Our Governing Board
St Bernadette's School Governance
Welcome to St Bernadette’s Website. Below is some information that you may find useful – together with a since Thank You to our staff, parents and Community for their ongoing hard work and support particularly over the past 18 months. This has been particularly critical at this time given the Challenges of COVID-19.
Our key aim is to:
- Recruit, appoint and support the best teachers and staff to ensure the highest possible level of education and support for children placed in our care; within a framework of effective Governance.
- Our Principles, Mission, Vision and Key Strategic Objectives are outlined in detail in our Strategic Plan (embedded below)
The key roles of our Governing Board are:
- Setting the school’s Vision, Ethos and Strategic Direction
- Holding the Head teacher to account for the Educational Performance of the School and it’s pupils
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure available resources are appropriately spent and in line with our key aim.
We work closely with MK Local Authority (MKLA) and as a Catholic School within the Vision, Values and Policies of Northampton Dioceses (NORES) and the Department for Education (DfE)
There are 14 Governors;
- 8 Foundation Governors are appointed by His Lordship the Bishop of Northampton Catholic Dioceses, The Right Reverend David OAKLEY
- 1 Governor appointed by Milton Keynes Local Authority
- 2 Governors elected by parents
- 1 Governor elected by the staff
- 1 co-opted governor
- Our Head Teacher - Mrs Jane Zamora
The Governing Body meets monthly with the exception of holiday periods December, February and August
In between Board meetings “Lead Governors” make visits to the school and report to Board on their in-depth findings. Each and every Governor has a “Key Lead” Role to exercise, covering all areas of the school:
- Head Teacher Performance
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Pupil Premium
- Child Protection and Safeguarding
- Curriculum/ Pupil/achievement – with key Leads for specific areas that the Governing Board wants to look at in more detail
- Finance
- Admissions and Appeals
- Health and Safety
- Statutory and Policy Development and Monitoring
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations)
- Complaints and Suggestions
In response to the COVID-19 challenges we established a Board COVID-19 Sub Committee – a “rapid respond” and planning Committee to preempt and plan and respond to the ever changing situation. This Committee formulated an agreed Strategy outlining our key objectives – placing ongoing Education and Safety of our Pupils, staff and families at the centre of all our plans.
St Bernadette’s opened in 2005 and we are particularly fortunate that our school community has shown tremendous interest and support since then.
We are confident as we go forward to meet the challenges and changes ahead that by continuing to work closely with the NDES, MKLA and our parents and local community St Bernadette’s will continue to strive to provide the best education possible in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.
It is with this invaluable support and the hard work of our staff and Governors demonstrating total commitment to the safety and education of our pupils that we continue to move forward as a school.
Mrs F Lazzari and Dr S Lanzon-Miller
Joint Chairs of Governors
To contact our Governing Board, please do so via the school office: office@stbernadettesschool.com
St Bernadette’s Governing Board Diversity Information Governor data from Sept 2024 Questionnaire | Comparative Pupil Diversity Information Pupil data from May 2024 Census | ||
Sex | Female | 62% | 50% |
Male | 38% | 50% | |
Ethnicity | White British/White English | 38% | 14% |
White Irish | 8% | 0.2% | |
White Other | 23% | 17% | |
Black or Black British African | 23% | 44% | |
Any other ethnic Group | 8% | 2% | |
Traveller of Irish/Gypsy/Roma heritage | 0 | 0 | |
Mixed/Dual background | 0 | 9% | |
Asian/Asian British | 0 | 8% | |
Chinese | 0 | 2% | |
Refused/Not Known |
| 3% | |
Religion | Catholic | 77% | 41% |
Other Christian | 15% | 39% | |
Muslim | 8% | 4% | |
Language | First Language English | 85% | 47% |
Governing Board's Strategic Direction Plan
Annual Governance Statement, Including Board Membership and Attendance and Board Meetings
Instrument of Government
Current Members of our Governing Board and Attendance for the Last Full Academic Year (2023-24)
