Governors
OUR BLESSED SAINTS
Our Blessed Saints is the Federated Governing Board for both SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School and St. Luke’s Catholic Primary School.
What is the role of the Governing Body?
The Governing Board provides strategic leadership and accountability in schools. It has three key functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
- Holding the leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff
The governing board must also ensure that decisions take into account the views and experiences of stakeholders (pupils, parents, staff and the community).
Who makes up the Governing Body?
The Federated Governing Body constitution consists of:
- 9 Foundation Governors (appointed by the Bishop of Shrewsbury)
- 1 Locally Appointed Governor (nominated by the local authority, appointed by the Governing Body)
- 2 Parent Governors (elected by parents or the Governing Body)
- 1 Staff Governor (elected by school staff)
- 1 Co-opted Governor (elected by the Governing Body)
- 2 Head Teachers (by virtue of their office)
Full Governing Body meetings are held twice termly, with additional sub-committee meetings and other activities taking place throughout the school year. The sub-committees include the Strategic, Finance and Personnel, and the Health and Safety committee. Key documents relating to our Governing body can be found on our Governance page.
If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Governor please click on the link for further details:
Foundation Governor information
You can read more documents relating to our Governing body over on our Governance page:
Our Governors
| Pauline Heffernan: Chair of Governors |
I have been a governor, serving in primary education, for many years, both in Telford and in my native Wolverhampton. I became a Governor at Our Lady & St Chad, a secondary academy within the St Francis & St Clare Mutli Academy Company in Wolverhampton, in November 2020. I believe in the excellent life experiences and learning opportunities afforded by catholic education. Having closed my consultancy business in 2020, I am now enjoying more time to explore my hobbies and areas of interest. I’m also enjoying seeing my grandchildren and extended family grow year on year. |
| Louisa Craig: Foundation Governor |
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| Dianne Kidd – Foundation Governor |
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| Mr Graeme Smith – Vice Chair Foundation Governor |
 
Married for 34 years with a grown up son I’ve lived in Shropshire for the past 20 years having worked at several locations around the UK in the electricity energy supply sector. Prior to retirement in 2021 my role involved working mainly in Dusseldorf, Germany, I also sat on several UK National Energy Safety Committees.
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| Gill Livesey - Foundation Governor |
With two children attending SS Peter and Paul, I became interested in school life being appointed as Foundation Governor in 2022. I hope to effectively support our school community and have an interest in the Curriculum. I moved to Shropshire to join my husband in 2007 and have worked as a GP across the county. I have a special interest in occupational health matters and act as a medical advisor within HMCTS. As a family, we enjoy exploring the Shropshire countryside, spending most of our time outdoors. When I find time, I like to run, and I am striving to develop my tennis skills. |
| Jacqueline Oakes – Co-Opted Governor (Staff) |
I am married with 3 teenage children and moved to Shropshire from Berkshire via North Wales 22 years ago. I have taught throughout Key Stage 1, only taking a break to raise a family. I have been linked to SS Peter and Paul School for 16 years as a parent, a volunteer, a Foundation Governor and now as Year 1 teacher and Co-opted Governor.
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| Sarah Staniforth – Head Teacher
I have been a member of staff at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School since September 2016 being seconded from another Catholic Primary School in the Shrewsbury Diocese as a Deputy Headteacher and Year 5 class teacher. This role developed into being Head of School when we federated with St Luke’s and became Our Blessed Saints Federation. I have also spent time working across at St. Luke’s when the Head of School was on maternity leave. In February 2022 I was appointed Substantive Headteacher at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School having been the Acting Headteacher since November 2020. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors and taking part in many sports including swimming and rowing. For the last couple of years, I have been the Captain of Ironbridge Rowing Club having been a member of the club since 1998 when I first joined as a junior. Each year I volunteer for The Christmas Smile Project, a local charity who support the Local Authority to give presents to those who are vulnerable and in need at Christmas time. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends. |
| Mike Jenkins – Locally Appointed Governor |
I am married and I have been linked to SS Peter & Paul School since 2002 when my son, Joseph, and then my daughter, Lauren, attended the old School site before its move to the current location in 2006. Since 2007/08 I have been a Parent Governor, Local Appointed Governor and an Associate/Volunteer Governor, later this year (2022) I will be taking over the Local Appointed Governor role again. I am one of the Designated Safeguarding Link Governors for Our Blessed Saints. I am a retired Police Officer having served 30 years with West Mercia Police and since the beginning of 2017 I have been employed by West Mercia Police as the Domestic Violence Conference Co-ordinator for Shropshire. I am a keen golfer and a qualified panel umpire for Shropshire County Cricket League, where I am also a Committee Member and League Safeguarding Officer. |
| Emma Williams – Parent Governor |
I moved to Newport in 2010 with my husband, and have two children at SS Peter and Paul. I am a chartered accountant however for the last 15 years I have specialised in Learning and Development, and in my current role I lead the internal L&D team for a large professional services firm based in London. I enjoy many sports, particularly tennis, good food and spending time with my extended family. Carol Kavanagh – Foundation Governor
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| Nick Reed - Foundation Governor |
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Governors who have stood down in the past 12 months:
Suzanne Fisk (Staff governor): 1st December 2023
Catherine Rogerson: 5th May 2023
Natalie Walker (Locally Appointed Governor) stood down: 31 August 2022
Andy Brooks (Foundation Governor) stood down: 31st October 2022
John Stewart (Foundation Governor) stood down: 31st August 2023
