Governor Information
Welcome to the Governors' Section

The Governing Body

The Governing Body has a wide ranging remit but its main functions are:

• The setting of the strategic direction of the school
• Ensuring accountability for the educational performance of the school  
• Ensuring the best use of financial resources

All our work links to the current OFSTED framework which focuses on four

key areas:

• Quality of education
• Behaviour and attitudes
• Personal development
• Leadership and management

The full governing body meets at least once per term under the chairmanship of Mrs Lindsay Wise.

The governing body is supported by the following committees, each of which meets termly.

• The resources committee
• The safeguarding, standards and curriculum committee

Members of the public, including parents, should not contact  members  of  the governing body directly.  If they wish to raise a matter, they should contact the clerk to the governing body, Shirley Margrett by emailing clerk@st-josephs.hereford.sch.uk.

Further information on the governing body is available from the clerk, whose details are above.

Serving Governors

Governors  come from many backgrounds and have a wide  range of skills and experiences, which bring an independent view to issues of strategy, performance, the management of resources and setting the standards and expectations of the school.  All governors are committed to the success of the school and to ensuring that all pupils are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential.

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

Meet the Governors of St. Joseph's

Lindsay Wise - Chair of Governors - Foundation Governor 

I have been a governor at St Joseph’s for several years, including the period when we were federated with St Mary’s Lugwardine. I was Vice Chair during the Federation and when we de-federated I was elected as Chair of the St Joseph’s Governing Body. My background is in primary education, I always taught in Catholic schools, becoming a headteacher before retiring in 2009.

I hope that my experience and understanding of the complexities of Headship helps to support the school. I believe that the promotion of a caring Catholic ethos in the school community as well as high standards of teaching and learning, helps all children to achieve their potential.

Brenda Poynton - Vice Chair of Governors - Foundation Governor

My journey with St Josephs started when I moved to Herefordshire and my children started at the School in Reception and Year 4. I offered to join as the Parent Governor role within St Joesph's and St Mary's RC High School and now I am currently a Foundation Governor.

Although my children are in 3^rd level, I remain committed and passionate about Catholic education. 

I have run my Design business for 30 years and bring my experience along with previous role as Head tutor of Griffith College Design School, Dublin.

Angela Spray - Foundation Governor 

I belong to a family of Catholic teachers. 

During a long and satisfying teaching career, mostly in Catholic education, I have taught the full range of 4-18 year olds and acted as a mentor for B. Ed and PGCE students. 

I have held the roles of subject Co-ordinators for English, Numeracy and Religious Education. My present enthusiasms include Environmental Education and integrating our school into Parish Life. In this role, I am helping to prepare our children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Now retired, I have spent my final years of teaching at St Joseph's and these have been amongst my happiest. 

Pat Burbidge - Foundation Governor

 

I have been a governor at St Mary’s High School and St Joseph’s Primary School since about 1982 and chair for both schools for approximately 20 years.

Four of my five children attended St Joseph’s when we first moved to Ross and my wife taught at the school for approx 17-18 years.

I am personally committed to supporting quality teaching at all levels and the creation of the best possible experience for all children in the school.

Marian Smith - Foundation Governor 

I am a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Hereford, where I live, and have been a Foundation Governor at St. Joseph’s School, since October 2022.

I am married with five children, aged 19 years to 33 years, and my daughter is a primary school teacher.  I became a Foundation Governor as I am very keen to give back time and energy to Catholic education in Herefordshire, which my children all benefited tremendously from. I now work as a health visitor.

I am on the St. Joseph’s Safeguarding, Standards and Curriculum Committee.

Hayley Francis - Headteacher - Ex-Officio Governor 

I have been a teacher for over twenty years and in headship for fourteen years.  Throughout my teaching career I have taught in a number of London Boroughs, before moving to Herefordshire eight years ago. 

As a committed practising Catholic, I strive to promote Christian values throughout the daily life of St Joseph’s.  I am fortunate to have a hard working dedicated team working alongside me and together we support the school in its journey towards achieving educational excellence for all our pupils.

Father Nicholas James - Ex-Officio Governor

Canon Nick James is parish priest of St Mary’s church, Monmouth as well as our parish church of St Frances of Rome in Ross on Wye. He visits the school regularly to talk to the children and to lead liturgical celebrations. The children also visit the church for school Masses and to enrich their Religious Education curriculum and spiritual development.

