St Philip's Catholic Primary School

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Our Governors

Roles and responsibilities

St. Philip’s Governors are a dedicated team who share a real commitment and interest in the life and work of the school.

The Governors meet as a full governing body at least three times a year, make decisions collectively and conduct detailed business through a series of committees. There are 2 committees, the 'Teaching and Learning Committee' and the 'Finance and Resource Committee', both committees meet three times a year.

The school Governors act as a corporate body and follow strict protocols for governance. Their role is a strategic one, with the day-to-day management of the school the responsibility of the Headteacher.

The Governors operate under a legal framework and their core functions are:

a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

b. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;

c. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

In addition to these duties, as a voluntary aided state school, St Philip’s Governors are responsible for Admissions; are the formal employer for staff; and are required to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet our statutory contribution of 10% towards all building works and IT costs.

 

Governors

Name of Governor 

Governor Type 

Appointed By 

Date of Appointment 

Current Term of Office 

Role 

Julia Webb 

Foundation 

Diocese 

12-01-2023 

12/01/2023 – 11/01/2027 

Chair of Governors 

Teaching & Learning Committee 

SEND Link Governor 

Mel Byrne 

Staff 

Staff election 

20/01/2025 

20/01/2025 - 19/01/2028 

 Teaching & Learning Committee 

Mike Evans 

Foundation 

Diocese 

12-10-2021 

12/10/2021 – 11/10/2025 

Vice-Chair of Governors  

Chair of Finance & Resources Committee 

Health & Safety Link Governor 

Finance Link Governor 

Teresa Horan 

Foundation 

Diocese 

12-06-2023 

12/06/2023 – 11/06/2027 

Teaching & Learning Committee 

Safeguarding Link Governor 

MHEW Link Governor 

Sports Premium Link Governor 

Hugh Jones 

Local Authority 

Local Authority 

27-04-2023 

27/04/2023 – 26/04/2027 

Finance & Resources Committee 

Veronica Jones 

Foundation 

Diocese 

02-08-2016 

20/01/2021 – 22/07/2025 

Teaching & Learning Committee 

EYFS Link Governor 

Liz Lewis 

Foundation 

Diocese 

13-01-2025 

13/01/2025 - 12/01/2029 

 

Sarah McCurdy 

Acting Head Teacher 

Ex-Officio 

12-12-2023 

Ongoing 

Teaching & Learning Committee 

Finance Committee 

Joanna Sanchez 

 

Head Teacher 

Ex-Officio 

01-01-2015 

Ongoing 

Teaching & Learning Committee 

 

Historic Members – left within the last 12 months

Name of Governor 

Governor Type 

Appointed By 

Date of Appointment 

Last Term of Office 

Role 

Elizabeth Rendon-Morales 

Parent 

Parent election 

07-12-2021 

07/12/2021 – 06/12/2024 

Chair of Teaching & Learning Committee  

Curriculum Link Governor 

Penny Heath 

Foundation 

Diocese 

04-05-2016 

20/10/2020 – 19/10/2024 

PHSE Link Governor 

Josh Davis 

Staff 

Staff election 

23-09-2021 

23/09/2021 – 22/09/2024 

Teaching & Learning Committee 

Jennifer Anthony 

Foundation 

Diocese 

17-03-2016 

22/07/2020 – 21/07/2024 

Finance Committee 

Training Link Governor 

Peter Devito 

Foundation 

Diocese 

06-06-2023 

06/06/2023 – 05/06/2027 

Resigned: 

19/06/2024 

Finance Committee 

Stephen Green 

Parent 

Parent election 

07-12-2021 

07/12/2021 – 06/12/2024 

Resigned: 

15/04/2024 

Finance Committee 

Health & Safety Link Governor 

 

 Associate Members

Name 

Job Title 

Appointed By 

Date of Appointment 

Current Term of Office 

Role 

Siobhan Foden 

School Business Manager 

Governing Body 

30-04-2024 

23/09/2024 – 22/09/2025 

Finance & Resources Committee  

No voting rights 

Jackie Nolan 

School Business Manager 

Governing Body 

01-01-2024 

23/09/2024 – 22/09/2025 

Finance & Resources Committee 

No voting rights 

Gary Chown 

 

Governing Body 

15-10-2024 

15/10/2024 – 14/10/2025 

Finance & Resources Committee 

No voting rights 

 

 Clerk

Name

Appointed By

Date of Appointment

Current Term of Office

Janet Schofield

Governing Body

12-01-2024

Ongoing

 

Vacancies:    

Foundation Governor (3)

Co-opted Governor (1)

Parent Governor (2)

 

Profiles of St Philip’s current Governors are set out below

FOUNDATION GOVERNORS (appointed by the Bishop to represent the Church) Term of office four years

Mrs Julia Webb (Chair of Governors)

Julia became a foundation governor in January 2023. Julia is a retired teacher with 20 years' experience in Catholic schools. She also served as a governor at St Philip's in the 1990s when three of her four children were attending the school. She is a parishioner, in Uckfield, where she is a member of the Justice and Peace group.

Mr Michael Evans (Chair of Finance & Resources)

Michael’s son attends St Philip’s and his daughter is now at St Paul's and they are all parishioners at St Philip’s. Michael is a Chartered Accountant by profession and works as a professional adviser in commercial property. He has previous experience as Chair of a charity supporting people with a rare neurological disease. He has also been active in his local community as the chair of a group to try and save a local pub. He hopes that some of this experience can be helpful in his role as Governor following his appointment in October 2021.

Mrs Veronica Jones

Veronica joined the governing board in August 2016. She is a parishioner at St John the Evangelist, Herons Ghyll where she is a reader and a part of the welcoming team and singing group. Veronica has over 35 years teaching experience in both secondary and primary education in the UK and overseas. She has also worked outside teaching gaining useful experience in the commercial world. Veronica lived in Malawi, Africa, for 3 years with her husband and small son, teaching in a local international primary school. Veronica is serving her second term in office.

Mrs Theresa Horan

Theresa was delighted to have been asked to be a governor at St Philips. In Theresa's words "It is a lovely school with a fantastic staff and lovely children". She has worked in school admin for over 30 years. She is a member of the congregation at Our Lady Immaculate & St Philip Neri and volunteers locally. She hopes that her experience working in schools will stand her in good stead in her role as a governor.

LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR (nominated by East Sussex Children’s Services) Term of office four years

Mr Hugh Jones (Local Authority Governor)

Hugh is a parishioner at St John the Evangelist, Heron’s Ghyll, where he is a member of the Finance Committee. Hugh is a retired Chartered Accountant and after qualifying in London was seconded to Malawi for three years. He subsequently worked in the insurance sector and latterly for a global law firm which included a voluntary project working with an academy school in North London. Since retirement Hugh has become the finance trustee of a charity based in Lewes which seeks to prevent homelessness by supporting people into rented accommodation. His only experience of working in education was teaching in Kenya during a gap year before going to university. Hugh joined the governing board in April 2023.

Useful Documents

CES Code of Conduct for Governors of a Governing Body

Register of Interests 2022-23

If you need to contact the Governors, please phone the school office on 01825 762302 or by email: office@stphilips.e-sussex.sch.uk.