Governors

The Governors of St John Fisher School are proud to welcome you to our school website. We work with the Head and the wider community to raise standards and also to ensure the well-being of every pupil/person in our school. We are a committed, friendly group of people; some of us are parents of present and past pupils of St John Fisher School, all are very keen to achieve the highest standards within the school.

School Governors have a wide range of responsibilities. We help to raise the standards of pupil achievement by setting annual targets, and plan the school’s future direction. Governors have responsibility for monitoring the school’s budget. Governors are also accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community.

As a Roman Catholic school, the Governors also have a duty to preserve and develop the catholic nature of the school.

The full governing body meets five times a year. Certain key tasks provide the focus for our discussions and as a minimum each meeting focuses on a core topic as follows:

Analysis of results

Setting targets for the year

Approving the School Development Plan

Approving the Annual Budget

Reviewing the school policies

The main governing body is supported by committees which meet once or twice a term as indicated by the Governing Body Schedule of Business:

1. Resources committee – concerned with finance and premises.

2. Teaching and Learning committee – concerned with the school curriculum and with standards of performance.

3. Pay and Personnel committee - concerned with HR and staffing.

Some committees meet less frequently or only as a need arises. These include Admissions, pupil Discipline, Staff Grievance and Appeals committees.

All the Governors try to attend school functions and also make formal and informal visits during the school day. Each year, we hold an information evening for parents and conduct questionnaires to help us with our planning.

We can be contacted via the school office or at governors@sjfisher.herts.sch.uk

Governing body attendance, voting and membership details

Full name.	Mary Harber
Date of appointment.	10.10.2013
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Diocese
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	100%
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Mr John David Maguire
Date of appointment.	First appointed as an Associate Governor in Sept 2013. Appointed LEA Governor in Sept 2015
Term of office.	3 years as LEA Governor
Date stepped down (where applicable).	Still a Governor
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Mary Harber Chair of Governors and Charles Sweeny
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	Every meeting of Teaching & Learning Every Full Board Every Pay & Personnel Committee meeting
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Mrs Ofure Awonuga
Date of appointment.	October 2015
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Governing Body
Governance role in any other school/college.	Not applicable
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	Not applicable
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	All bar ONE (90%)
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Valerie Lynn
Date of appointment.	October 2015
Term of office.	Four years
Date stepped down (where applicable).	N/A
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Parent Governor appointed by the school & board of Governors
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	100%
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	N/A

Full name.	Maria Adair
Date of appointment.	May 2012
Term of office.	Renewed 2016
Date stepped down (where applicable).	N/A
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Diocese/Foundation Governor
Governance role in any other school/college.	No
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	Attended all meetings.
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Rocquel Nevers-Wright
Date of appointment.	October 2015
Term of office.	4 Years
Date stepped down (where applicable).	N/A
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Parents
Governance role in any other school/college.	N/A
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	N/A
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	100% for Full board meetings
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	No voting rights applicable

Full name.	Ellie McConachie
Date of appointment.	September 2011
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Appointed as a parent governor
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	Apologises made at one meeting. Attendance at all others.
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Aileen Hartnett
Date of appointment.	March 2016
Term of office.
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Foundation
Governance role in any other school/college.	N/A
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	Husband Chair of Governors St. Helens Brixton.
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	March 2016 to January 2017 - attended 4 FGB meetings and apologies for 7/12/16. Pay and Personnel Committee 14/11/16? H&S 19/10/16
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Elena Piccinini
Date of appointment.	March 2017
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Mary Harber Chair of Governors
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	N/A
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	N/A

Full name.	Fr. TJ Plower
Date of appointment.	October 2015
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).	N/A
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Diocese
Governance role in any other school/college.	Ss Alban & Stephen Infant School, Vanda Crescent St Albans AL1 5EX Ss Alban & Stephen Junior School, Cavendish Road St. Abans AL1 5EG
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	Apologies for 2 FGB meetings
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	N/A

Full name.	Sr. Anita O’Leary
Date of appointment.	Jan 2016
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).	N/A
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Diocese
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	FGB – 100% Apologies for 1 T & L Committee meeting
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	N/A

Full name.	Christine Dawson
Date of appointment.	2016
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).	N/A
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Foundation
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	FGB – 100%
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	N/A

Full name.	Laura Flitton
Date of appointment.	September 2014
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Staff governor
Governance role in any other school/college.	No
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	The Headteacher attends all committee and full board meetings. Apologies given 1x committee in this time.
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Gemma O’Neill
Date of appointment.	September 2014
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Staff governor
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	Attends all committee and full board meetings. Apologies given 2x committee and 1x FGB
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed

Full name.	Karen Vontzalidis
Date of appointment.	May 2015
Term of office.	4 years
Date stepped down (where applicable).
Appointed by (in accordance with the Instrument of Government).	Associate governor
Governance role in any other school/college.	None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors, or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings, over the last academic year.	Attends all Teaching and Learning committee and Full Board meetings.
For associate members –voting rights (if any) on committees to which they have been appointed	None

Committee Terms of Reference (reviewed and updated each Autumn term)