Governing Body

Meet Our Chair Of Governors

Justin Waters

I have been a governor at Gomersal St Mary’s since 1997, originally as a Parent Governor after my daughter entered nursery in 1995. I also live in Gomersal and enjoy doing so very much. Since taking early retirement in 2010 I can now devote more of my spare time in supporting the school and with this in mind I recently became Vice Chair and then Chair of Governors.

My role and that of all Governors is to act as a critical friend to the school and its staff and provide help and support where needed in ensuring that we deliver high standards of education to our pupils within a well managed, caring and safe environment.

It’s very important to me to feel that I am making a positive contribution to the community in which I live and I believe there is no better way of doing this than in helping to provide our young people with an excellent education within which are enshrined Christian and Family values.

Meet Your Governing Body Members

: Miss Jane Barker Head Teacher

: Miss Steffi Byram Staff

: Mrs J. Earnshaw Designate

: Mrs Maxine Goodall Parent

: Mrs Julie Hallas LA Governor

: Miss Anna Joyce Associate Member

: Mr Liam Stead Foundation: Co-Opted

: Mrs Brenda Swinton Foundation: Diocesan

: Mr Justin Waters Foundation: Co-Opted

: Mrs Ruth Wilcox Designate

Associate Members of our governing body do not hold any voting rights.

School Governing Body

Updated June 2023

Representative	Position within Governing Body	Start of Term of Office	End of Term of Office
Miss Jane Barker	Head Teacher	1st September 2015	Ex Officio
Miss Steffi Byram	Staff	28th September 2021	27th September 2025
Mrs Joanna Earnshaw	Foundation: Co-Opted	21st June 2023	20th June 2027
Mrs Maxine Goodall	Parent	30th September 2019	29th September 2023
Mrs Julie Hallas	LA Governor	19th January 2021	18th January 2025
Miss Anna Joyce	Associate Member	16th July 2012	Ex Officio
Mr Liam Stead	Foundation: Co-Opted	23rd April 2022	22nd April 2026
Mrs Brenda Swinton	Foundation: Diocesan	3rd October 2022	2nd October 2026
Mr Justin Waters	Chair of Governors: Foundation: Co-Opted	20th November 2021	19th November 2025
Mrs Ruth Wilcox	Foundation: PCC	20th June 2023	19th June 2027
Vacancy	Parent

Our Governing Body Committees

Core purpose:

to obtain the best possible outcomes for children
to develop and maintain the ethos of the school
to strategically plan for development of the school
to monitor the school’s performance
to effectively manage change
to obtain the best value for money

Standards and Effectiveness Committee

Purpose: To provide support and challenge to the leadership of the school and to hold them to account in relation to the quality of educational provision including: the quality of teaching and learning; pupil progress and outcomes for pupils; the quality of the curriculum provision and delivery; behaviour and safety of pupils.

Membership:

Miss Jane Barker
Miss Steffi Byram
Mrs Maxine Goodall
Miss Anna Joyce
Mr Justin Waters

Quorum: Three governors

Terms of Reference: To comply with the curriculum committee Terms of Reference (Kirklees Council publication, “Committee Matters”, page 48, available on request) and in addition:

To monitor the progress of the School Development/Improvement Plan regarding pupil progress and attainment and curriculum developments.
To ensure that the National Curriculum and RE (in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus) are taught and that the curriculum is:

broad and balanced
relevant to the needs and abilities of all pupils
focuses on the necessary priorities to ensure that all pupils make good progress – especially in reading, writing and maths

To ensure that the school promotes the spiritual, moral social and cultural development of all pupils
To ensure that statutory pupil assessments are carried out and results reported to parents/carers and appropriate bodies
To ensure that the school communicates clearly with parents
To ensure that relevant procedures are in place and effective in relation to child protection/safeguarding
To ensure that impartial careers advice is provided to pupils
To consider the impact of pupil premium on outcomes for relevant pupils
To monitor and review on a scheduled basis relevant statutory policies including:

Child Protection
Statement of principles (The Governing Board has a duty to produce and review a written statement of general principles to guide Headteacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour and discipline amongst the pupils)
Sex Education (in primary schools the Governing Board decides whether or not this should be provided)
special educational needs/ensuring that the code of practice is met and that the policy is published, made known to parents and reported on at least annually

Resources Committee

Purpose: To provide support and challenge to the leadership of the school and to hold them to account in relation to the use of resources to support the priorities of the school including: the leadership of teaching and learning; the school budget; the employment and development of staff; the premises.

Membership:

Miss Jane Barker
Mrs Julie Hallas
Miss Anna Joyce
Mr Liam Stead
Mrs Brenda Swinton
Mr Justin Waters
Mrs Ruth Wilcox

Quorum: Three governors

Terms of Reference
To comply with the finance committee, premises and health and safety committee and
staffing committee Terms of Reference (Kirklees Council publication, “Committee Matters”, pages 49-52, available on request) and in addition:

Ensure a staffing structure is in place which meets the needs and priorities of the school and that requirements in relation to safer recruitment practices are met.
Ensure that a system is in place for staff appraisals and related CPD provision.
Make decisions on pay awards for staff following recommendations from the head teacher/review governors based on the outcome of the appraisal process.
Ensure a robust system is in place to monitor the quality of teaching and address underperformance.
Ensure that responsibilities in relation to NQTs are met and to support new school leaders as relevant.
Ensure matters of school security, school premises and health and safety are addressed.
Monitor and review on a scheduled basis relevant statutory policies including: