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 2021-2022

Prof. Trevor Cooling

Chair of Governors / Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Ethos Committee / Staffing & Finance / Curriculum

Term of Office: 31.3.20 - 31.3.24

                     Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Pending

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

Revd. Rod Paterson

Ex-Officio St Mark's Church

Responsibilities / Committees: N/A

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: 5/5 

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: 5/5     

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: 5/5 

Mr Phil Southam

Foundation 

Responsibilities / Committees: Ethos Committee & Staffing & Finance

Term of Office: 1.11.16 - 31.10.22

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: none 

                Governance roles in other educational institutions: none 

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

Mrs Prasanthi Fernando

Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Staffing & Finance / Curriculum

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: 4/5

Mrs Natalie Selby

Foundation Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Ethos Committee

Term of Office: 1.9.17 - 31.12.24

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Child on roll

                 Governance roles in other educational institutions: none 

                 Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 4/5 

Mr. Matt Pinless

Parent Governor

Responsibilities/Committees - Ethos Committee

Term of Office - 26.6.2020 - 25.6.2023

Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 4/5 

Mr Brian Cripps

Foundation Governor

01.03.21 - 29.2.24

Responsibilities: Standards / Staffing & Finance

Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 4/5 

Mrs Helen Lockyer

Parent Governor

21.5.2021 - 20.5.2024

Responsibilities: Curriculum Committee

Full Governing Body Meetings attended in previous academic year: 1/5 

Mrs Katy Steinhardt 

Local Authority Nominated to the Governing Body

Term of Office - 5.10.2021 - 4.10.2024

Mr Jonathon Gould

Foundation Governor - 1.12.2021 - 30.11.2024

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.