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.
We have also provided a Register of Governor Interests and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.
Governing Body of St. Mary's Catholic Primary School September 2020
Associate Governors (appointed by the Governing Body):
Margaret Bottomley, Kathryn Hampson
Chair of Governors:
John Large
Parent (elected by the parents):
Emma Reader
Marc Whittaker
Staff (elected by the staff):
Karen Higham
Foundation Governors (elected by the Diocese)
Andrew Cafferkey
Father Michael Murphy
Samanthi Ranasinghe
LEA Governor (elected by the Local Authority):
Philip Higham
Headteacher Governor:
Ann Kowalska
Membership of Standing Committees:
Standards and Effectiveness Committee:
Chair: John Large
Members: Andrew Cafferkey, Ann Kowalska, John Large, Emma Reader, Phil Higham, Marc Whittaker
Resources and Finance Committee:
Chair: John Large
Members: Andrew Cafferkey, Ann Kowalska, Karen Higham, Father Michael Murphy, Phil Higham, Marc Whittaker
Margaret Bottomley
Category of Governor - Associate - Co-opted by the Governing Body
Term of Office: n/a
Committees Served on: Standards and Effectiveness Committee
Positions of Responsibility Held: Deputy Headteacher, Literacy Co-ordinator, Key Stage One Leader
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Does not have any voting rights on the governing body
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Kathryn Hampson
Category of Governor - Associate - Co-opted by the Governing Body
Term of Office: n/a
Committees Served on: Pupil Support Committee
Positions of Responsibility Held: Family Learning Mentor, Attendance, Pupil Welfare
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Does not have any voting rights on the governing body.
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Andrew Cafferkey
Category of Governor - Foundation - Appointed by the Diocese
Term of Office: 23/03/2022 to 22/03/2026
Committees Served on: Standards and Effectiveness Committee, Resources and Finance Committee, Pay Committee, Complaints Review Committee, Staff Attendance/Discipline/Dismissal Committee, Staffing Review Committee
Positions of Responsibility Held: Headteacher Cardinal Allen High School, Science Governor
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: Cardinal Allen Catholic High School
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months - eight
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Ann Kowalska
Category of Governor - Headteacher
Term of Office: 01/11/2014 to 31/10/2022
Committees Served on: Standards and Effectiveness Committee, Resources and Finance Committee
Positions of Responsibility Held: Headteacher
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months - ten
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Father Michael Murphy
Category of Governor - Foundation - appointed by the Diocese
Term of Office: 01/07/2014 to 30/06/2022
Committees Served on: Resources Committee, Pay Committee
Positions of Responsibility Held: St. Mary's Catholic Church Parish Priest
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed:None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months: five
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Karen Higham
Category of Governor - Staff - appointed by the staff
Term of Office: 16/11/2015 to 15/11/2023
Committees Served on: Resources and Finance Committee
Positions of Responsibility: School Bursar, Finance, Health and Safety, Human Resources, IT Governor, History and Geography Governor, Pupil Premium Governor
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months: five
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John Large
Category of Governor: Foundation - appointed by the Diocese (Chair of Governors)
Term of Office: 03/12/2020 to 01/12/2024
Committees Served on: Chair - Resources and Finance Committee, Standards and Effectiveness Committee, Appraisal and Pay Appeals Committee, Staffing Review Committee, Staff Attendance/Discipline Appeals Committee
Positions of Responsibility: Retired School Business Manager, Chair of Governors, Child Protection Governor,PE Governor, Health and Safety Governor, English Governor
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months: ten
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Emma Reader
Category of Governor: Parent - elected by the parents
Term of Office: 10/12/2019 to 09/12/2023
Committees Served on: Standards and Effectiveness Committee
Positions of Responsibility: Maths Governor
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months: one
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Samanthi Ranasinghe
Category of Governor: Foundation - elected by the Diocese
Term of Office: 22/11/2019 to 21/11/2023
Committees Served on:
Positions of Responsibility:
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: None
Meetings attended in the last twelve months: one
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Philip Higham
Category of Governor: elected by the LEA
Term of Office: 23/03/2022 to 22/03/2026
Committees Served on:
Positions of Responsibility:
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: spouse of School Business Manager
Meetings attended in the last twelve months: one
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Marc Whittaker
Category of Governor: elected by the parents
Term of Office: 23/03/2022 to 22/03/2026
Committees Served on:
Positions of Responsibility:
Relevant business/financial interests: None
Other Education Establishments governed: None
Details of any relationships between the governor and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives: spouse of Administrative Assistant
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