Annual Governance Statement
St. Vincent’s Catholic Primary School Annual Governance Statement Autumn 2023 for Academic Year 2023/24
Approved by the Board of Governors November 2023; review date November 2024
The Board of Governors
Current Governors |
Type of Governor |
First Appointed |
Current term of office expires |
Mrs Anita Harrop |
Headteacher |
01/09/2015 |
Statutory |
Mrs Deborah Mc Duff |
Staff Governor |
06/04/2022 |
05/04/2026 |
Mrs Alice Kilburn |
Associate Member |
01/09/2019(parent governor) 01/09/2023 |
31/08/2024 |
Mr Carl Thorgaard |
Foundation Governor |
05/09/2018 (as parent governor) 01/09/2020 |
31/08/2024 |
Canon Jonathan Brandon |
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2019 |
31/08/2025 |
Mr Raymond Machell KC |
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2010 |
31/08/2024 |
Mrs Sarah Butler |
Foundation Governor (Vice Chair) |
10/2015 (as Parent Governor) |
31/08/2026 |
Mr Adrian Godding |
Foundation Governor |
11/2016 (as Associate Member) |
31/08/2026 |
Mrs Joanne Donnachie |
Foundation Governor (Chair) |
01/09/2010 |
31/08/2026 |
Ms Louise Dickinson
|
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2010 |
31/08/2026
|
Mr Matthew Lee |
Local Authority Governor |
28/02/2023 |
28/02/2027 |
Ms Susanna Ngai |
Associate Member |
20/06/2023 |
20/06/2024 |
Mr Patrick Coyle |
Parent Governor |
01/11/2023 |
01/11/2027 |
Mr Tim Barnard |
Parent Governor |
01/11/2023 |
01/11/2027 |
Previous Governors
|
Type of Governor |
First Appointed |
Term of Office finished |
Mrs Sinead Donnelly |
Parent Governor |
11/02/2021 |
Resigned 01/09/2023 |
Mrs Patricia Young |
LA Governor |
01/09/2010 |
Resigned 21/06/2022 |
Mr Stuart Nichols |
Staff Governor |
06/10/2016 |
Resigned 01/04/2022 |
Mrs Cathy Belford |
Associate Member |
11/2016 |
Resigned 10/11/2020 |
Mr George Tsiantar |
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2010 |
Deceased 07/2020 |
Canon John Rafferty |
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2010 |
Resigned 01/09/2019 |
Mrs Sorcha McNamara |
Parent Governor |
05/09/2018 |
Resigned 01/09/2019 |
Mrs Dinah Davis |
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2010 |
Resigned 31/08/2018 |
Mrs Christina Burns |
Foundation Governor |
01/09/2010 |
Resigned 31/08/2018 |
Mr Oliver Gilmartin |
Parent Governor |
01/10/2011 |
Resigned 31/08/2018 |
1 CLERK TO GOVERNORS
Julie Lawson, Trust GS, Green wood Street, Altrincham, Cheshire 0161 3487188 or contact Karen Wong, School Business Manager at the School.
