Our Governors are drawn from the local community and freely give their time and expertise in order to support the work of the school.

Governor Duties

Some of the main duties carried out in conjunction with the school leadership team are:

• Setting targets for pupil achievement
• Managing the school’s finances
• Making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based
• Appointing staff

Governor Types

There are several different categories of Governor:

• Foundation Governors are appointed by the Diocese;
• Parent Governors are appointed by self-nomination and parent vote where necessary

We are blessed to have a committed and multi-talented Local Governing Committee with a wide variety of experience and expertise.

Governor Statement 2025-2026

Review of the last academic year

Safeguarding remains front and centre of all that we do and annual updates to Keeping Children Safe in Education were implemented, governors completed the required briefings, and the Single Central Record was spot-checked alongside termly Designated Safeguarding Lead reporting. The culture is strong and responsive; we will keep pace with the 2025/26 guidance and continue our monitoring.

We reshaped local governance to match the Xavier framework and embedded a clearer annual cycle. Link roles and reporting now map cleanly to Trust expectations, improving the rhythm of assurance and reducing duplication. The next step is to fill remaining vacancies and strengthen induction so impact is felt immediately and governors feel confident in their roles.

Working with the new Senior Leadership Team, governors used the School Development Plan as a basis to understand and challenge direction. This included subject leader conversations and class visits, review of assessment and support for vulnerable pupils.

The new RE curriculum and the Prayer and Liturgy Directory were implemented across the school. Catholic School’s Inspection (CSI) recommendations were absorbed into the School Development Plan and monitored; collective worship is more regular and pupil leadership is more visible.

Despite cost pressures, spending stayed disciplined and linked to School Development Plan priorities. The School Development Fund was relaunched and transparency with parents will be strengthened further so the community can see where contributions are making a difference.

Priorities for the year ahead

Safeguarding will remain our foremost priority in the year ahead. We will seek clear evidence in visits and reports that policies are lived out in daily practice, and we will continue to challenge and support leaders.

We will champion the new School vision - Welcoming all, nurturing belief and inspiring futures - so it is lived in classrooms, worship, behaviour, inclusion and communications.

Having relaunched the School Development Fund, we will work with the Senior Leadership Team to agree priorities, allocate funds prudently and keep communication clear and regular with families. Termly impact updates will become the norm.

We will complete the election of two Foundation Governors and provide a Xavier-aligned induction so new colleagues are effective quickly. Attendance, visit frequency and quality of reporting will be monitored to ensure the board’s capacity translates into impact.

We will review the admissions policy with the school, consulting where required, and ensure clarity and fairness for families. The aim is timely approval and smooth implementation ahead of the next cycle.

Remaining CSI actions will stay in focus. We will look for high-quality prayer and liturgy, confident teaching in RE, and authentic opportunities for pupil leadership and social action that reflect the school’s mission.

Governors will continue to operate at the right level, being a strategic friend to the school - asking the right questions and checking impact, rather than managing operations.

We will keep strengthening the link between local governance and the Xavier Trust Board by using common templates, aligning timelines and inviting Trust participation where helpful. The aim is to maintain autonomy over local distinctiveness while benefiting from Trust oversight and support.

Our Local Governing Committee