team.
The following about the Governing Board must be published:
- Details of the structure and responsibilities of the governing board and its committees;
- Information about each governor’s:
- Business interests;
- Financial interests;
- Governance roles in other schools.
Relevant business & pecuinary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):
None
Material Interests (with staff or governors):
None
Governance roles in other schools:
Claire Walker – Associate Member, Light Oaks Junior School, Salford. Current Term of office: 12th October 2023-11th October 2027
Dharmila Khimani – Governor, Pike Fold Primary School, Blackley. Current Term of office: 2nd October 2018- 2nd October 2027
Gillian Donohoe – Chair of Governors, St Mary’s Catholic High School, Leyland. Current term of office: 12th January 2023-11th January 2027
Martin Johnson – Foundation Director (Trustee), Romero Catholic Academy Trust, Diocese of Salford. Current term of office: 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2029.
Attendance at Governing Board meetings over the 2025-2026 school year:
- The Governing Board operate a ‘flat structure’ where all governors attend half-termly meetings. The first half term usually covers specific committee matters (spending plan updates and admissions matters are included as relevant) and subject leader reports to Governors are received; the second half term the executive leaders’ report to Governors. An additional business meeting is held each September.
- Subject / aspect leaders present at the start of all full GB meetings.
AUTUMN TERM 2025
Full GB meetings:
Au1:
17/09/2025:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Mrs N Amis, Mrs L Garside, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Mrs S Aylin, Mrs S Newton and Mrs G Donohoe (Virtual)
In attendance: Mrs J Altham (School Business Manager), Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer)
14/10/2025:
Present: Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Mrs L Garside, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Mrs S Newton, Mrs G Donohoe and Mrs S Newton.
In attendance: Mrs B Furey and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer)
Au2:
26/11/2025:
Present: Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs K Sutton, Mrs L Garside, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Mrs N Amis and Mrs S Aylin.
In attendance: Mrs B Furey (Head of School) Mrs J Altham (School Business Manager), Mrs J Wroe (Early Years), Miss C Scully (Design and Technology), Mr D Clarke (History and Geography), Miss F Duffy (Collective Worship and RE) and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer)
SPRING TERM 2026
Full GB meetings:
Sp1:
04/02/2026
Sp2:
18/03/2026
SUMMER TERM 2026
Full GB meetings:
Su1:
13/05/2026:
Su2:
01/07/2026:
Attendance at Governing Board meetings over the 2024-2025 school year:
- The Governing Board operate a ‘flat structure’ where all governors attend half-termly meetings. The first half term usually covers specific committee matters (spending plan updates and admissions matters are included as relevant) and subject leader reports to Governors are received; the second half term the executive leaders’ report to Governors. An additional business meeting is held each September.
- Subject / aspect leaders present at the start of all full GB meetings.
AUTUMN TERM 2024
Full GB meetings:
Au1:
18/09/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Mrs N Amis, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher) and Miss G Brown
In attendance: Mrs S Bridge ( Deputy Headteacher), Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer) and Miss R Grundy ( Minute Taker)
Apologies for absence were received from: Mrs S Newton, Mrs S Aylin and Mr J Ford.
23/10/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors) – virtual, Mrs D Khimani, Dr S Harrington, Mrs S Newton, Mrs S Aylin, Mr J Ford, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher) and Miss G Brown
In attendance: Mrs B Furey, Mr M Walker – PE Lead, Mrs K Harrison – French Lead and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer)
An apology for absence was received from: Mrs N Amis
Au2:
27/11/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Dr S Harrington, Mrs S Newton, Mr J Ford, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher)
In attendance: Mrs R Purtill (D&T Lead), Mr D Clarke (Geography and History Lead), Miss F Duffy (RE Leader), Mr A Edwards (RE Leader), Mrs C Brannan (Collective Worship Leader) and Mr C McHugh (Clerk to the Board)
Apologies for absence were received from: Mrs S Aylin and Miss G Brown.
SPRING TERM 2025
Full GB meetings:
Sp1:
05/02/2025
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Mr J Ford, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Miss G Brown, Mrs N Amis, Mrs S Aylin
In attendance: Mrs A Kakoullis (Sustainability Lead), Mr S Dootson (Attendance Lead), Mrs B Furey (Teach Heart Alliance) and Mrs G Ryding (Clerk to the Board).
Apologies for absence were received from: Fr C Dawson, Mrs S Newton
Sp2:
19/03/2025
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Fr C Dawson, Mr J Ford, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Miss G Brown, Mrs G Donohoe (Virtual) and Mrs S Newton
In attendance: Mrs B Furey, Mrs J Altham (School Business Manager), Miss H Dewhurst ((English and Consistency), and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer).
