Welcome to the St. Mark's C of E Junior School Governor page where you will find information on our current Governing Body.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor or would like to make contact with the Governing Body for any reason, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact the School Business Manager at admin@st-marks.gloucs.sch.uk who will be happy to discuss your query.

Our School Governing Body

Governors are a voluntary body of people who guide and support the strategic direction of the school. They are members of the school team and their contribution to the running of the school is highly valued.

School Governing Body

The instrument of government states that the governing body shall consist of:

• 8 Foundation Governors
• 2 parent governors
• 1 local authority governor
• 1 staff governor
• 1 headteacher
• 1 co-opted governor

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• Set the aims and objectives for the school
• Set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• Set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• Monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• Be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

Governor Structure 2022 - 2023

Prof. Trevor Cooling

Chair of Governors / Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing & Finance (chair) / Ethos Committee (chair) / Curriculum

Term of Office: 31.3.20 - 31.4.23

                     Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

                     Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/6

Governor Profile

I have lived in Cheltenham since 2003. I am married to Margaret, and we have five adult grandchildren. Now retired, I have spent my career in education as a schoolteacher, university lecturer and CEO of a charity. My specialism is Religious Education, and I was Chair of the RE Council of England and Wales between 2015 and 2021. I retired from my position as Professor of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2021. As a parent and foster parent, I realise how important a good primary school experience is for children’s futures.

Mrs Helen Lockyer

Vice-Chair of Governors / Parent Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Curriculum (Chair)

Term of Office: 21.5.21 - 20.5.24

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

                  Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/6

Governor Profile

My two sons attend St Mark’s and both love taking part in the many sporting activities on offer. My background is in education: I have taught across Key Stage 2 and currently work for the Local Authority as a School Improvement Adviser. I am passionate about all children being able to develop a lifelong love of reading, and enjoy my involvement with the local ‘Read for Good’ charity.  

Revd. Rod Paterson

Ex-Officio St Mark's Church

Responsibilities / Committees: Ethos

Term of Office: in post 

                  Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None 

                  Governance roles in other educational institutions: None 

                  Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 0/6 

Governor Profile 

I am the Vicar of St Marks church and so also a Foundation Governor of the school. I particularly enjoy leading school assemblies!

Mrs Katy Steinhardt 

Local Authority Nominated to the Governing Body

Term of Office - 5.10.21 - 4.10.24

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing and Finance, Safeguarding Lead

                  Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

                   Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 3/5

Governor Profile

I live in Benhall and am a local GP. I am married and have 2 grown up sons, a bouncy dog and an elderly cat. I have experience with safeguarding the vulnerable in society have also worked in a Learning Disabled Unit in Gloucester. Coming from a community minded family, I am pleased to be able to use my skills to support the education of the children, as well as the families within the community in which I live. 

Mrs Angharad Fitch

Head Teacher 

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing & Finance/  Ethos/ Curriculum

Term of Office: in post 

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: none 

Governance roles in other educational institutions: none 

                        Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/6     

Mr Andrew Sim

Staff Governor 

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing & Finance/Curriculum

Term of Office: 23.4.20 - 23.4.23

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: none 

                   Governance roles in other educational institutions: none 

                   Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/6 

Mr Phil Southam

Foundation 

Responsibilities / Committees: Ethos Committee

Term of Office: 1.11.16 - 31.10.26

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None 

                Governance roles in other educational institutions: None 

                Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/6 

Governor Profile

I have been involved with St Mark's for the last 18 years.  My three grown-up children all attended and flourished at the school.  I have lived in Cheltenham for over 30 years, during which time I have been an active member of churches in West Cheltenham and have worked in management roles in the local NHS.

Mrs Prasanthi Fernando

Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing & Finance

Term of Office: 30.10.17 - 31.08.23

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Child on roll

                 Governance roles in other educational institutions: none 

                 Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 4/6

Governor Profile

I have a son and two daughters. Both my daughters attended St Mark’s school and enjoyed many extracurricular activities that the school offered. I am a trained teacher in secondary Maths. I have worked at Estyn (Her Majesties Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales) and currently work for the Department for Education. I am passionate about helping all children to have the education they deserve and making Maths a fun subject to learn. I have been a governor at St Mark’s since September 2017.

