Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Here you will find lots of information about our Governing Body and their roles in school.
The Role of the Governing Board.
The governing board provides strategic leadership and accountability for the school and its community.
Governors have three main functions:
Governors work with the headteacher to set aims and objectives for the year alongside development of policies and procedures to enable achievement. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge or 'critical friend' with which to support the headteacher.
Governors are expected to:
The Governing Board has two committees:
Angela Whitney
My name is Angela Whitney. I am Divisional Director of a Dutch distribution company heading the Food business in the UK. I am the Chair of Governors. All my three children have attended our school and I initially became a parent governor to give something back to the school. Having experience of working in a business environment I felt that I could help those aspects of school life that require a discipline and skill in finance, recruitment and management. Whilst this is the case, it is the time spent in school understanding what impact our decisions as Governors make to each child, that is most rewarding. Working with the staff and the children themselves to make a better learning environment and ensure that each child achieves to the best of their ability defines the role.
Gwen Byron
My name is Gwen Byron and I work for the Inclusive Learning Department. I currently hold the position of Vice Chair of Governors. I am a Foundation Governor but was originally voted onto the Governing Body as a Parent Governor. My 3 children attended St Mary and St John’s and I believe the faith education they received and the foundations that were laid by our school were responsible for their academic success. I am passionate about education and believe that parent involvement and support is the key to enabling the school to get the best out of every child. As a Governor I want every child to feel supported and valued and as a team the staff and Governing Body work hard to try to achieve this.
Allan Foster
My name is Allan Foster. I am a retired Senior Electronics Buyer for Joy Mining. I also run a local Scout Group and I am the Vice Chair of the Friends of Mesnes Park –a volunteer group helping to maintain the standards of our local park. I am a Foundation Governor for the school. I wanted to become a Governor to help support staff and pupils to encourage them all to develop their own spiritual, physical and mental well-being. More importantly to ensure we have the resources available to maintain and improve the excellent standards we have attained.
Tony Staunton-Unsworth
My name is Tony Staunton-Unsworth and I am a parent Governor, with two children currently at the school and another who has recently moved on to High School. I work for the Targeted Education Support Services within Wigan Council and I help schools across the borough to support pupils who have Social, Emotional or Mental Health difficulties. Because of this I am always mindful of the need to take a holistic approach; to help foster emotional resilience and self-esteem. This is something that fits well with both the ethos within school and the hard work of the staff in developing young hearts and minds.
Peter Taylor
I have worked in the Catholic Education Service for over 40 years and was very pleased to be asked to support St Mary and St John's School as a governor, over ten years ago. As a member of the parish I have a keen interest in the welfare of our school and enjoy working with the staff and pupils to maintain our excellent school.
Peter Moran
My name is Peter Moran. I am a lawyer specializing in criminal advocacy with my own firm based in Market Place, Wigan for the last 20 years.
I am also a keen Rugby League fan, an independent member of the RFL's Community Board and the President of the National Conference League. I even have some shares in Wigan Warriors!
Married to Sylvia, our four children all attended St Mary and St John's before 'graduating' to St John Fisher and ultimately to University. I am a Foundation Governor and the Chair of Finance. I have been a governor for some 25 years.
It has been a source of enjoyment to me to see the school become one of the very best locally and nationally. Ensuring that we attract and develop quality staff, providing resources and spending our funds wisely, but most importantly of all giving our children the best available start to their educational journeys - these have and will always be amongst my priorities.
Jennifer Armstrong
Stephen Grayson
My name is Stephen Grayson and I am a partner at a large accountancy practice in Manchester city centre.
I am delighted to have been appointed as a Foundation Governor for the school.
I have 2 children already at the school and another child who will eventually follow in their footsteps. Therefore I am keen to ensure that the school continues to create the right culture for learning and development of all the children.
Mrs Hitchen
My name is Mrs Hitchen, I am the deputy head teacher at St Mary and John catholic Primary School. I have worked in education for the past 22 years and have spent the last 18 years working at St Mary and John Catholic Primary School. During this time I have worked in many different class and experienced a wide age range of children from Y1 to Y6 inclusive. I really enjoy all aspects of my work and find it extremely rewarding to see the children's journey across each academic year. I am the maths coordinator at school and have a love of maths, I work extremely hard to ensure that my enthusiasm and enjoyment of this subject is shared with the children.
In recent years my governor role has provided the opportunity for further personal development and I am proud to be one of the school Governors.
Mary Kearsley
My name is Mary Kearsley and I am a Foundation Governor linked with Year 4. I retired as Head teacher of the school over 5 years ago and feel so privileged to be actively working alongside the staff and pupils once again. Two of my grandchildren attended the school before transferring to St. John Fisher High School and another of my granddaughters is currently in Year 1.
