Our Governors work in partnership with the Headteacher, the Archdiocese and the Local Authority to secure the best possible education for every child in the school. The Governors provide an important link between the Archdiocese, the Local Authority, the parents and the wider community.
Our role as Governors is to work with the Headteacher and make decisions on how the school is run. We are responsible for ensuring that the school has a broad and balanced curriculum, that the school is safe and secure and that there is a pleasant environment in which the children may learn. The Headteacher is at the helm and manages the school on our behalf. We also ensure that the school’s ethos and catholicity is promoted in all aspects of school life. The Governing Body regularly challenge the Headteacher and also act as a critical friend providing advice and support.
The whole Governing Body meet once per term and the minutes of these meetings are available for you to read from the School Office.
The current Governing Body:
The Full Governing Body meetings are clerked by a member of Governors Services Team who is employed by the Local Authority. He/she is there to advise on points of law and takes no part in any decisions.
The Governing Body of St Teresa’s Catholic School is a combination of appointed and elected Governors. There are seven Foundation Governors, two Parent Governors, one Staff Governor, one person is appointed by the Local Authority and also the Headteacher, .
These seven Foundation Governors are appointed by the Archbishop of Liverpool. It is the task of these Governors, not only to be responsible for the conduct of the school in the same way as any other Governors, but they must also, because of the special Catholic nature of St Teresa’s School as a Catholic Primary, safeguard the special Catholic dimension. This will mean, most importantly, that all seven Foundation Governors are practising and committed members of the Church.
The Parent Governors are elected by the parents of pupils at the school and must be a parent of a pupil at the school at the time of the election. They do not have to stand down if their child leaves the school, though they may do so if they wish but can continue until their term of office expires.
The Staff Governor is elected by and from the staff at the school. If they leave the school they have to stand down from the Governing Body.
These are appointed by Lancashire County Council.
The Headteacher is a member of the Governing Body unless he/she chooses not to be. In either case the Headteacher has the right to attend meetings of the Governing Body.
The complete Governing Body is, therefore, made up of twelve members. They have between them a wide variety of skills, expertise and experience.
Parliament has given a range of duties to Governing Bodies in the Education Acts and powers to enable them to carry these out. Broadly, these are:
Selecting the Headteacher
All Governors sit on one or more committees and the Chairs of these committees report back to the Full Governing body on a regular basis.
The Committees are:
The Chair of Governors and the Headteacher are ex-officio members of all committees.
All Governors attend training provided by the Local Authority.