Name | Committee membership / lead role | Date appointed | Term of office | Date stepped down | How appointed | Number of meetings attended in the last full academic year - to be completed at end of 2023-24 | Interests | ||
Relevant business and pecuniary | Other governing body membership(s) | Personal | |||||||
Mr Augustine Amusan | UK GDPR - Data Protection Governor | 1 Dec 2021 until 30 Nov 2025 | 4 Years |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 4/8 | None to publish | None | None |
Mrs Charlotte Potter | Co-opted Staff Governor | 17 Nov 2021 to 16 Nov 2025 | 4 Years |
| Co-opted by Governing Board | 5/8 | None to publish | None | None |
Mr Ali Reyahi | Finance, STEAM & Wider Curriculum | 17th Nov 2021 until 16th Nov 2025 | 4 Years |
| Parent Governor Elected by Parents | 5/8 | None to publish | None | Child at school |
Mrs Ima Ogbonna | Co-ordinator of Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Child Protection and Safeguarding Governor | 1 September 2022 Until 31 August 2026 | 4 Years |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 5/8 | None to publish | None | Child at school |
Mr Geoff Callan | Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Admissions and Appeals Committee Finance Group Headteacher Performance Management Health and Safety Governor | 1 July 2018 until 30 June 2022 renewed 1st July 2022 - 30 June 2026 Stepping down from board 31st Jan 2024 | 4 years (2nd term) | 31.01.24 | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 3/3 | None to publish | None | None |
Dr Chibuzor Edordu | Finance Group Admissions and appeals Committee STEM & Wider Curriculum Pupil Communication and Local Communication Governor | 1 June 2019 until 31 May 2023 Renewed 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2027 | 4 Years (2nd term) |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 6/8 | None to publish | None | Children at the school |
Mrs Frankie Lazzari | Co-Chair from Sept 2023 Chair of Admissions and Appeals Committee SEND and Inclusion Governor EAL Governor | 1 September 2020 until 31 August 2024 and 1 September 2024 to 1 September 2028 | 4 Years |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 7/8 | None to publish | None | None |
Dr Sandro Lanzon Miller | Co-Chair from Sept 2023 Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Mental Health and Wellbeing Governor Behaviour and Attitudes (Pupils) Workload Governor (Staff) Headteacher Performance Management | 1 June 2019 until 31 May 2023 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2027 | 4 Years (2nd term) |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 6/8 | None to publish | None | Daughter is a teacher at the school |
Miss Mary McGowan | Chair of Governors until Sept 2023 | 1 February 2020 until 31 January 2024 | 4 Years | 31.01.24 | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 3/3 | None to publish | None | None |
Mrs Joanne Pughe | RE Leader | 27 Nov 2017 until 26 Nov 2021 - re-voted by staff 27 Nov 2021 - 26 Nov 2025 | 4 Years (2nd Term) |
| Staff Governor Elected by Staff | 6/8 | None to publish | None | None |
Deacon Jon Walls | Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Admissions and Appeals Committee RE and Catholic Life Lead Governor Personal Development including Relationships and Sex Education Headteacher Performance Management | 1 Sept 2022 until 31 August 2026 | 4 Years | 21.10.24 | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 8/8 | None to publish | None | None |
Mrs Alison Upton | Co-ordinator of the Finance Group Pupil Premium Governor Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Governor | 27 Nov 2017 until 26 Nov 2021 Renewed 27 Nov 2021 to 26 Nov 2025 | 4 Years (2nd term) |
| Parent Governor Elected by Parents | 7/8 | None to publish | None | Children at the school |
Mrs Katherine Foulger | Curriculum Co-ordinator – Quality of Education including Overall Pupil Performance Data, English and Maths Governor EYFS Governor | 23 Jan 2023 until 22 Jan 2027 | 4 Years |
| Local Authority Governor
Appointed by the Local Authority – Milton Keynes | 6/8 | Deputy Headteacher at Milton Keynes Preparatory School | None | None |
Mrs Izabela Kocan | Health and Safety Governor | 1st Dec 2023 to 31st Dec 2027 | 4 years |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 4/5 | None to publish | None | Child at the school. Husband works at other local Catholic school |
Mrs Jane Zamora | Headteacher | - | - |
| Headteacher | 8/8 | None to publish | None | None |
Mrs J Adamson is the Clerk to Governors
St Bernadette's Governing Board Information for Academic Year 2022-23
