Governance

Our Governing Body is responsible for ensuring that our school is run effectively, acting within the frameworks set by legislation and that the policies of the Wrexham Diocese, the Local Authority and the Welsh Government are adhered to.

Our Governing Body works with the Headteacher and the school staff in a close and balanced partnership, providing the best possible education for our learners. Our Governors support the strategic planning of our school, determining aims and objectives through their involvement with the self-evaluation and improvement procedures. Our Governing Body manages the school budget, develops school policies and procedures, alongside providing parents with an annual report.

The full Governing Body meets once a term, with a number of sub-committees meeting as required. Throughout the term, our Governors visit our school to take part in monitoring activities, which often involves working alongside our learners to ascertain their views and opinions on all aspects of school life. Our Governors are valued as our ‘critical friends’, balancing support and challenge to ensure that our expectations remain consistently high in all areas of school life.

Mike Bacigalupo – Chair of Governors

I have been a Governor at St. Mary’s for more than twenty years and am currently the Chair.  In my day job, I work for the Welsh Government, advising Ministers on all things to do with Research, Development and Innovation.

This means I am very used to chairing and contributing to meetings, seeking consensus and leading on delivery once a policy has been agreed upon.  I find that all this has valuable crossovers into the role of a School Governor.

Vicky Morris – Vice Chair of Governors

I have been a Governor at St Mary’s since the beginning of 2022 and Vice Chair since September 2023. I am a Registered Nurse qualifying in May 1987 and I have worked as a Chief Nurse / Director of Nursing until March 2021 (18years) and now work in a portfolio career, as a Non-Executive Director within a Cancer Specialist Trust and within the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System.

In these past and current roles, I have experience in chairing meetings and through my clinical and managerial experience can contribute to St. Mary’s on a range of issues. I look forward to continuing to support the school where I can.

Jo Whittington – Clerk to Governors

I have been Clerk to Governors for more than sixteen years at St Mary’s. This is a very busy and varied role to support the Governing Body.

There is always a meeting to organise and prepare for, information to collate and share, reports to produce and deadlines to meet.

Sister Helen Bamber – Foundation Governor

I am a Foundation Governor and belong to the religious order of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus who were involved in St Mary’s school soon after it opened in the early 1950s.

I am pleased to be able to support the school and have a special interest in the Religious Education of the students.

Ivana Jones – Foundation Governor

I joined the Governing Body four years ago. As one of the Foundation Governors, my role is to ensure that the Catholic character of our school is maintained, as I represent the interests of the Catholic community.

Mike Childs – Community Governor

I am a Community Governor appointed by the Town Council. After a long career as a Science teacher all around the world, I am now retired.

I have previously served as a Governor for Llanidloes High School, where I taught, and at Penygloddfa Primary, where my children attended school.

Gemma Mann – Teacher Governor

I joined the Governing Body back in 2019 as I was keen to do more to contribute to the support network which ensures that all of our learners at St. Mary’s fulfil their potential. I enjoy working in an inclusive and nurturing environment, where every learner is valued for who they are.

Currently, I am the Curriculum Lead for our school, which entails developing our bespoke curriculum design, liaising with professionals from other schools and within the Powys Professional Learning Team, alongside presenting to our Governing Body at our half-termly meetings.

“Love one another as I have loved you, then everyone will know that you are my disciples”. John 13:34

Our Mission Statement anchors our purposeful learning, so that valued in our uniqueness we nurture our skills and talents to our fullest potential. Our stimulating experiences promote our joy of learning as we thrive, growing in our self-belief, happiness and independence. We inspire and motivate each other to strive for excellence in our increasingly digital world, as we become advocates for our ever-changing future.

We develop our inclusivity and compassion for our global neighbours as we encourage each other in our responsibility to care for God’s world. Together, we build a stronger community through mutual respect of our differences and similarities, celebrating our home in Cymru and our place in the wider world as we Listen, Laugh and Live in the Light of the Lord.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
Milford Road
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2EH

Telephone: 01686 625582
E-mail: office@st-marys.powys.sch.uk