School Governance

A warm welcome to St Paulinus School from all the governors that represent the school. Our Governing Body currently has 12 members varying from Teachers, Support Staff, Parents and Members of the Parochial Parish Council at St Paulinus Church.

Everyone on the Governing Body provides their time freely and with diverse backgrounds ranging from education through to IT, providing both the balance between the needs of the children and the needs of the school moving forward.

The role of the governors is to provide strategic direction for the school. Our aim is to support and challenge the school while committing to ensure that every child has the capability to reach their full potential.

We have many goals which include confirming that local and national government legislation and policies are maintained, that the economics of the school are balanced and most importantly that the safety and education of the children are upheld.

Governors take an active role in the school which is not just restricted to attending meetings but also attending school during a variety of functions and being able to visit the school and provide help in classrooms if required. To help augment this, Governors are placed with a Key Stage group and also aligned to subjects that they have experience or and understanding in. This gives the children, teachers and school added benefits.

Within the community, Mr Tharby has been a governor at St Paulinus School for over 7 years, as well as providing IT skills to St Paulinus Church as well. His daughter still attends St Paulinus and is in her final year while his son attends Beths Grammar School after many enjoyable years at St Paulinus.

We look forward to continuing to support the School, Head Teacher and Staff now and in the future continuing the work to improve the school for all.

Many Thanks, Mr Daniel Tharby
Chair of Governors – St Paulinus CE Primary School.

The Governing Body

Mrs Sarah Young, Headteacher

Foundation Governors

Fr Paul Prentice (12.10.2018)
Mr Daniel Tharby, LGB Chair (14/07/18 - 13/07/22)
Mr Richard Demuth, LGB Vice Chair (21/11/19-20/11/23)
Mrs Sue Hughes (14/03/18-13/03/22)
Mrs Katie Sukonik (14/03/18-13/03/22, Interest: employee at St Paulinus).
Mr Glen Bater (19/08/18 - 18/09/22)
Mr David Crook (19/09/18 - 18/09/22)
Mr David Hughes (04/07/2019 - 03/07/2023)

Staff Governor

Mrs Sylvia Smith (01/09/2017 - 31/08/21)

Parent Governor

Mrs Jo Joynes (22.11.2018 - 21.11.2022)

Finance committee:

Mrs Sarah Young
Mr Daniel Tharby
Mr Richard Demuth
Mrs Katie Sukonik.

17/18 resignations

Cllr David Hurt (01/03/14 - 07/11/17)
Mr Brian Bunce (01/03/14 - 28/02/17)
Mrs K Foster (12/05/15-04/07/18)

More information about being a Governor

Why School Governors?

School Governors are people in the community that wish to make a positive contribution to children's education. School Governors are one of, if not the largest volunteer work force in the United Kingdom with an estimated 300,000 individuals serving in our schools and a vital role in supporting schools on a daily basis. Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) makes note that the most effective schools demonstrate strong, positive leadership and management which the governing body provides support to.

What does a Governor do?

A School Governor is there to help the school by:

Setting the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction
Overseeing the resources of the school are used effectively and efficiently for the improvement of the pupils education
Be a source of challenge and support to the Head Teacher
Cover a range of skills, knowledge and experience to support the school.

Governors also make time to:

Attended a meeting of the full governing body once a term
Read reports and background papers prior to meetings
Attend committee meetings (about once or twice a term)
Join in with training and briefing sessions
Join in learning walks
Ensure safeguarding is embedded across the school
Become involved in head teacher appointments, exclusions, performance management and Ofsted Inspections

How to apply:

If you would be interested in becoming part of the Local Governing Body as vacancies arrive please contact the school (admin@st-paulinus.bexley.sch.uk). You will be asked to complete an application which will be shared for final approval with the Amadeus Primary Academies Trust.

There are vacancies which the school are currently liaising with the PCC to fill.

Type of Governors.

There are a number of types of governor that are elected and explained below:

Foundations Governors: (up to 7)

The Foundation Governors will include the Parish incumbent or his or her designate. The remaining Foundation Governors shall reflect the religious designation having been recommended by the St Paulinus Parochial Church Council. The Foundation Governor will encourage and maintain the strong links with the Church and Christian ethos. The Foundation Governors will cover a broad range of skills to include education, business, HR and finance.

Governors: (1)

Appointed by the governing body to represent the community and support the LGB to secure high standards of education for the pupils in which attend St Paulinus CE Primary School. The Governor may not have previous experience or knowledge of education but will bring skills, experience and knowledge that will support the Local Governing Body.

Staff Governor: (1)

Elected onto the governing body by staff at the school. Everyone appointed to the Governing body is only appointed on the basis that they have in the opinion of the person making the appointment ‘the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Parent Governors: (up to 2)

Elected onto the governing body by other parents from the school, and he or she must be a parent or a carer of a pupil at the school at the time when he or she is elected.

Governance Handbook - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook