St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery

"Following in Jesus' footsteps, Recognising the Holy Spirit in ourselves and in each other and nurturing our God given gifts."

The Governing Body of St Joseph's has four core functions:

• to support the Catholicity of the school;
• to set the vision and strategic direction of the school;
• to hold the head teacher to account for its educational performance; and
• to ensure financial resources are well spent.

Our Governing Body is made up of seven Foundation Governors, a Staff Governor, the Head Teacher, two Parent Governors and one Local Authority Governor.  The Governing Body may also appoint associate members to committees.  Governors regularly review their skills and training needs and actively seek to increase their knowledge.  They carry out visits in school looking at specific areas such as safeguarding, health & safety, SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) and the different curriculum subjects.  The Governing Body sets annual priorities (see document below) in line with the school's SDP (School Development Plan) and reviews their overall practice and progress every academic year.  In addition, the Foundation Governors have a legal duty to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school and to ensure that the school is conducted in accordance with its trust deed. An important aspect of this is supporting and upholding the Catholic ethos of the school.

Within their roles the governors look to the six features of Effective Governance (Maintained Schools Governance Guide - March 2024, DfE, Department for Education):

• Strategic Leadership that sets and champions vision, ethos and strategy
• Accountability that drives up educational standards and financial performance
• People with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity
• Structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities
• Compliance with statutory and contractual requirements
• Evaluation to monitor and improve the quality and impact of governance.

To assist their work, the Governing Body has four committees: Catholic Ethos & Admissions, Finance & Premises, Staffing Performance Management & Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum.  You will find more information about each committee further down this page.

The Governing Body accepts both the Diocese Code of Conduct and the West Berkshire Council Code of Conduct for governors and associate members, on an annual basis.  These documents can be found below.

CATHOLICITY        STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT        FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE        EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Find out more about our governors and associate members within the "Meet our Governors & Associate Members" document below.

Governors/Associate Members who have served during the last 12 months:

Antony Amirtharaj - Foundation Governor

Term of Office: 23.07.2022 - 22.07.2026.

Business/Pecuniary Interests: District Councillor Newbury Speen Ward since 08.05.23; Speen Parish Councillor since 2016.  

Catholic Ethos & Admissions Committee

To advise and assist the Head Teacher and the Governing Body on admissions and provide strategic support to the school's Catholic ethos.

Membership: Catherine Jones (Chair), Father Zbigniew Budyn, Vijay Samuel, Steve Ardagh-Walter, Kelly Bosher.

Finance & Premises Committee

To monitor how the school conducts their finances, delegates financial responsibilities, methods of operation and the maintenance and safety of all school premises.  To make sure all parties with financial authority are aware of their duties and responsibilities and that sound and effective financial controls are maintained.  To monitor that the school has the appropriate practices and procedures to meet all of its Health & Safety duties and responsibilities To monitor the implementation of appropriate practice and procedures will ensure the best use of funds available to enhance the education of St Joseph’s pupils. 

Membership: Yvonne Standing (Chair), Anthony Battrum, Steve Ardagh-Walter, Vijay Samuel, Tracey Privett, Kelly Bosher.

Staffing Performance Management & Safeguarding Committee

To provide guidance to the Governing Body and the Head Teacher on all matters relating to personnel issues.

To consider the personnel implications of the School Development Plan (SDP) and any other associated plan/reviews, and reporting on these to the full board as required.

To apply and review the performance management provisions, and all statutory and contractual obligations relating to the annual review of teaching staff and support staff salaries.

Membership:Sinead Hall (Chair), Catherine Jones, Yvonne Standing, Kelly Bosher.

Standards & Curriculum Committee

To ensure that strategies are in place to raise achievement for all pupils.  To ensure there is high quality teaching and learning across all year groups.  To ensure there is reliable assessment and high quality tracking information for all learners.  To ensure the school has a curriculum that satisfies statutory requirements and meets the pupils’ needs including extension and enrichment activities.

Membership: Jenny Hill, Emily Daly, Cath Walsh, Sinead Hall, Kelly Bosher, Tracey Privett, Elly Hase (Associate Member), Nicole Fulker (Associate Member).

Several of the governors have specialist roles with specific monitoring duties:

• ​​Child Protection & Safeguarding Safeguarding - Catherine Jones
• Health & Safety - Vijay Samuel
• SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities), Inclusion & Equality - Jenny Hill
• Catholicity & RE (Religious Education) - Catherine Jones
• Governor Development - Sinead Hall
• EAL (English as an Additional Language) - Emily Daly
• EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) - Catherine Jones

Many of the governors also have curriculum subject link roles:

• Art - Catherine Jones
• DT (Design & Technology) - Anthony Battrum
• English - Emily Daly
• Geography - Sinead Hall
• History - Sinead Hall
• IT (Information Technology) - Steve Ardagh-Walter
• Maths - Emily Daly
• Music - Jenny Hill
• MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) Spanish - Catherine Jones 
• PE (Physical Education) - Vijay Samuel
• PSHE (Personal Social Health Economic) - Eleanor Hase (Special Interest as Associate Member)
• RE (Religious Education) & Catholicity - Catherine Jones
• Science - Steve Ardagh-Walter

Full Governing Body (FGB)

Catholic Ethos & Admissions Committee

Thursday 22nd October 2026

Thursday 25th February 2027

Thursday 17th June 2027

Finance & Premises Committee

Tuesday 13th October 2026

Tuesday 24th November 2026

Tuesday 19th January 2027

Tuesday 9th March 2027

Tuesday 13th April 2027

Tuesday 22nd June 2027

Staffing Performance Management & Safeguarding Committee

Tuesday 17th November 2026

Tuesday 2nd March 2027

Tuesday 8th June 2027

Standards & Curriculum Committee

Tuesday 15th September 2026

Tuesday 26th January 2027

Tuesday 4th May 2027

Tuesday 6th July 2027

Rachael House Gemmell

Rachael has worked with us since November 2013.  She attends all our Full Governing Body and committee meetings and provides us with advice and guidance to fulfill our roles as governors.  Rachael also clerks for three other primary schools within West Berkshire (Bucklebury C of E Primary, Woolhampton C of E Primary & Yattendon C of E Primary).  In 2018 Rachel completed "The Professional Clerk" programme with West Berkshire Council, in association with Hampshire County Council.   

Contact details: rhousegemmell@stjosephs.w-berks.sch.uk

If you would like to view a copy of the Full Governing Body minutes, please contact the clerk or school office on 01635 43455 or e-mail the school office office@stjosephs.w-berks.sch.uk