Name

Term of office

Status/Committee

Material Interest

Experience

Additional Governor Role

Robert Beardsworth

31/8/2018 to 31/8/2022

Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

Chair of Finance & Staffing Committee

Admissions Committee

Buildings Committee

Standards & Curriculum Committee

None

Retired after 30 years as a Salford Diocesan Youth Officer and long serving Lancashire Magistrate.

Served as a Governor for St. Edward’s for over 25 years, appointed September 1990 by the Diocese as a Foundation Governor and then appointed to Chair of Governors in September 2014.

Anne Jones

31/8/2018 to 31/8/2022

Vice Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

Chair of  Standards & Curriculum Committee

Admissions Committee

Finance & Staffing Committee

Buildings Committee

None

Retired after 36 years as a Teacher and member of the Leadership Team at St. Edward’s and the Family Liaison Teacher.

Served as a Governor for St. Edward’s for 4 years, appointed September 2014 by the Diocese.

Father Brian Kealey

31/8/2018 to 31/08/2021

Parish Priest Ex-Officio

Buildings Committee

None

Previously Parish Priest at Christ the King in Burnley.  Father Brian has also worked in Blackburn and served as a Missionary Priest in Kenya for five years.  Appointed August 2018 by the Diocese.

St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Darwen

Fliss Watson

31/8/2018 to 31/08/2022

Foundation Governor

Finance & Staffing Committee

Standards & Curriculum  Committee

None

Retired after 25 years as a Headteacher, and many years teaching around Salford Diocese.  Parishioner and past pupil of St Edwards School, appointed August 2018 by the Diocese.

Jane Watson

31/8/2018 to 13/06/2023

Foundation Governor

Chair of Buildings Committee

Finance & Staffing Committee

None

Head of Democratic Services for Pendle Borough Council and one child currently attending St. Edward’s.

Served as a Governor for St. Edward’s for 6 years, appointed June 2013 by Gerard Keane.

Natalie Fitzgerald

31/8/2018 to 31/8/2024

Foundation Governor

Finance & Staffing Committee

None

Parent of a child at St. Edward’s.  Accountant at a local family run Printing Firm with child care qualifications.  Appointed as Parent Governor August 2018 by Gerard Keane and Foundation Governor August 2020 by Vannessa Knowles.

Martin Hester

31/8/2020 to 31/8/2024

Foundation Governor

None

Former pupil at St Edwards, served a tool making apprenticeship at ROF before setting up specialist engineering company in 1991.  Has had much involvement with employing young people and putting them through their own apprenticeships. Long standing member at Darwen Golf Club.  Appointed as Foundation Governor August 2020 by the Diocese.

Cathryn Whitworth

31/8/2018 to 31/8/2022

Parent Governor

Standards & Curriculum  Committee

Buildings Committee

None

Parent of a child at St. Edward’s. A former pupil of the school and a serving Police Officer in the area for over 12 years.  Current role specialises in Safeguarding, Mental Health and Social Care, working closely with the most vulnerable members of our community.  Appointed August 2018 by Gerard Keane.

Alyson Standen

31/7/2017 to 31/08/2021

Staff Governor

Standards & Curriculum  Committee

None

Parent of three children educated at St. Edward’s.  Classroom Assistant/SSA for 14 years. Appointed August 2017 by Gerard Keane.

Moira Barrett

31/8/2018 to 31/08/2022

Local Authority Governor

Standards & Curriculum  Committee

Buildings Committee

None

Ex-Mayor of Darwen.  Children and grandchildren have all been educated at St. Edward’s.  Currently has one great grandchild attending St. Edward’s

Served as a Governor for St. Edward’s for over 20 years

Vannessa Knowles

Headteacher

All Committees

None

Deputy at St. Peters and St Pauls in Bolton.

Headteacher St. Edward’s 2018 - present

Eden School, Blackburn

Lucy Turner

Deputy Headteacher

Observer

None

Teacher at St. Edward’s from 2002

Assistant Headteacher September 2016 – May 2017

Deputy Headteacher at St. Edward’s from May  2017 - present

The Parish Priest may be appointed by the Bishop to serve as an ex-officio Foundation Governor.  Foundation Governors’ serve for four years before re-appointment by the Bishop. The Local Authority Governor is also appointed for a four year term.  The two Parent Governors and the Staff Governor are elected, again for a four year term. The Headteacher serves as a Governor for the duration of his/her office.  The Deputy Headteacher is invited to be a non-voting observer. Attendance by all Governors is excellent and Full Governing Body Meetings and Committee Meetings are always quorate. Governors are regular visitors to school and regular attenders at school functions.