2 COMMITTEES
Remits for the Committees are available on request from the School or on Governor Hub
Finance Committee |
Curriculum Committee |
Pay review Committee |
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Louise Dickinson (Chair/Clerk) |
Sarah Butler (Chair/clerk) |
Jo Donnachie (Chair/Clerk) |
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Jo Donnachie (Vice Chair) |
Alice Kilburn (Vice Chair) |
Anita Harrop (in attendance) |
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Anita Harrop |
Anita Harrop |
Louise Dickinson |
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Sarah Butler |
Debbie McDuff |
Adrian Godding (school only) |
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Karen Wong (in attendance) |
Susanna Ngai |
TBC (Nursery & TSC) |
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Ivana Beckett (in attendance) |
Naomi Farrell (in attendance) |
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Ciara Sutton (in attendance) |
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Ivana Beckett (in attendance) |
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Buildings and Health & Safety Committee |
Admissions Committee |
Human Resources Committee |
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Matthew Lee (Chair/Clerk) |
Raymond Machell (Chair/Clerk) |
Adrian Godding (Chair /Clerk) |
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Anita Harrop |
Sarah Butler |
Anita Harrop |
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Jo Donnachie |
Anita Harrop |
Canon Jonathan Brandon |
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Carl Thorgaard |
Karen Wong (in attendance) |
Jo Donnachie |
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Tim Barnard |
Jo Donnachie |
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Karen Wong (in attendance) |
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Mr Brindley (in attendance) |
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Nursery/SSC Human Resources Committee |
Headteacher’s Performance Review |
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Patrick Coyle(Chair/Clerk) |
Jo Donnachie (Chair) |
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Jo Donnachie |
Adrian Godding |
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Anita Harrop |
Sarah Butler |
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Ivana Beckett (in attendance) |
Adviser-Craig Richardson |
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3 LINKED GOVERNORS
Remits for Linked Governors are available on request from the School or on Governor Hub
Governor |
Area of Responsibility |
School Link |
Visit Frequency |
Reporting Committee |
Canon Jonathan Brandon |
Religious Education Developments for new inspection framework compliance |
A McCann/ D Mc Duff |
Once/term |
Curriculum |
Adrian Godding |
Speech and Language |
M Lawrence/ E Leather |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Sarah Butler Debbie McDuff |
3Is for the National Curriculum, Combined ARE across all years, Statutory Assessment Points |
C Sutton/ N Farrell |
Once/ term |
Curriculum |
Anita Harrop |
Nursery/ Sunshine After School and Holiday Club |
I Beckett |
N/A |
Board |
Ray Machell |
Contracts |
K Wong |
N/A |
Board |
Jo Donnachie |
Child Protection & Safeguarding (including focus on child on child and domestic abuse) |
A Harrop |
Once /term |
HR & Board |
Alice Kilburn |
Exceptional Offer and achievement of Pupil Premium/ SEND/ Looked After Children/ Inclusion |
C Sutton/ N Farrell |
Once/ term |
Curriculum & Board |
Alice Kilburn |
Reading and Writing |
A Burke/ N Sheldon |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Alice Kilburn |
Enrichments and Pupil Groups |
C O’Keefe/N Farrell |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Matthew |
Health & Safety |
K Wong |
Once/ year |
H&S / Board |
Carl Thorgaard |
Security & Parking |
K Wong |
Once/ year |
Buildings/ H&S |
Ray Machell |
Humanities (Geography, History) |
M Lawrence, L Campbell |
Once/ year |
Curriculum |
Sarah Butler |
Computing Curriculum and Online Safety (including Filtering and Monitoring) |
L Patiniott C Needham |
Once/year |
Curriculum/Board |
Susanna Ngai |
Diversity and Equality
|
C Luckham,E Leather |
Once/year |
Board |
Debbie McDuff |
Prayer and Worship |