SUMMER TERM 2025
Full GB meetings:
Su1:
14/05/2025:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Mrs G Donohoe, Mrs S Newton, Mrs N Amis and Mrs S Aylin.
In attendance: Mrs B Furey, Mrs J Altham (School Business Manager), Mr Z Adam ( Maths Lead), and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer).
Su2:
09/07/2025:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Fr C Dawson, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Mrs L Garside , Mrs G Donohoe and Mrs S Newton
In attendance: Mrs B Furey, Mrs J Altham (School Business Manager), Mr M Stubbs (Pastoral Lead), Mrs J Clarke, Mrs S Bridge and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer).
Attendance at Governing Board meetings over the 2023-2024 school year:
- The Governing Board operate a ‘flat structure’ where all governors attend half-termly meetings. The first half term usually covers specific committee matters (spending plan updates and admissions matters are included as relevant), and the second half term the executive leaders’ report to Governors. An additional business meeting is held each September.
- Subject / aspect leaders present at the start of all full GB meetings.
AUTUMN TERM 2023
Full GB meetings:
Au1:
18/09/2023:
Present: Mrs C Walker (Chair), Miss N Amis, Miss G Brown, Mr G Connor, Fr C Dawson, Dr S Harrington, Mr M Johnson (Executive Head Teacher) Mrs K Morris and Mrs K Sutton
In attendance: Miss S Butler (School Business Manager), Mrs B Furey (virtual attendance) and Mrs E Stoddard (Governance Support Officer)
18/10/2023:
Present: Mrs C Walker (Chair), Miss N Amis, Miss G Brown, Fr C Dawson, Mr J Ford (virtual attendance), Mr A Fornasier, Dr S Harrington, Mr M Johnson (Executive Head Teacher) Mrs K Morris and Mrs K Sutton.
In attendance: Miss S Butler (School Business Manager), Mrs F Duffy, Mr A Edwards, Mrs B Furey, Mrs E Stoddard (Governance Support Officer) and Mrs L Tommony.
An apology for absence had been received from: Mr G Connor.
Au2:
29/11/2023:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs S Newton, Mr S Harrington, Mr A Fornasier, Fr C Dawson, Mr J Ford, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Miss G Brown and Mrs N Amis
In attendance: Mr Z Adam (Maths Lead), Mrs B Furey (Strategic Director of Teach Heart Alliance) and Mrs C Stokes (Governance Clerk)
SPRING TERM 2024
Full GB meetings:
Sp1:
06/02/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Fr C Dawson, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mr M Johnson
(Headteacher) and Mrs N Amis.
In attendance: Mr D Clarke (History and Geography Lead), Mrs G Ryding (Governor Support Officer),
Mrs R Worthington (Senior Governor Support Officer) and Mr S Williams (DPO)
Sp2:
13/03/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs S Newton, Mr S Harrington, Mr A Fornasier, Fr C Dawson, Mr J Ford, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs D Khimani, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher), Miss G Brown.
In attendance: Mr M Stubbs ( Music Lead), Miss M Fairhurst (Curriculum Music Team) , Mr S Dootson (Senior Pastoral Lead), Miss H Dewhurst (School Improvement and English Lead) , and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer).
Mrs B Furey (Strategic Director of Teach Heart Alliance) joined the meeting via Zoom.
SUMMER TERM 2024
Full GB meetings:
Su1:
15/05/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Mrs S Newton, Fr C Dawson, Mr J Ford, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs S Aylin, Mrs N Amis, Mrs K Whittle, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher) and Miss G Brown
In attendance: Mrs B Furey (Strategic Director of Teach Heart Alliance), Mrs J Wroe (D&T Lead), Mrs C Baldwin (EYFS Lead) , Mrs S Bridge (Deputy Headteacher) and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer)
Apologies for absence: Mrs D. Khimani and Dr S Harrington.
Su2:
10/07/2024:
Present: Mrs K Sutton, Fr C Dawson, Mr J Ford, Mrs C Walker (Chair of Governors), Mrs S Aylin, Mrs N Amis, Mr M Johnson (Headteacher) and Miss G Brown
In attendance: Mr M Walker (PE Lead), Mrs K Harrison (French Lead) , Mrs S Bridge ( Deputy Headteacher) and Mrs G Ryding (Governance Support Officer
Apologies for absence were received from: Mrs S Newton, Mrs D. Khimani and Dr S Harrington
Any correspondence to the Governing Board, should be addressed to Mrs C Walker, Chair of Governors c/o the school.