Name | Committee membership / lead role | Date appointed | Term of office | Date stepped down | How appointed | Number of meetings attended in the last full academic year (2022-23) | Interests | ||
Relevant business and pecuniary | Other governing body membership(s) | Personal | |||||||
Mr Augustine Amusan | UK GDPR - Data Protection Governor | 1 Dec 2021 until 30 Nov 2025 | 4 Years | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 4/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Mrs Charlotte Potter | Co-opted Staff Governor | 17 Nov 2021 to 16 Nov 2025 | 4 Years | Co-opted by Governing Board | 7/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Mr Ali Reyahi | Finance, STEAM & Wider Curriculum | 17th Nov 2021 until 16th Nov 2025 | 4 Years | Parent Governor Elected by Parents | 8/9 | None to publish | None | Child at school | |
Mrs Ima Ogbonna | Co-ordinator of Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Child Protection and Safeguarding Governor | 1 September 2022 Until 31 August 2026 | 4 Years |
| Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 8/9 | None to publish | None | Child at school |
Mr Geoff Callan | Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Admissions and Appeals Committee Finance Group Headteacher Performance Management Health and Safety Governor | 1 July 2018 until 30 June 2022 renewed 1st July 2022 - 30 June 2026 | 4 years (2nd term) | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 5/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Dr Chibuzor Edordu | Finance Group Admissions and appeals Committee STEM & Wider Curriculum Pupil Communication and Local Communication Governor | 1 June 2019 until 31 May 2023 Renewed 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2027 | 4 Years (2nd term) | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 6/9 | None to publish | None | Children at the school | |
Mrs Alex Dixon | Curriculum Co-ordinator – Quality of Education including Overall Pupil Performance Data, English and Maths Governor EYFS Governor | 21 January 2019 until 20 January 2023 | 4 Years | 21 November 2022 | LA Appointed Governor Appointed by the Local Authority | 1/3 | Deputy Headteacher at Great Linford Primary School | Governor at Great Linford Primary School | None |
Mrs Frankie Lazzari | Chair of Admissions and Appeals Committee SEND and Inclusion Governor EAL Governor | 1 September 2020 until 31 August 2024 | 4 Years | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 6/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Dr Sandro Lanzon Miller | Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Mental Health and Wellbeing Governor Personal Development including Relationships and Sex Education, Behaviour and Attitudes (Pupils) Workload Governor (Staff) Headteacher Performance Management | 1 June 2019 until 31 May 2023 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2027 | 4 Years (2nd term) | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 8/9 | None to publish | None | Daughter is a teacher at the school | |
Miss Mary McGowan | Chair of Governors Board Development Governor | 1 February 2020 until 31 January 2024 | 4 Years | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 9/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Mrs Joanne Pughe | RE Leader | 27 Nov 2017 until 26 Nov 2021 - re-voted by staff 27 Nov 2021 - 26 Nov 2025 | 4 Years (2nd Term) | Staff Governor Elected by Staff | 8/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Deacon Jon Walls | Statutory Group – HR and Workload Lead Admissions and Appeals Committee RE and Catholic Life Lead Governor | 1 Sept 2022 until 31 August 2026 | 4 Years | Foundation Governor Appointed by the Diocese | 8/9 | None to publish | None | None | |
Mrs Alison Upton | Co-ordinator of the Finance Group Pupil Premium Governor Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Governor | 27 Nov 2017 until 26 Nov 2021 Renewed 27 Nov 2021 to 26 Nov 2025 | 4 Years (2nd term) | Parent Governor Elected by Parents | 7/9 | None to publish | None | Children at the school | |
Mrs Katherine Foulger
| Curriculum Co-ordinator – Quality of Education including Overall Pupil Performance Data, English and Maths Governor EYFS Governor | 23 Jan 2023 until 22 Jan 2027 | 4 Years |
| Local Authority Governor
Appointed by the Local Authority – Milton Keynes | 4/6 | Deputy Headteacher at Milton Keynes Preparatory School | None | None |
Mrs Jane Zamora | Headteacher | - | - | Headteacher | 9/9 | None to publish | None | None | |