Welcome to our Governors Section

Please find below details of how our Governing Body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Plymouth CAST Board Structure

http://www.plymouthcast.org.uk/web/board_of_directors/484924

Plymouth CAST Board Meeting Attendance

http://www.plymouthcast.org.uk/web/board_of_directors/484924

Plymouth CAST Governance

http://www.plymouthcast.org.uk/web/plymouth_cast_governance/277428

Plymouth CAST Policies

http://www.plymouthcast.org.uk/web/trust_policies__information/484983

Plymouth CAST Vision and Values

http://www.plymouthcast.org.uk/web/plymouth_cast_vision_and_values/276905

Plymouth CAST Financial Information and Scheme of Delegation

http://www.plymouthcast.org.uk/web/trustee_reports__financial_statements/484984

Governors

All governing bodies are legally constituted and have an Instrument of Government, which sets out their size and representation.  Our governing body is broadly representative of our main stakeholders: the community, the parents, the staff, the local authority, and the church.

The current governors are:

Name	Type of Governor	Roles and Responsibilities
Mr Simon Coombs	Chair of Governors & Foundation Governor   Appointed 30/11/2013   (Extension of term of office  to 30/11/2021 - approved by the Bishop on 01/03/2019)	I have been a Governor at St John's for 27 years. During that time I have been Chair of Governors for 7 years and took on the role again in 2017.  Both my children attended the School in the late 1980s/early 90s.  St John's has always been a caring community and I am proud to be part of the team taking it forward.   Lead - Safeguarding and Health and Safety Subject areas - Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Maths, ICT
Rob Meech	Appointed 01/01/2021 Executive Headteacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr William Kelly	Vice Chair of Governors & Foundation Governor   Appointed 05/05/2017   Term of office 4 Years	· Retired Catholic Headteacher (1983-2007) with a wide experience of teaching in Scotland, Canada and England since 1971. · Foundation Governor in Plymouth Diocese since 2011. · SATs Marker (Team Leader) with experience in marking SATs (both Mathematics and English) since 2005. · Represented Deanery at Catholic Schools’ Commission in Southwark Diocese. · Lived in Tiverton since 2015 and currently attend Mass at St. James’ Catholic Church.   Lead - RE and Catholic Life Subject areas - RE and Catholic Life, Humanities, MFL
Miss Jodie Leach	Staff Governor   Appointed 05/03/2019   Term of office 4 years	I began teaching at St John's in September 2017. I am currently the Year 6 teacher; the English leader and one of the two staff governors.  St John's is a great place to work and the staff and children provide such a welcoming environment. I am looking forward to helping to raise the attainment and widening the opportunities available for the young people here.   Subject areas - Literacy
Mrs Camilla Lawson	SEND Governor & Foundation Governor   Appointed 07/09/2018   Term of office 4 years	I have been a Foundation Governor since September 2018 and I have been SEND Governor since January 2021. I have two children at St John’s; a daughter in Year 4 and a son in Big Acorns.  St John’s has been a part of my family for a long time; I attended the school along with my siblings in the 80’s; as did my wider family in the 60’s & 70’s & 90’s.  I am proud to be part of the St John’s community where I can help ensure a secure, safe and happy place for the children to learn and develop.   Lead - SEND Subject areas - SEND and EYFS
Canon Kristian Paver	Foundation Governor   Appointed 01/09/2019   Term of office 4 years	Parish Priest   Subject areas - RE and Catholic Life
Peter Williams	Parent Governor   Appointed 01/09/2019   Term of office 4 years	Lead - Statutory Grants (Pupil Premium and Sports Premium) Subject areas - Statutory Grants (Pupil Premium and Sports Premium), PE, Art and Design Technology
Anna Zielinska	Parent Governor   Appointed 27/06/2020   Term of office 4 years	Subject areas - English
Jane Trott	Foundation Governor   Appointed 22/09/2020   Term of office 4 years	I am a retired Head Teacher and my husband and I have recently moved to Tiverton to enjoy an adventure in retirement.  I have taught across all age ranges, mostly in the Catholic sector, and am currently a School and Parish Volunteer for CAFOD.  Whilst working my main subject areas were Music, Performing Arts and French but I have many years of experience in, and a love for, teaching RE and an involvement in Chaplaincy.  I am delighted to have become part of St John's family and look forward to supporting the School as it grows and develops.    Lead - PSHE Subject areas - PSHE and SRE
Paco Cheung	Parent Governor   Appointed 05/10/2020   Term of office 4 years	Subject areas - Science and Music
Tracey Harte	Staff Governor   Appointed 29/09/2020   Term of office 4 years	Lead - Deputy Safeguarding Subject areas - Safeguarding
Philippa Wigmore	Foundation Governor   Appointed 23/03/2021   Term of office 4 years	Subject areas - TBC
Donna Ayre	Clerk to Governors   Appointed 01/09/2019