Since retiring I have worked on a part time basis with the headteachers of a number of the Catholic Schools within Salford Diocese and this has kept me abreast of changes within education.
I am active within the parish as a member of both St. John’s Childrens Liturgy group and the Parish’s Sacramental Programme team.
I will strive to support the school to sustain its excellence and maintain the very positive ethos that provides such a safe and caring environment for our children.
Mrs Angela Whitney - Chair of Governors
Mrs Gwen Byron - Vice Chair of Governors
Mr Allan Foster - Foundation Governor
Mr Peter Moran - Foundation Governor
Mr Peter Taylor - Foundation Governor
Mrs Mary Kearsley - Foundation Governor
Mr Stephen Grayson - Foundation Governor
Mrs Jennifer Armstrong - Parent Governor
Mr Tony Staunton-Unsworth - Parent Governor
Mrs Vicky Hitchen - Staff Governor
Mr Chris Ready - LA Governor
Mrs Louise Vose - Headteacher
Mrs Marie Collier - Clerk to Governors
The total number of governors is twelve.
The Governors remit is to:
a) Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
b)Hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff;
c) Oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Governor Details
Name |
Date of Appointment/ appointing Body |
Term of Office/ end date |
Governor Type |
Date of resignation |
Responsibility |
Angela Whitney |
24.11.14/ Governing Body appointed |
21.11.22 |
FOUNDATION |
|
CHAIR/PUPIL DISCIPLINE CHAIR/ HT PERFORMANCE LEAD/RE AND RSHE GOVERNOR/WHOLE SCHOOL LINK |
Gwen Byron |
1.9.12/Governing Body appointed |
31.8.24 |
FOUNDATION |
|
VICE-CHAIR/SEN/SAFEGUARDING/Y2 LINK/CHAIR FOR THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR PSHE |
Allan Foster |
17.12.13/ Governing Body appointed |
16.12.21 |
FOUNDATION |
|
YEAR 3 LINK GOVERNOR/HEALTH & SAFETY GOVERNOR/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR SCIENCE |
Peter Moran |
1.9.12/Governing Body appointed |
31.8.24 |
FOUNDATION |
|
CHAIR of FINANCE COMMITTEE/YEAR 6 LINK GOVERNOR/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR PE |
Peter Taylor |
1.9.12/Governing Body appointed |
31.8.24 |
FOUNDATION |
|
SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR ART AND MUSIC/GOVERNOR/LINK GOVERNOR/YEAR 5 LINK GOVERNOR |
Mary Kearsley | 18.9.18/Governing Body appointed | 18.9.2022 | FOUNDATION | Child Looked After(CLA) Governor/ PUPIL PREMIUM GOVERNOR/RECEPTION/YEAR 4 LINK GOVERNOR/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR MATHS | |
Stephen Grayson | 18.10.18/Governing Body | 18.10.2022 | FOUNDATION | VICE CHAIR OF FINANCE COMMITTEE/YEAR 5 LINK GOVERNOR/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR COMPUTING | |
Chris Ready | 6.7.2020/LA | 5.8.2024 | LOCAL AUTHORITY | SUBEJCT LINK GOVERNOR FOR GEO/ECO | |
Linda Garbutt |
10.3.15/Council and appointed by Governing Body |
9.3.19 |
LOCAL AUTHORITY |
9.3.19 |
RECEPTION LINK GOVERNOR |
Tony Staunton -Unsworth |
27.5.19/parents appointed |
27.5.24 |
PARENT |
|
YEAR 1 LINK GOVERNOR/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR HISTORY |
Jennifer Armstrong |
1.1.18/parents appointed |
1.1.22 |
PARENT |
|
YEAR 3 LINK GOVERNOR/SUBJECT LINK GOVERNOR FOR ENGLISH |
Vicky Hitchen |
31.8.19/Governing Body appointed |
31.8.23 |
STAFF |
|
N/A |
Louise Vose |
1.9.13 |
31.8.63 |
HEADTEACHER |
|
N/A |
NB: Any Governors appointed by the Governing Body are under the Liverpool Archdiocese.
Register of Interests
Name |
Details of Pecuniary Interest |
Details of Personal Interest |
Angela Whitney |
Nil |
Nil |
Gwen Byron |
Nil |
Nil |
Allan Foster |
Nil |
Nil |
Peter Moran |
Nil |
Grandparent of child in school |
Peter Taylor |
Nil |
Nil |
Mary Kearsley | Nil | Grandparent of children in school |
Stephen Grayson | Nil | Parent of child/ren in school |
Jennifer Armstrong |
Nil |
Parent of child in school |
Tony Staunton -Unsworth |
Nil |
Parent of child/ren in school |
Vicky Hitchen |
Nil |
Deputy Headteacher |
Louise Vose |
Nil |
Headteacher |
Chris Ready |
|
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