A McCann |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Carl Thorgaard |
Maths/ Science |
D Hobday/J Kerigan |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Sarah Butler |
Music & Art |
H Carr/ C Robinson |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Jo Donnachie |
EYFS curriculum indoor and outdoor |
N Farrell |
Once/year |
Board |
Patrick Coyle |
PE |
J Morris |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Tim Barnard |
Design and Technology |
M Hollins |
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Jo Donnachie |
British Values |
C Gerrard |
Once/year |
Curriculum |
Jo Donnachie |
SMSC |
LDreniw/ELeather |
Once/Year |
Curriculum |
Louise Dickinson |
Digital Plan |
A Harrop/ K Wong |
Once/year |
Finance/Board |
Adrian Godding |
Sports Premium |
C Sutton |
Once/year |
Board |
Adrian Godding |
Physical and Mental Health Workload |
N Sheldon |
Once/year
Once/year |
Board/ HR |
Louise Dickinson |
GDPR & Cyber Security |
K Wong |
Once/year |
Finance |
Sarah Butler |
RSE & PHSE |
L Dreniw |
Once/ year |
Curriculum |
4 ATTENDANCE
Academic Year 2019/2020
96% attendance at Board of Governors’ meetings
98% attendance at committee meetings
Academic Year 2020/2021
92% attendance at Board of Governors’ meetings
97% attendance at committee meetings
Academic Year 2021/2022
78% attendance at Board of Governors’ meetings
97% attendance at committee meetings
Academic Year 2022/2023
Governor |
Attendance at Committee Meetings |
Attendance at Board Meetings (including Community Facilities’ AGM) |
Anita Harrop |
100% (33/33) |
4/4 |
Jo Donnachie |
100% (33/33) |
4/4 |
Alice Kilburn |
100% (4/4) |
4/4 |
Canon Jonathan Brandon |
100% (6/6) |
4/4 |
Carl Thorgaard |
75% (3/4) |
3/4 |
Matthew Lee |
100% (2/2) |
3/3 |
Sarah Butler |
76% (13/17) |
4/4 |
Raymond Machell |
N/A |
4/4 |
Louise Dickinson |
100% (16/16) |
4/4 |
Susanna Ngai |
50% (1/2) |
2/2 |
Sinead Donnelly |
100% (5/5) |
3/4 |
Adrian Godding |
86% (6/7) |
3/4 |
Debbie McDuff |
100% (4/4) |
4/4 |
5 CHAIR’S STATEMENT / STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD
Please see annual letter from the Chair of Governors here.
6 CALENDAR OF TRAINING 2021/22 and 2022/23
Board of Governors’ Training and Workshops 2021/22 |
|
Safeguarding and Child Protection Training |
Online training on The Key for all governors |
Prevent Duty Training |
Online training on The Key for all governors |
Child on Child abuse training |
Online training on The Key for all governors |
Phonics and Language Development |
9th November 2021 for all governors |
Early Years |
1st March 2022 for all governors |
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion |
21st June 2022 for all governors |
Vision and Strategy Day |
5th July 2022 for all governors and SLT |
Curriculum Deep Dive in Maths |
14th December 2021 (JD, AHH, AK, SB, SN) |
Diocesan Annual Governors’ Conference |
6th November 2021 (JD, SB and AG) |
Understanding Academies and Academy Governance |
17th May 2022 (AH) |
Ofsted HMI- EIF training |
3rd November 2021 (AK, JD) |
Diocese of Shrewsbury Induction for new governors |
20th September 2022 (DM) |
Roles and Responsibilities (Governor Induction) |
5th May 2022 (DM) |
Chairs Networking Meeting |
24th February 2022 (JD) |
Safeguarding for Governors Ofsted report on Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools |
10th March 2022 (JD) |
Diocesan Briefing |
Autumn, Spring and Summer (JD) |
Advanced Safeguarding for Safeguarding Leads |
28th January 2022 (JD) |
Governors’ role on appeal panels |
2nd February 2022 (AG) |
Safer Recruitment for Educational Settings 2022/23 |
2nd October 2022 (JD) |
Board of Governors’ Training and Workshops 2022/23 |
|
Safeguarding and Child Protection Training for Governors |
Online on National College for all governors |
Prevent Duty Training for Governors |
Online on National College for all governors |
Understanding Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence for School Governors |
Online on National College for all governors |
Vision and Strategy from July event Preparing for Ofsted |
8th November 2022 for all governors |
Speech and Language Development |
28th February 2023 for all governors |
Religious Education New Inspection Framework, School RE developments |
20th June 2023 for all governors |
Diocesan Briefings |
October 2022, February 2023, May 2023 (JD & AK) |
