Type of Governor: Foundation

Link Governor Role: EYFS, Finance, Safeguarding, Attendance, Education Visits, Health & Safety and School Improvement; Chair

Margaret considers it a real privilege to be involved with St Mary's School. Having attended the school and sending her children too, she has a local knowledge and an awareness of the history surrounding the school. She has worked in the NHS as a nurse since leaving school. She really enjoys working with the staff and children; they always make her smile with their enthusiasm!

Type of Governor: Staff

Link Governor Role:

Sara grew up in Kings Heath in Birmingham. She attended St Dunstan's Catholic Primary School and went to St Dunstan's Church. Later, she went to St Paul's Catholic School for Girls. Her Catholic faith has always been important to her and the church youth group played a huge part in her teenage years: they went away to Assisi and Rome and would go to the youth mass at St Chad's Cathedral every month. She worked in shops while doing her A'levels but really wanted to work with children so she went to Newman College to do a teaching degree and study Theology. She has worked as a teacher at St Mary's ever since, which she loves! She has also done some holiday club work, working with children from low income families and she leads the children's Liturgy group, and has done for many years, at church. She has two grown up children of her own. She finds being a staff governor interesting as she gets to learn about the running of her school as well as the teaching and learning side of it.

Type of Governor:

Link Governor Role: Maths, Art/DT

Hello, I am Rachael, one of the Parent Governors at St Mary's. I am from Nigeria and was raised as a Catholic. I have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance, and a Masters degree in Marketing. I have previously worked in a bank and at a School. I am presently a Finance Officer with a Local Government Authority. I have four children, two of whom attended St Mary's and are now in secondary school. The younger two presently attend St Mary's. I attend St Joseph's Catholic Church, Willenhall where I serve as a Lay Reader. Having been a part of the St Mary's School Community for more than 11 years, it's a privilege and an honour to serve the School as a Parent Governor.

Observer

Link Role: Pupil Premium

Kath was born in Dublin and crossed the water to England later that year; she has lived in England for the majority of her life, travelling back and forward to see family regularly. She spent most of her childhood at different Catholic primary schools and went to St Edmund's secondary school.

When she married, she had two children, both of whom attended St Mary's primary school (Kath says, "they have done very well in their chosen careers!"). Upon leaving school she went on a YTS scheme and then worked in a factory for a short while. She did various other jobs; worked in a post office, ran an unemployment group. Then she went to college and started work in a hostel for homeless men. When she moved on from there she went to another hostel for ex-offenders where she stayed for 30 years. Having been made redundant in 2018 she took a 6 month break before returning to work as a Housing Officer in various parts of the country. She now works in Wolverhampton as an Accommodation Officer in a mental health supported housing service, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Kath was raised as a Catholic and has attended various Catholic churches over the years, however, since her youth, her main place of worship has been Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour. Her faith is important to her. She has been a Governor at St Mary's for about 15 years now, starting out as a Parent Governor before becoming a Foundation Governor. She enjoys being part of school life and feeling that, together with other Governors, she can make a difference to our school/church and local community for a better future for all.

Type of Governor: Foundation

Link Governor Role: English, Humanities and School Improvement

Born and educated in Wolverhampton, Christine completed her teacher training at Newman College, Birmingham, qualifying in 1980. A 37-year successful and rewarding career followed, teaching in Wolverhampton Catholic primary schools, encompassing various roles and responsibilities. Almost 35 of those years were spent at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, where she taught until her retirement in 2017.

Four years later, she became a Foundation Governor at St Mary’s. She regularly attends St Michael’s Catholic Church in Penn. Christine enjoys country walks, exploring places of interest, visiting the theatre, and long lunches with family and friends, as well as supporting Wolves at Molineux.

As a Governor, she is committed to playing her part in supporting the continuing success of St Mary’s Catholic Primary Academy.

Type of Governor: Foundation

Link Governor Role: SEND, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Geraldine has long links with St Mary's school which she and her siblings attended. She was delighted to be appointed as a Foundation Governor on the Governing Body in 2000. Over the years she has chaired the Finance Sub Committee, and been involved in a variety of link governor roles including Governor Training, RE/Catholic life, Science and SEND giving her an understanding of the breadth and quality of the education provided to our pupils. She is a strong believer in the mission and ethos of Catholic Education from 3-19, and values the close links with the nearby Catholic secondary school and the St Francis and St Clare Catholic MAC.