Governor Information 2020-2021

Governors who have left the LGB in the last 12 months

GIAS

Get Information About Schools - https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/140762?searchQueryString=SelectedTab%3DEstablishments%26SearchType%3DLocation%26SearchType%3DLocation%26LocationSearchModel.Text%3DTiverton%252c%2BDevon%26LocationSearchModel.AutoSuggestValue%3D50.900089263916016%252c%2B-3.490489959716797%26OpenOnly%3Dtrue%26b%3D1%26b%3D4

The Role of the Governing Body

From 1st April 2014 all the Catholic Schools in the Plymouth Diocese became part of the Catholic Multi Academy Trust, known as ‘Plymouth CAST’.

Who are Governors?

School Governors are people from the school’s local community who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They MUST be over eighteen years at the date of their appointment, but there is NO upper age limit. Each term of office lasts for four years.

Governors are the largest volunteer force in the country!
They have a very important part to play in raising school standards through three key roles which are –

1. Setting Strategic Direction 
This is for the short, medium and long term. It involves setting aims and objectives and setting policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. There needs to be clarity of vision, ethos and direction.

2. Ensuring Accountability 
Contributing to the school self-evaluation, understanding strengths and weaknesses, reporting to stakeholders i.e. young people, parents and staff

3. Monitoring and Evaluating School Performance 
Measuring and challenging progress and reviewing School Improvement Plans by holding the Headteacher and Leadership Team to account for improving the quality of teaching, achievement and behaviour and safety.

Why we are here

The Law says that:  The governing body has general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement (Section 21 of the Education Act 2002).

The governing body is accountable for the performance of the school and it fulfils this by setting the aims of the school and its priorities for improvement.  It agrees, monitors and evaluates the policies, targets and actions by which the school will move forward, including setting and monitoring the school budget.

The governing body’s role is strategic.  Governors are not expected to be involved in the detail of the day-to-day management of the school.  The Headteacher has responsibility for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and for implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing body.  Each of the governors has a responsibility for a specific aspect of school life and regularly meets with staff and visits classrooms, the staffroom and the dining hall.  Governors are at the heart of how a school operates and it is vital that we get things right.

The governing body works in partnership with the Headteacher and the senior leadership team.  Acting as ‘critical friends’, the governing body has a role to support and challenge the work of the school.

Governors must act corporately.  Individual governors do not have the power to act alone unless the corporate governing body has given them the authority to do so.  Individual governors have a broadly representative role but they are part of a team.  They are not delegates and do not have any kind of mandate from the body who elected or appointed them.

Queries and concerns about any aspect of school life should, in the first instance, be directed to the appropriate member of the school staff rather than to individual governors.  It is important that governors are not involved in issues, which may become formal complaints as this prevents governors from dealing with the matter impartially at a later stage.  Should you wish to pursue a matter further, having first attempted to resolve the issue with the relevant school staff, then please put your concern in writing to the chair of governors.