Diocesan Annual Governors’ Conference |
12th November 2022 (AG) |
Asbestos Training |
17th October 2022 (CT, AH) |
Curriculum Deep Dives and Learning Walk (x3) |
Autumn, Spring Summer (SB, AK, JD, SN) |
Chairs Network (Trust GS) |
6/10/2022, 20/3/2023 (JD) |
Preparing Governors for Ofsted Inspection |
13/03/23 (JD, ML) |
Safeguarding Responsibilities of Governors |
9/03/23 (JD) |
Safeguarding for Governors with Trafford LADO |
28/11/2022 (JD) |
Preparing to meet an Ofsted Inspector (NC) |
17/01/23 (JD) |
Safer Recruitment for Educational Settings 22/23 |
2/10/22 (JD) |
Certificate in EYFS |
31/01/2023 (JD) |
Annual Certificate in understanding the SCR 22/23 |
31/01/2023(JD) |
Roles and Responsibilities (Governor Induction) |
18/01/23 (ML) |
Governors role on appeal panels |
12/06/23 (ML) |
Taking the Chair |
3/7/23 (ML) |
7 CALENDAR OF TRAINING 2023/24
Annual Certificate in Safeguarding and Child Protection Training for Governors |
Online on National College for all governors. |
Annual Certificate in the Prevent Duty |
Online on National College for all governors. |
Understanding Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence for School Governors |
Online on National College for all governors. |
Annual Certificate in Online Safety for Governors |
Online on National College for all governors. |
Annual Certificate in Data Protection and GDPR |
Online on National College for all governors. |
EYFS |
7th November 2023 for all governors. |
Attendance, including Emotionally Based non school attendance. |
27th February 2024 for all governors. |
RSE and PSHE Curriculum |
18th June 2024 for all governors. |
Diocesan Briefings |
October 2023, February 2024, May 2024 |
Diocesan Annual Governors’ Conference |
4th November 2023 |
CES Governor Training |
Online |
Trust GS training |
See Governor Hub |
National College Training |
Online |
8 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
Term |
Board Meeting |
Link Governor Report |
Autumn |
7th November 2023 |
Exceptional Offer for SEND, LAC & PP Physical & Mental Health and Workload |
Spring |
27th February 2024 |
Safeguarding, Reading and Writing. |
Summer |
18th June 2024 |
Sports Premium, Pupil Premium History and D/T Contracts |
Community Facilities’ AGM |
14th May 2024 |
Nursery & Sunshine Club |
9 CODE OF CONDUCT
Please see Code of Conduct here.
10 GOVERNING BOARD EVALUATION
Governor Hub Governing Board Health Check completed Autumn 2021.
Internal Review of Governance carried out by the Board in June 2022, scheduled Spring 2024.
Governor Skills Audit completed in June 2022, scheduled Autumn 2023.
360-degree feedback of the Chair completed Autumn 2022, scheduled Spring 2024.
Governor Declarations
Governor Name |
Responsibility |
Business Interest |
Other establishment governed |
Relationships with staff/governors |
Date |
Mrs Jo Donnachie |
Foundation Governor (Chair) |
Altrincham Football Club |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mrs Sarah Butler |
Foundation Governor (Vice-chair) |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Ms Louise Dickinson |
Foundation Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mr Adrian Godding |
Foundation Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mrs Anita Harrop |
Headteacher (Statutory Right) |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mr Raymond Machell KC |
Foundation Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mrs Alice Kilburn |
Associate Member |
St Vincent’s Church Parish Secretary |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mrs Deborah McDuff |
Staff Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Canon Jonathon Brandon |
Foundation Governor |
St Vincent’s Church Parish Priest |
St Ambrose Catholic College Governor |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mr Carl Thorgaard |
Foundation Governor |
Graham Holland Associates |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mr Matthew Lee |
Local Autority Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Ms Suzanne Ngai |
Associate Member |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |
Mr Patrick Coyle |
Parent Governor |
None |
Board Member and Trustee of League Football Education |
Sibling is a Member of Teaching Staff at St Vincent’s |
Nov 2023 |
Mr Tim Barnard |
Parent Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Nov 2023 |