Governors

Governing Body Information

Chair of Governors:
Mr. Michael Blair
Safeguarding and Child Protection Governor
Email: michael.blair@st-francis.lancs.sch.uk

Important:
All queries or concerns should first be directed to Miss Sarah Deakin, our Headteacher, who leads and manages all aspects of daily school life.

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Federation Update

We are delighted to announce that St. Francis’ Catholic Primary School has now formed a federation with St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Claughton-on-Brock. This exciting development means we now operate as one Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and one Governing Board, working together to strengthen both schools and provide the very best education for all our pupils. We are enthusiastic about the future and the opportunities this partnership brings.

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Purpose of Governance

The governing body provides confident and strong strategic leadership, ensuring robust accountability, oversight, and assurance for both educational and financial performance across the federation.

Core Functions of Governance:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction for both schools.
2. Holding executive leaders to account for:
   • Educational performance of the federation and its pupils.
   • Effective and efficient performance management of staff.
3. Overseeing financial performance and ensuring resources are used wisely.

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Role of the Governing Body

• Sets the overall strategy, vision, and ethos for the federation.
• Formulates and reviews policies for both schools.
• Oversees educational and financial performance.
• Ensures decisions keep children’s best interests central.

Our aim:
To provide the best possible education in the best possible environment for all children attending St. Francis’ and St. Mary’s Catholic Primary Schools.

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Composition

• Maximum of 16 Governors.
• Eight Foundation Governors appointed by the Diocese of Lancaster.
• Governors come from diverse backgrounds, bringing varied skills and experiences.
• Voluntary role: Governors are unpaid and receive no expenses.

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Committees Overview

The main Committees of the Governing Body were as follows:

Business, Finance (Including Buildings, Health and Safety)

• Chair: Mrs. Amy Dewhurst
• Remit: Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent. Ensuring that staffing is appropriate to the needs and resources of the school.

Standards, Effectiveness and Curriculum

• Chair: Mrs. Mary Doran
• Remit: Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.

All terms of office have been agreed to be 4 years.

Miss Deakin holds office for the duration of her tenure at the School.