Governors | St Philip's Catholic Primary School

St Philip's Catholic Primary School
High Street, New Town
Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 5DJ

Tel: 01825 762032 / Fax: 01825 748706

Roles and responsibilities

St. Philip’s Governors are a dedicated team who share a real commitment and interest in the life and work of the school.

The Governors meet as a full governing body at least three times a year, make decisions collectively and conduct detailed business through a series of committees.

The school Governors act as a corporate body and follow strict protocols for governance. Their role is a strategic one, with the day-to-day management of the school the responsibility of the Headteacher.

The Governors operate under a legal framework and their core functions are:

a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

b. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;

c. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

In addition to these duties, as a voluntary aided state school, St Philip’s Governors are responsible for Admissions; are the formal employer for staff; and are required to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet our statutory contribution of 10% towards all building works and IT costs.

Profiles of St Philip’s current Governors are set out below.

FOUNDATION GOVERNORS (appointed by the Bishop to represent the Church) Term of office four years

Mr Dominic Lake (Chair of Governors)

Dominic has served on the governing body since 2012. He was recently elected chair of the governors and has a particular focus on leadership and capability within the school. Dominic is a senior civil servant who has worked in central government for around 20 years in areas of public policy, new legislation and domestic and international relations. He has two children who currently attend St Philip’s.

Ms Penelope Heath (Vice Chair of Governors)

Penny joined the Governing Body in May 2016. She chairs the Governors’ Achievement and Quality Committee which deals with the school’s quality of provision, teaching and standards of education. Penny also serves as the Link Governor for Mathematics. She has had an association with St Philip's since 2006, with both of her daughters having attended school here. Penny has over 30 years’ customer service and safety experience working worldwide for a leading airline corporation.

Ms Geraldine Smith

Geraldine joined the Governing Body as a Foundation Governor in 2015. She is a member of Heron’s Ghyll parish, where she is an extraordinary minister for the Eucharist. She brings a lifetime experience of education in primary schools and higher education. Now retired, she combines part-time working with teaching trainees with supporting a large family of children and grandchildren.

Ms Jennifer Anthony

Jennifer became a foundation governor at St Philip's in April 2016. She has two young sons both who attend St Philip's. She is a Therapy Radiographer by profession, initially working clinically for 13 years and in the last 12 years has worked as a Clinical Manager for a global Oncology product design and manufacturing company. She is experienced in people management, product performance and customer needs as well as having a clinical background.

Mrs Veronica Jones

Veronica joined the governing board in October 2016. She is a parishioner at St John the Evangelist, Herons Ghyll where she is a reader and a part of the welcoming team and singing group. Veronica has over 35 years' teaching experience in both secondary and primary education in the UK and overseas. She has also worked outside teaching gaining useful experience in the commercial world. Veronica lived in Malawi, Africa for 3 years wiht her husband and small son, teaching in a local international primary school.

Mrs Mary Pannakkal

Mary has 3 children, two of whom attend St Philip's with her eldest attending St Paul's College. Mary is a registered nurse by profession and has worked clinically for the last 19 years. She initially worked in India for two years then moved to the UK. Since 2003, Mary has worked in the NHS Trust and became a ward manager 2 and a half years ago. Mary has expereince with patients and family care, people and budget management.

Mr Brendan Clegg

Brendan Clegg became a foundation governor at St Philip's in August 2018. He worked for the Ordnance Survey as a surveyor before setting up a property restoration and investment business. As a parishioner of St John's, Herons Ghyll, Brendan has taken on the improvement and maintenance of this grade two listed church. He is interested in how local government serves the community and has stood many times in county and district elections.

PARENT GOVERNORS (elected by the parent body) Term of office three years

Mrs Debbie Rowland

Debbie was elected to the governing body in October 2015 and is now on her second term. She has three children who attend St Philip's. Debbie has been in teaching for the last 13 years and brings a broad range of educational and leadership experience to the governing body. For the last four years she has focused on Special Needs and Inclusion and is the current Inclusion Leader at a local primary school.

Mrs Julie Beckwith

Julie has lived in Uckfield for 11 years and is married with one child who is 7 years old and attends St Philip's. Julie has been a Police Officer for 20 years and currently works in investigations as a Detective Constable based at Sussex Police HQ in Lewes. Julie has many skills and contacts that will be useful to the Governing Body.

LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR (nominated by East Sussex Children’s Services) Term of office four years

Mrs Kirsten Coe

Kirsten has worked in Education with East Sussex County Council for 13 years; the last 4 years as Principle Finance Officer for the Schools Finance and Funding team. Prior to this Kirsten was the Data and Budget Officer for the Adult College for Rural East Sussex (ACRES). She has a degree in Business Management, is AAT qualified (Association of Accounting Technicians) and holds an Adult Learning Teaching qualification. Kirsten has been a member of the St Philip's parish for 39 years and attended St Philip's. Her youngest son attends St Paul's Catholic College.