Mr. Matt Pinless

Parent Governor

Responsibilities/Committees - Ethos Committee

Term of Office - 26.6.20 - 25.6.23

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

                  Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 5/6 

Governor Profile

I have 22 years’ experience as a secondary teacher, teaching a variety of Humanities subjects specialising in RE and English. I am also a father of two children, both of whom have enjoyed a successful experience at St Marks School. I have seen how the school has progressed over the past 10 years and I am excited to be a part in its continuing journey. In my spare time I enjoy staying fit which includes running and playing for a local hockey club.    

Mr Brian Cripps

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: 01.03.21 - 29.2.24

Responsibilities / Committees: Curriculum, Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/6 

Governor Profile

I have lived on Benhall for over 30 years and have three grown-up children, two of whom went through their primary years at St Mark's. I have a lifetime of experience in primary education as a class teacher, as a subject leader and as a deputy head. My subject loves are music and PE, but I am also enthusiastic about the contribution extra-curricular activities and residentials make to children's development. I have been a teacher and a parent governor in other primary schools.

Mr Jonathon Gould

Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Curriculum

Term of Office - 01.12.21 - 30.11.24

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 4/4

Governor Profile

I have been a teacher for 23 years. Currently, I work at Dean Close Prep School where I am the Academic Deputy Head. I love learning new things and am passionate about helping children fulfil their potential. I'm married with two teenage children and can often be found out and about on my bike, riding silly distances for fun!

Mrs Charlotte Jamieson 

Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing and Finance

Term of Office - 01.12.22 - 30.11.25

                   Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

                    Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: N/A

I have lived in Cheltenham for more than 25 years on the other side of town from St Mark's and have been an active member of the town centre church, St Matthew's. My two grown-up children attended local schools and I was a governor at their primary school for a number of years. I recently retired from UK Research and Innovation, which funds academic research and enjoy all aspects of science (my role at UKRI was funding particle physics!)

Spotlight on… The Governors’ Staffing & Finance Committee

The Governor’s Staffing & Finance Committee is responsible for making sure the school’s recruitment works smoothly and that we continue to have excellent teachers here at St Mark’s. We help the school’s leadership find the right people to join the school. If you have any questions about Staffing in the school, please do get in touch!

One of the other key roles of the Committee is to be responsible for approving the Budget. We also monitor the policies and procedures for sound budgetary control. The Committee also oversees the Pupil Premium expenditure to ensure effective use of the funds. Additional responsibilities include reviewing Health and Safety issues associated with the building and site. We are currently looking at generating income from other sources.

Spotlight on…The Ethos Committee

The Ethos Committee supports and promotes the school’s Christian ethos, vision and values. The Committee has responsibility to support, advise and challenge on matters relating to the Christian distinctiveness and effectiveness as a Church of England school. We promote links between the school, local parish churches, Parochial Church Council and communities locally, nationally and globally.  We monitor and evaluate the content and impact of Collective Worship and Religious Education on our pupils’ learning and SMSC development. If you’d like to find out more about our work or have a voice on our Committee, please contact us!

Spotlight on....... The Curriculum Committee

The Curriculum Committee is responsible for ensuring that the St Mark's School’s curriculum not only meets statutory requirements but is ambitious and progressive, reflecting our vision and values. The committee is involved in evaluating the choice of approaches and strategies used to teach the curriculum to ensure the best possible outcomes. It also supports staff as they carry out monitoring activities to support the identification of priorities and subsequent actions.

If you would like to see the minutes from any of our Governing Body meetings, they can be requested from Mrs Hicks on 01242 702280 option 3 or admin@st-marks.gloucs.sch.uk

Please allow 10 working days for you to receive them.