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Governance in Primary Schools

Governance in Primary Schools refers to the system by which a school is overseen and held accountable to ensure it provides a high-quality education and a safe, supportive environment for all pupils. The governing body—made up of volunteers including parents, staff, community members, and sometimes representatives from the church or local authority—works closely with the school’s leadership team.

Their key responsibilities include:

  • Setting the school’s vision, values, and strategic direction

  • Monitoring and evaluating the school’s performance and standards

  • Ensuring the school’s finances are managed responsibly

  • Overseeing policies related to safeguarding, teaching, and wellbeing

  • Supporting and challenging the Headteacher and staff to continually improve the school

  • Ensuring compliance with legal and statutory requirements

Governance is essential for school accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, helping to create the best possible learning environment for every child.

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor, our Vision Statement and attendance at meetings.

At St John's the Governors are made up of:

  • Foundation Governors who are elected by the Diocese (7),
  • Staff Governor (1)
  • Head Teacher (1)
  • Parent Governors who are elected by the parents (2)
  • Local Education Authority Governor (1)

If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors then please email chair@st-johns-trowbridge.wilts.sch.uk

Governors Vision Statement for St John's Catholic Primary School

Full Governing Body Attendance (September 2025 - July 2026)

Name 2nd Oct 4 Dec    29 Jan 18 Mar 14 May 9 July
Clare Doogue (Vice Chair) No Yes Yes Yes Yes  
Douglas Marr (Vice Chair) Yes Yes Yes Yes n/a  
Mike Simmons (Chair) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes  
Sarah Hollywood No No No Yes Yes  
Kim O Rourke (Head) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes  
Dee Perkins Yes Yes No Yes Yes  
Rebecca Dixon No Yes Yes Yes N/a  
Alessia Bertoncello Yes Yes No Yes No  
Peter Matthews Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes  
Rebecca Porter Yes Yes Yes No Yes  
Nick Gerrish  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes  

* Extraordinary FGB

Admissions Committee Attendance (September 2025 - July 2026)

Name 17 Dec 12 Jan 26 Jan 2 Feb 12 Feb 23 Mar            
Clare Doogue Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes            
Douglas Marr  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A            
Kim O Rourke (Head) Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes            
Mike Simmons (Chair) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes            
Dee Perkins n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a No            

Resources Committee Attendance (September 2025 - July 2026)

Name 14 Oct 24 Feb 5 May
Clare Doogue (Chair) Yes Yes Yes
Douglas Marr Yes Yes n/a
Pam Poulter (School Business Manager)/Allie Brown Yes Yes Yes
Kim O Rourke (Head) Yes Yes Yes
Dee Perkins Yes Yes Yes
Rebecca Dixon Yes No n/a
Mike Simmons No Yes Yes
Peter Matthews Yes Yes Yes
Sarah Hollywood No Yes No

Curriculum Committee (September 2025 - July 2026)

Name 6 Nov 12 Feb 16 Apr 25 Jun
Douglas Marr  Yes Yes n/a n/a
Mike Simmons Yes Yes Yes  
Clare Doogue Yes Yes Yes  
Rebecca Dixon (Chair) No Yes Yes  
Peter Matthews Yes No Yes  
Alessia Bertoncello Yes No No  
Kim O Rourke (Head) Yes Yes Yes  
Dee Perkins Yes Yes Yes  
Rebecca Porter Yes Yes Yes  
Sarah Hollywood Yes No No  

Governor Details & Register of Interests (Term of Office is 4 years)

Name Category Voting Rights Appointing Body Term Ends Responsibility Register of Interests Stepped Down
Clare Doogue Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Sept 2029 Chair Resources, Co-Vice Chair    
Mike Simmons Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese

Oct

2029

Chair

SEN / Safeguarding

   
Dee Perkins Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese June 2029      
Alessia Bertoncello Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Oct 2027      
Peter Matthews Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Nov 2027      
Kim O Rourke Ex-Officio Yes Ex-Officio - Head Teacher    
Nick Gerrish Staff Yes Staff of St John's

May

2030

     
Rebecca Dixon LA Yes GB of St John's May 2030 Chair Curriculum    
Sarah Hollywood Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Jan  2029      
Rebecca Porter Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese July 2029      
Douglas Marr LEA Yes St John's GB Mar 2026

Co-Vice Chair,

Chair Admissions, Chair Curriculum

  March 2026
Craig Bain Parent Yes Parents of St John's Feb  2028     Dec 2024
Simon Miller Staff Yes Staff of St John's Oct 2023     Nov 2024
Tracey Sessions Ex-Officio Yes Ex-Officio - Head Teacher   August 2024
Nichola Hughes Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese May 2025     May 2023
Father Tom Finnegan Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Aug 2025     May 2023
Rhianna Cole Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Dec 2022     July 2022
Lukasz Wrona Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Feb 2022   Works for a supplier Feb 2022
Caroline King Parent Yes Parents of St John's Apr 2022     Nov 2021
Clare Farrow Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Aug 2022 Safeguarding Gov, Chair from Jan 2015   July 2021
Annie Slade Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Jan 2024     April 2021
Bernadette Barret-John Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese May 2021 Governor St Augustine's   Feb 2021
Richard Woods Parent Yes Parents of St John's Nov 2020     Sep 2020
John Kelly Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Aug 2021     May 2020
Andrea Blackmore Parent Yes Parents of St John's May 2022     Aug 2019
Paul Walsh Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Aug 2019 Safeguarding Gov (Deputy)   Aug 2019
Douglas Marr Parent Yes Parents of St John's May 2018 Chair Admissions / Vice Chair   Became LEA Gov Mar 2018
Nick Bracey LEA Yes St John's GB Oct 2018 SEN Gov from Sept 2016   Mar 2018
Adrian Weissenbruch Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese Jul 2020 SEN Gov Sep 2016   Jul 2017
Frank Toner Ex-Officio Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese   Head Teacher   Jul 2017
Canon Liam O'Driscol Foundation Yes Bishop, Clifton Diocese       Jul 2017
Yvonne Wilkins Ex-Officio Yes Ex-Officio   Deputy Head   Jul 2017

Governor Profiles