The Governing Body warmly welcome you to
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School

The Governing Body hold the responsibility, through a range of duties and powers, for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement as well as upholding the Catholic ethos of the school.

The main aims of the Governing Body are:

• To ensure every child enjoys their school life and can achieve their very best through the delivery of an expansive curriculum.
• To ensure that all our Staff always deliver the very best teaching to each and every child.
• To support families and carers in the religious life of their child, including Sacramental Preparation.

We achieve this by:

• Monitoring the academic progress and performance of all pupils.
• Ensuring the highest quality continuing professional development of all staff.
• Using funding and resources effectively to meet the needs of our school.
• Maintaining the highest quality of Catholic life and ethos in the daily life of our school.
• Monitoring the health, safety and welfare of all children within our school.
• Assessing, planning, prioritising, implementing and evaluating while school needs to ensure on-going improvement.

Types of Governors

There are different types of governors; this is to ensure that the governing body of a school reflects a wide range of groups from the community. The different categories of governors are:

• Parent Governors – are elected to be representative of the parent body. They keep in touch with those who elected them but make up their own minds on how to vote on a specific issue.
• Staff Governors – include the Headteacher, teaching and non-teaching staff. With the exception of the Headteacher, staff governors are elected by the staff of the school and communicate with those who have elected them.
• Local Authority Governors – are appointed by the local authority that maintains the school, they keep in touch with the Local Authority who appointed them, but they vote according to the best interests of the school.
• Foundation Governors – are appointed by the Bishop and Trustees of the Diocese they may be nominated by the Parish Priest. Foundation governors have an important role which is to uphold the Catholic ethos of the school and are always in the majority in a Catholic school.

Our Lady's governing body is made up of a wide range of people from varying backgrounds and professions. Each Governor has different roles and may sit on more than one subcommittee! The Full Governing Body meets at least once a term and relies on the various sub committees to advise their decisions. Our sub committees include: Curriculum Focus, Finance & Buildings, Personnel, Health and Safety, Ethos & Discipline and Admissions & Appeals.

At Our Lady's each year group has an assigned Class-Link Governor. This Governor will be more involved with the class activities and work undertaken by each class, for example, they may attend School Trips or be involved in project work. It is an excellent way for the children to get to know the Governing Body!

At Our Lady's we have the very best interests of each and every child at the heart of everything we do and the decisions we make as a Governing Body. We fully support the school's mission statement that every child deserves the very best and to 'follow their dreams using the guiding light of Jesus'.

Governor Profiles

Mrs Jackie McCorristan

I was delighted to be appointed as Clerk to the Governing Body at Our Lady's School. I have worked as a clerk at various schools for over 18 years now and very much enjoy unique insight the role gives me. The Governing Body is made up of volunteers who are passionate about ensuring the pupils get the very best possible start in their foundation and primary education. The pupils' development and well being are at the heart of everything the Governors do. I firmly believe that a good education at primary level is essential if children are to reach their full potential. I know that all of the staff and governing body at Our Lady's Catholic Primary School are wholly committed to make this happen and feel lucky to be part of that team.

Clerk to the Governors

Mrs Sue Nightingale

I am a foundation governor at Our Lady’s School. I have been a governor at a previous school locally for 9 years. I am a Nurse Practitioner and have been Nursing for 37 years having been a volunteer medic in Lourdes more than 16 times, so I was delighted to be asked by Miss Cahill to join Our Lady’s governing body. I have 2 grown up daughters. My 24 year old has high functioning Autism and gained a 2:1 Degree in Animal Care and Conservation in 2022. I am an advocate for children with special needs and delighted to work alongside Mrs Copland and the rest of the teaching staff. I have been warmly welcomed into this wonderful school and it's amazing children. The school and governors work extremely hard to ensure every child has the nurturing, opportunities, education, care and dedication they need. Jesus is truly the guiding light at this wonderful little school.

Mrs Anna Koziol 

Hi my name is Anna and I come from Poland. I have lived in UK since August 2008 and I'm really enjoying living here. I'm full time mum of 2 boys and part time manager in restaurant at the Birmingham Airport.  I love to spend time with my family and have fun with them. This is my first time being a governor at school and hopefully I can manage :)

If you have any ideas about our school feel free to tell me and I can present them to the the governors. 

Mr Thomas Duffy 

I have worked as a Building Services Engineer for the past 18 years and now run my own consultancy practice. I have worked on projects throughout the UK varying from residential developments, office fit outs, leisure and hotel schemes providing designs, energy improvement methods, Building Regulations compliance and budget costing advice. I have two sons who attend Our Lady’s in Year 4 and Year 1. I believe children should be taught from a young age, not just curriculum subjects, but life skills and values that will help them thrive beyond their school years and help mould them into strong and successful adults.

Governing Body Members

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Name	Type of Governor	Attendance 2022/23
Mrs Eileen Moroney-Barnett	Chair of Governors,	100%
Brother Andrew Ferris	Deputy Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor	83%
Miss S Cahill	Headteacher	100%
Mr Matt Sparling	Foundation Governor	66%
Mrs Eve Hands	Foundation Governor	30%
Mrs Susan Nightingale	Foundation Governor	83%
Mrs Nicola Clulow Mrs Anna Koziol Mr Thomas Duffy	Parent Governor Parent Governor Associate Parent Governor	Elected May 23
Mrs N Copland	Staff Governor	100%
Mrs Michelle Grantham	Associate Governor	0
Father Anthony Pham-Tri-Van	Associate Governor, Parish Priest	0
Mrs Jackie McCorristan	Clerk to Governing Body	100%

Key:

LA -  Local Authority nominated or appointed Governor
PG -  Elected or appointed Parent Governor
STF - Staff Governor
FOU - Foundation Governor appointed by Diocesan Education Service
AS -  Associate member

Governing Body Contact

Mrs E. Moroney - Barnett - c/o Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, East Meadway, Tile Cross, Birmingham, B33 0AU