Our Governing Body

• works as a team and is accountable for the performance of the school to parents, carers and the wider community.
• ensures that all safeguarding requirements are met.
• plans the school’s future direction and makes decisions on the school's budget and staffing requirements.
• decides how best the school can develop and supports the pupils’ behaviour and spiritual, moral and social development.
• makes sure that the school provides for all its pupils including those with special needs.

Attendance at Governing Body Meetings St John’s Catholic Primary School

05.02.2018

Governors in Attendance:  Shaun Duerden, Teresa Walsh, Alison Smith, Karen Fullick, Caroline James, Father Paul, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, William Kelly

Governors Absent:  Elizabeth Todd, Claire Webber

21.05.2018

Governors in Attendance:  Teresa Walsh, Alison Smith, Caroline James, Father Paul, Simon Coombs, Elizabeth Todd, Claire Webber

Governors Absent:  Shaun Duerden, Georgina Nicol, William Kelly

18.07.2018

Governors in Attendance:  Shaun Duerden, Alison Smith, Caroline James, Father Paul, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, Elizabeth Todd, Claire Webber

Governors Absent:  Teresa Walsh, William Kelly

01.10.2018

Governors in Attendance:  Alison Smith, Caroline James, Father Paul, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, Claire Webber, Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson

Governors Absent:  William Kelly, Elizabeth Todd

26.11.2018

Governors in attendance:  Ali Smith, Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Caroline James, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, William Kelly, Elizabeth Todd, Jodie Leach

Governors Absent:  Father Paul Rea, Claire Webber

21.01.2019

Governors in attendance:  Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Caroline James, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, William Kelly, Elizabeth Todd, Jodie Leach

Governors Absent:  Father Paul Rea, Ali Smith

04.03.2019

Governors in attendance:  Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Caroline James, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, William Kelly, Elizabeth Todd, Jodie Leach, Father Paul Rea, Alison Smith

Governors Absent:  None
 

15.07.2019

Governors in attendance:  Alison Smith, Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Caroline James, Simon Coombs, Georgina Nicol, Elizabeth Todd, Claire Webber, Jodie Leach

Governors Absent:  William Kelly

07.10.2019

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Caroline James, Elizabeth Todd, Camilla Lawson, Lucy Butt, Alison Smith, Peter Williams

Governors Absent:  Canon Kristian Paver

25.11.2019

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Caroline James, Camilla Lawson, Peter Williams, Jodie Leach, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  Lucy Butt, Elizabeth Todd

20.01.2020

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Caroline James, Camilla Lawson, Elizabeth Todd, Lucy Butt, Peter Williams, Jodie Leach, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  None

23.03.2020

Meeting cancelled due to the Global Pandemic of Coronavirus

11.05.2020

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Caroline James, Anna Zielinska, Peter Williams, Jodie Leach, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Elizabeth Todd

15.07.2020

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Caroline James, Anna Zielinska, Peter Williams, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Jodie Leach, Elizabeth Todd

15.09.2020

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Canon Kristian Paver, Camilla Lawson, Lucy Butt, Jane Trott, Peter Williams

Extra:  Neil Maslen of Plymouth CAST

Governors Absent:  Caroline James, Anna Zielinska, Jodie Leach

05.10.2020

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, William Kelly, Caroline James, Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson, Jane Trott, Anna Zielinska, Peter Williams, Jodie Leach, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  None

30.11.2020

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, Caroline James, Jane Trott, Anna Zielinska, Peter Williams, Paco Cheung, Jodie Leach, Tracey Harte, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  William Kelly, Lucy Butt, Camilla Lawson

01.02.2021

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, Rob Meech, William Kelly, Jane Trott, Anna Zielinska, Peter Williams, Paco Cheung, Jodie Leach, Tracey Harte, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  Camilla Lawson

22.03.2021

Governors in Attendance:  Simon Coombs, Rob Meech, William Kelly, Jane Trott, Peter Williams, Paco Cheung, Jodie Leach, Canon Kristian Paver

Governors Absent:  Tracey Harte, Camilla Lawson, Anna Zielinska