Our Governors
Governing Body – What do our Governors Do?
Governors work with senior leaders in the strategic development of the school and in raising standards of achievement. Duties include setting the school’s vision, aims & objectives, approving the school budget and appointing the Head Teacher.
Governors must both support and challenge the Head Teacher, so need to gain an understanding of the school’s overall performance in order to explain its decisions and actions. They do this by attending regular meetings, carrying out school visits and meeting with senior leaders. They also attend training in order to keep up to date with the requirements of their role. Governors work as a team and make collective decisions.
Your School Needs You:
We currently have a vacancy for a Foundation governor. If you are interested in becoming a school governor, please contact the Clerk to Governors for more information and an informal discussion of what is involved: admin@st-josephs.brighton-hove.sch.uk
If you are a member of the school or local community and are interested in supporting St Joseph’s, please get in touch!
If you wish to contact the governors for any reason, please contact either the Clerk at the email address above, or the Chair of Governors Tad Matus, via the school.
Structure of the Governing Body:
The Governing Body for St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School members are listed below. The Full Governing Body (FGB) meets six times a year and consists of all members. At these meetings, the governing body carries out its three core functions, as identified by the Department for Education in the Governors' Handbook:
- ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
- overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure money is well spent.
The current Chair of Governors is Tad Matus and the Vice-Chair is Alison Childs.
Most business is carried out through the full meetings. There are also two panels: Admissions, and the Head Teacher Review Panel who meet as needed and report back to the Governing Body with recommendations. The GB adheres to the Brighton & Hove Code of Conduct for Governing Bodies. Associate members do not have voting rights on committees but are welcome to attend meetings if they would like to. They can offer advice to the GB if requested.
Staff attendance at meetings: There is a staff representative on the Governing Body, as well as the Head Teacher. The school Business Manager is also in attendance.Other guests or staff may be invited to attend a meeting as and when advice or information is required.
Full Governing Body Minutes are available from the Clerk, or the school Business Manager, Siobhan Justice on request: siobhanjustice@st-josephs.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Governing Body Membership:
Current list of Governors as at October 2022 including names, initials used in minutes, type of Governor and term of office.
Name of Governor |
Type of Governor |
Date Appointed & by whom |
Term of office end date |
Tad Matus (Chair) TM |
(Chair) Foundation |
10.11.2016 Diocese of Arundel & Brighton |
10.10.2024 |
Alison Childs (Vice-Chair) AC |
(Vice-Chair) Foundation |
14.12.2015 Diocese of Arundel & Brighton |
13.12.2023 |
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Gillian Foan GF
Juliet Skinner JS |
Staff - Head Teacher
Staff - Assistant Head |
01.12.2013 Ex-Officio (a member by virtue of their position at the school) 10.09.20 appointed by GB (no election needed) |
N/A due to role on GB
|
|
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John Parfitt JP |
Parent |
17.04.2019 Re-appointed by GB (no election needed) |
16.04.2023 |
Canon Kieron O’Brien KO |
Foundation |
16.03.2021 Diocese of Arundel & Brighton |
15.03.2025 |
|
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William Redfern WR |
Foundation |
01.09.2021 Diocese of Arundel & Brighton |
31.08.2025 |
Cyril D ike CD |
Foundation |
dates tbc Diocese of Arundel & Brighton |
|
Ferrise Hall |
Local Authority |
Appointed by GB (no election needed) |
27.09.2023 |
Jane Billings JB |
Foundation |
25.01.2022 Diocese of Arundel & Brighton |
24.01.2026 |
Nicolas Miche NM |
Parent |
28.03.19 Appointed by GB (no election needed)
|
27.03.2023 |
Jon Gravenor JG |
Associate Member |
14.03.2013 requested by GB |
|
Lyndsey Gravenor Chair of Governors Autumn 2018 - COMPLETED TERM Autumn 2022
Emmanuel Nimo Foundation Governor Spring 2017 - RESIGNED Summer 2018
Edgar Tshuma Parent Governor Winter 2016 - RESIGNED Summer 2018