Ed O'Driscoll - Local Authority Governor 

Ed is the County and Town Councillor for Ross on Wye East and brings more than 20 years’ experience as an arts/community charity CEO to St Joseph’s. Through his company Calibre Productions he created and toured a wide variety of professional theatrical productions ranging from stage adaptations of Inspector Morse and Dad’s Army through to a children’s ballet based on Aardman Animations ‘Shaun the Sheep’. As a concert promoter he staged three fundraising galas at the Royal Albert Hall which raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the global orphan charity SOS Children.

Closer to home Ed is a current Director of Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust and was a founding Director of Create Gloucestershire which pioneered the development of a framework for incorporating arts and culture into health and wellbeing services. Until September 2023 he was also a Director of the NRTF (National Rural Touring Forum) which oversaw a national strategic response to the impact of COVID on the arts in rural communities.

In his spare time he enjoys performing with local band ‘The Forfeits’ and walking his 3 dogs alongside his wife of nearly 30 years Lynn.

Fiona Baker - Staff Governor 

I have worked at St Joseph’s for over 4 years as an Office Administrator. I am passionate about my role and always enjoy working alongside the dedicated team here. I am thoroughly enjoying my role as Staff Governor as I feel it provides me with further opportunities to work alongside staff, families and our community to ensure our pupils receive an enriching and inspiring education.

 

Rebecca Giffiths - Parent Governor

I have worked within the NHS as a Cardiac Physiologist for the past 16 years. Within my work I have experience of safe guarding & leadership as well as supporting and mentoring students.

I have two children at St Joseph’s one in year 1 and one in year 2.

I am an active member of the Friends of St Joseph’s and have enjoyed being part of the parent voice group for the past 3 years. I look forward to contributing to the continued progression the school is making in the role as parent governor.

Nikki Cunningham-Smith - Parent Governor 

I am Nikki Cunningham-Smith and I have a background in Education working as an Education Consultant, Assistant Headteacher and SENCo. I am particularly interested in supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity, enhance learning opportunities, and ensure the well-being of all students. I value open communication, transparency, and collaborative decision-making, and I am eager to work alongside fellow governors, staff, and parents to achieve the best outcomes for the children at our school. I enjoy an active life through playing and coaching netball and attempting to keep up with my 2 highly energetic and hilarious daughters.

 

 

Christian Peters-Elliott - Co-Opted Governor

I have previous ties to St Joseph’s as my wife was a class teacher many years ago. My children are both pupils at St Mary’s in Hereford, and I want to help St Joseph’s offer the same support and opportunity they’ve received throughout their school careers, and address the challenges schools face in mid-century Britain. 

I hope to bring some of the experience and skills I’ve absorbed through a 20 year career in Quality and Governance across many areas of manufacturing, including legal compliance, process and procedure, cost reduction and policy deployment.

Our Governors

Governor	Role	Date Appointed	Term of Office	Term of Office expires	Appointed By	Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interest	Committees
Shirley Margrett	Clerk to Governing Body  (non-voting)	4 Oct 22	N/A	Ex officio	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil
Fiona Baker	Staff Governor	4 Oct 22	4 years	31 Mar 27	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil	Resources Committee
Hayley Francis	Staff Governor	4 Oct 22	Ex officio	Ex officio	Archdiocese of Cardiff	Nil	Resources Committee Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Ed O'Driscoll	Local Authority Governor	1st April 2023	4 years	31 Mar 27	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil	Resources Committee Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Brenda Poynton	Vice Chair and Foundation Governor	4 Oct 22	4 years	31 Mar 27	Archdiocese of Cardiff	Brenda Mulligan Interior Design	Resources committee (Chair) and Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Marian Smith	Foundation Governor	4 Oct 22	4 years	31 Mar 27	Archdiocese of Cardiff	Nil	Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Angela Spray	Foundation Governor	4 Oct 22	4 years	31 Mar 27	Archdiocese of Cardiff	Nil	Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Lindsay Wise	Chair and Foundation Governor	4 Oct 22	4 years	31 Mar 27	Archdiocese of Cardiff	Nil	Resources committee and Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Michelle Emerton	Parent Governor	1 Apr 23	4 years	31 Mar 27	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil	Safeguarding, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Max Lerego	Parent Governor	1 Apr 23	4 years	31 Mar 27	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil	Resources committee
Christian Peters-Elliott	Co-Opted Governor	1 Apr 23	4 years	31 Mar 27	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil	Resources committee
Father Nick	Ex-officio  Governor	1 Apr 23	Ex officio	Ex officio	St Joseph's RC Primary School	Nil

Further information is available by contacting Miss Shirley Margrett, Clerk to the Governing Body, by email to clerk@st-josephs.hereford.sch.uk

Financial Information