GOVERNANCE
David Hastie
Chair of Joint LGC
Elizabeth Luke
Vice Chair of Joint LGC
Katherine Apedaile
Foundation Governor
Lesley Gregory
Foundation Governor
Liz Summerson
Foundation Governor
Anne Bullerwell
Headteacher
Carolyn Fergusion
Staff Governor
Lucy Clarke
Associate (Deputy Head)
Joanne Watson
Associate (Business Manager)
OUR GOVERNORS
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School joined Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust on 1st April 2022. The Local Governing Comittees of St George's and St Cuthbert's joined to form one LGC across both schools on 1st September 2023.
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is structured in accordance with its Articles of Association.
There are three levels of governance within the Trust: the Members, The Trust Board of Directors, and the governors who make up the Local Governing Committee for each academy in the Trust.
The Trust comprises five Members. The Members are accountable to the DfE and have ultimate responsibility for the Trust achieving its charitable objectives. They sign off the Articles of Association and have the power to appoint and remove the Directors. The Members include representatives from the Diocese of Newcastle and Hexham. The majority of the Members are independent of the Directors to provide challenge and scrutiny to the Board.
The ultimate responsibility for the running of our schools resides with the Directors of the Trust. They set the strategic direction for the Trust and are accountable to the Secretary of State for the performance of the schools within it. This is set out in a legal document known as the ‘funding agreement‘. As charity trustees, they must also ensure that they are complying with charity law requirements.
To find out more about our Trust please visit www.bishopbewickcet.org/
What Do School Governors Do?
The major focus of the governors is to ensure that our pupils progress appropriately in their education. The Governing Body appreciate that for this to happen the pupils must be supported by a well led, enthusiastic, professionally competent and motivated staff all working together within a safe, supportive, stimulating environment. Governors appreciate too the requirements of our children's parents and carers and their need to be satisfied about the overall leadership and management of the school and how it affects safety, learning and enjoyment of their children.
To achieve their objectives governors too must continually evaluate the role they have played within the life of the school, and publish relevant information to all interested parties.
This statement is part of that evaluation and publication process.
The Governing Body has three core strategic functions which are:
1. Ensuring clarity of vision; an ethos based on the Gospel Values of Jesus and strategic direction.
First and foremost, as Governors of a Catholic school, we are responsible for the preservation and development of the quality and distinctive nature of St Cuthbert’s as a Catholic school. Governors are responsible for setting the school’s strategic framework, identifying priorities for school improvement and monitoring progress towards these goals. We are also responsible for setting an ethos and climate of high expectations of behaviour, progress and attainment of all pupils and of conduct of staff and governors.
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
Governors must provide challenge to the school and hold the headteacher and senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching and learning and school performance. We do this through questioning and through regular monitoring and analysis of data on children’s performance and progress. Governors hold the headteacher to account for the performance management of teachers. (The headteacher’s performance management is conducted by governors.)
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Governors look at financial statements and ask questions to ensure that the school makes efficient use of its budget and provides best value for money.
Each year the Governing Body considers:
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Standards of attainment and progress of all year groups and groups of children across the school
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Attendance and punctuality
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Staffing
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Finance
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Health and Safety
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Regular review of the School Development Plan and the School’s Self Evaluation
