Governors
What do Governors do?
Governors are responsible for overseeing the management of school, in terms of strategy and policy. Governors work as a team with the head teacher, staff, and the Diocese. They are responsible for making sure the school provides a good quality of education for all pupils. The role involves supporting the head teacher in managing and improving the school.
Why be a Governor?
Being a governor allows you to gain a variety of new skills and develop ones you already have. Governing bodies need people from all backgrounds who can bring their professional knowledge to the benefit of the school. Being a governor requires regular attendance of formal meetings, as well as regular training.
What is it like being a Governor at St. George’s?
Being a Governor at St. George’s Catholic Primary school enables you to become part of a very special community, with links to St. George’s Catholic Church as well as The Friends of St. George’s. Working alongside the Head Teacher and staff, enables you to contribute towards the nurturing and vibrant environment of the school.
If you are interested in helping the whole school, you should consider becoming a governor. Please contact the Chair of Governors to discuss in more detail.
The Governing Body of St. George's Catholic Primary School shall consist of 7 foundation governors, 2 parent governors, the Headteacher, a staff governor and a Local Authority governor.
Governors are appointed for 4 years. Foundation governors are appointed by the Bishop; Parent Governors are elected by parents of current children on roll and the Local Authority Governor is appointed by the Local Authority.
Governors meetings are held at least termly. Copies of the minutes of Governors meetings are available on request.
Governors attendance at meetings and pecuniary interests
Mrs Laura Billington [Foundation Governor] 13/07/23
Co-Chair of Governors
chairofgovs@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Laura is an Independent Financial Adviser and runs her own business in Westbury. Before turning to financial services, she taught Modern Languages at a couple of secondary schools. She enjoys singing and playing the guitar, foreign languages, skiing and distance running. She is looking forward to supporting the school in its development as it continues to go from strength to strength.
Committees:
Teaching and Learning, Leadership & Management (Chair), Finance, Pay & Performance, Admissions, Discipline
Mr Neil Clarke [Parent Governor] 01/02/21
Co Chair of Governors
chairofgovs@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Neil is a Software Director of a product design consultancy that he founded with a group of engineers. He has two children attending St-Georges. In his spare time he enjoys spending time gardening, going to the gym and walking with his family.
Committees:
Teaching & Learning
Father Martin Queenan [Foundation Governor] 01/09/2023
mqueenan@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Father Martin has been parish priest at St George’s since 2015 and previously served at Weston-super-Mare, Cheltenham and Salisbury. Ordained in 1998 he worked with Bank of Ireland in the Irish midlands before embarking on his priestly studies at the Beda College, Rome. He loves the outdoors and had been a keen cyclist but now keeps to cross country walking with his dog.
Committees:
Leadership & Management, Finance, Admissions (Chair), Pay & Performance
Mrs Kate Saunders (Headteacher)
head@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Committees:
Leadership & Management. Teaching & Learning, Finance, Pay & Performance, Admissions
Mrs Debbie Kennett [Foundation Governor] 18/06/2020
dkennett@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Debbie is the Attendance Administrator at Warminster School where both of her children are pupils. As member of St Georges Parish for the last 14 years, Debbie has always been impressed by the close relationship between the Parish and the School, demonstrated through the charitable events and social interactions, and was delighted to be asked to join in this close-knit community. Prior to relocating to the UK nearly 20 years ago, Debbie worked in International HR.
Committees:
Finance, Safeguarding, Complaints
Mr Harry Hassall [Local Authority Governor] 14/07/2021
hhassall@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Harry is a retired Royal Navy Officer and Company Director who has had over thirty years’ experience in Military Training and Education part of which included teaching and lecturing at further and higher educational levels. He is a Chartered Engineer and has an MSc in Marine Engineering and an MA in Education. Although retired he remains active where he is a Trustee and Oxygen Tank Operator at the Wessex Multiple Sclerosis Centre.
He is also a proud father and grandfather and was delighted to be asked, and voted in, as a School Governor of St Georges. Harry firmly believes in the importance of creating a happy, safe and effective learning environment and is willing to serve on the Board and Committees of St Georges to achieve these goals.
Committees:
Teaching & Learning
Mr Sean Halligan [Staff Governor] 01/09/2019
shalligan@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Committees:
Pay & Performance, Discipline, Teaching & Learning
Mrs Jean Lillywhite [Foundation Governor] 16/09/20
jlillywhite@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Jean is a parishioner of St. George's and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. A granddaughter, now at St. Augustine's, was a pupil at St.George's with a grandson who started in 2021. She has lived in Bratton for 16 years, following 30 years moving around with her Army husband during which time she was involved in playgroups, running thrift shops, various welfare groups and working in a GP surgery. She remains an active tennis player, a cross-country skier, a choral singer, a walker and an occasional runner.
Committees:
Finance, Complaints
Mrs Amy Stamp [Parent Governor] 11/01/2021
astamp@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Amy is part of the Government Commercial Organisation and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, currently working for the Ministry of Defence. Amy is the parent of two children at St George’s and enjoys reading, walking, and spending time with the family.
Committees:
Finance (Chair)
Mr Tony Cutler [Foundation Governor] 01/06/2023
tcutler@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Tony has recently retired from the oil and gas industry where he specialised in control room operations. He was a school governor at a primary school in Hertfordshire prior to moving to Warminster in 2022. His spare time is spent enjoying his garden and fishing in local waters.
Committees:
Finance, complaints
Jayne Melia [Clerk to the Governors]
clerk@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Mrs Jetteke Churton [Foundation Governor] 03/06/2022
hchurton@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Angie Deacon [Foundation Governor]
adeacon@st-georgesrc.wilts.sch.uk
Mid 2023 fortunately as a retiree I became a Warminster resident & a St Georges parishioner, & became a Foundation Governor in late 2023.