Meet the Governors
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.
CAST Scheme of Delegated Authority (SoDA) Version 23 September 2021
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 |
Jane Trott
| Chair of Governors
Appointed 22/09/2020 Appointed Chair 01/12/2021
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 |
Rob Meech | Appointed 01/01/2021 Executive Headteacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead. | I began teaching in 2000 and in 2004 joined Our Lady's Catholic Primary School. In 2007 I became Assistant Head and then in 2015 was made Principal. I was delighted to be offered the post of Executive Heateacher for St John's. Having worked closely with the previous head and the school's ESM, I know I have joined a team dedicated to making this school a wonderful place to learn for our pupils. |
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 |
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 |
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
Full Name | Governor Type | Appointing Body | Date of Current Appointment | End of Current Term | Meeting Attendance 2019-2020 | Business Interests | Other Governorships |
Simon Coombs | Chair - Foundation | Diocese of Plymouth | 01/03/2019 | 30/11/2021 | 6 out of 6 100% | Safeguarding Lead. Safeguarding, Maths & ICT Subject Areas. | - |
William Kelly | Vice Chair - Foundation | Diocese of Plymouth | 05/05/2017 | 05/05/2021 | 5 out of 6 83.3% | RE and Catholic Life Lead. Humanities and MFL Subject Areas. | Our Ladies, Barnstaple |
Rob Meech | Executive Headteacher
| LGB | 01/01/2021 | Continuous |
| Headteacher | - |
Canon Kristian Paver | Parish Priest
| Diocese of Plymouth | 01/09/2019 | 01/09/2023 | 4 out of 5 80% | RE and Catholic Life Lead. Parish Priest. | - |
Camilla Lawson | Foundation
| Diocese of Plymouth | 07/09/2018 | 07/09/2022 | 4 out of 6 66.66% | SEND Lead. EYFS Subject Area. | - |
Jane Trott | Foundation | Diocese of Plymouth | 22/09/2020 | 22/09/2024 | N/A | PSHE/SRE Lead.
| - |
Anna Zielinska | Foundation
| LGB | 27/06/2020 | 27/06/2024 | 2 out of 2 100% | English Subject Area. | - |
Philippa Wigmore | Foundation
| LGB | 23/03/2021 | 23/03/2025 | |||
Paco Cheung | Parent | LGB | 05/10/2020 | 05/10/2024 | N/A | Science and Music Subject Areas.
| |
Peter Williams | Parent | LGB | 01/09/2019 | 01/09/2023 | 5 out of 5 100% | Statutory Grants Lead. PE, Art and Design Tech Subject Areas. | -
|
Tracey Harte
| Staff | LGB | 29/09/2020 | 29/09/2024 | N/A | Deputy Safeguarding Lead. | |
Jodie Leach | Staff
| LGB | 05/03/2019 | 05/03/2023 | 5 out of 6 83.3% | Literacy. | - |
Governors who have left the LGB in the last 12 months
Full Name | Governor Type | Appointing Body | Date of Current Appointment | End of Term | Meeting Attendance 2019-2020 | Business Interests | Other Governorships |
Alison Smith | Parent | Diocese of Plymouth | 13/10/2015 | 13/10/2019 | 2 out of 2 100% | Art, D&T | - |
Claire Webber | Deputy Head – Staff | LGB | 01/09/2016 | 31/10/2019 | 1 out of 1 100% | Deputy Headteacher | - |
Elizabeth Todd | Foundation | Diocese of Plymouth | 11/03/2019 | 17/07/2020 | 3 out of 6 50% | Literacy & RE | - |
| Caroline James | Headteacher | LGB | 01/02/2017 | 01/01/2021 | 6 out of 6 100% | Headteacher | - |
| Lucy Butt | Foundation | Diocese of Plymouth | 07/09/2018 | 01/02/2021 | 3 out of 6 50% | Safeguarding | - |
If you have any questions or require any further information, please Email clerk@stjohnstiverton.co.uk
or contact the school office on (01884) 253630
Parent and staff governors are elected onto the governing body; the foundation governors are appointed from outside the governing body and community governors are appointed by the governing body itself. In addition the governing body may also appoint associate members to support its work.
If you are interested in joining our Governing Body please contact the Clerk for information on current vacancies.
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