In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the three core strategic functions of St Mary’s Bolton-on-Swale School Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Governance arrangements
The Governing Body of St Mary’s Bolton-on-Swale School was reconstituted on 6 October 2014 and is now made up of:
Two parent governors
One Local Authority governor
One staff governor
Head teacher
Seven foundation governors
The total number is 12
The full Governing Body meets twice each term. The Resources Committee meets termly. The Admissions Committee meets usually once per year. Each has a specific area of focus.
The Resources Committee which focuses on finance, premises and personnel matters.
The Admissions Committee which considers admissions criteria and arrangements.
The Curriculum Committtee. From Summer Term 2019 the work of this committee was amalgamated with the work of full Governing Body meetings. This includes work relating to statutory assessment, special educational needs, curriculum policies, school improvement planning and school self evaluation.
We also have committees that meet if required to consider pupil discipline and staffing matters.
The Governing Body complete a regular skills audit and give careful consideration to ensuring they have the range of skills required to deliver effective governance and secure the success of the school.
Our Governing Body
Click on the sections below for further Information
Clare White Foundation Governor - Chair of Governors
I have been a member of the governing body of Bolton-on-Swale St Mary’s since October 2010 when I was appointed as a Foundation Governor. I am link governor for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities which is an area in which I have a particular interest. I also sit on the Resource and Curriculum Committees.
I have two daughters, both of whom have attended the school. I held the post of Vice-Chair for two years before I was appointed Chair of Governors for the first time in 2013. I am a very regular visitor to the school and get great pleasure from seeing the children flourish and learn new skills; enjoying the richness of all that is on offer.
I believe it is important that the children of St. Mary’s are given the greatest opportunity to flourish, not only through their academic success, but through what they achieve in their sporting, musical, dramatic and artistic development; the school fully embodies the philosophy of ‘Developing the whole child’.
Lisa Hutchinson LEA Governor Vice-Chair of Governors
I was delighted to be elected as a Parent Governor in December 2013. I have had two children in school and they both enjoyed all that is on offer at Bolton-on-Swale.
As a governor I have been able to gain a privileged and valuable insight into the day to day running of our school and into primary school education as a whole, as well as contributing to and supporting the continued development of the school. I am particularly proud of the caring, family environment which staff, governors, pupils and their families all work so hard to maintain. This in turn enables every child to strive to meet their full potential, either in terms of their academic attainment or their particular strengths and talents, to prepare them well for the next step of their education.
Professionally, I work as a Planning Officer and am able to offer this strategic skill set to the governing body.
Robert Booth - Foundation Governor
I was delighted to be asked to join the governing body of Bolton-on-Swale St Mary’s. Both my children attend the school and I particularly value the ethos and the way in which all children are included and valued. Everyone in the school community is recognised as important and the Christian ethos which runs through the whole school helps to underpin this.
Professionally, I am a dairy farmer at Bolton-on-Swale and I bring to the school my knowledge of the countryside and an understanding of managing land and buildings.
It is a privilege to be working with such a committed school staff and a strong governing body which includes people with such a varied professional skill set.
Charles White - Foundation Governor
I was delighted to be asked to join the governing body of Bolton-on-Swale St Mary’s School in 2016 as a Foundation Governor. As a parent of two children in school I have a strong connection to both the school and to St Mary’s Church.
My aim as a foundation governor is to support the school, staff and pupils utilising my skills and experience. Professionally I work as a company director within our family business and it is this varied skill set I bring in a voluntary capacity to my role as governor.
Nicola Dobson - Headteacher
I was delighted to be appointed Head teacher at Bolton-on-Swale St Mary’s Church of England Aided Primary School in April 2010. It is a privilege to work with such a talented and enthusiastic staff team, wonderful children and a committed and able governing body. I enjoy the strong partnerships with parents and families as we work together to provide the very best primary education for the children in our care.
I particularly value the strong Christian ethos of our school and its parish and wider community links. Our school has a warm family atmosphere and we are committed to developing the whole child and their individual gifts and talents in a caring, happy and supportive environment.
I bring with me a wealth of experience teaching across the primary age range in a variety of schools and education authorities for over 20 years. I came to North Yorkshire in 2006 to be Deputy Head at RAF Leeming Primary School. I continue to enjoy teaching in the classroom and am also involved in the professional development of practising teachers; running courses, supporting aspiring and new head teachers and working in partnership with Durham University to train student teachers.
Rev Yvonne Callaghan - Ex officio Foundation Governor
It a great privilege to serve as a Foundation Governor of St Mary’s C of E Primary School as The Vicar for The Parish of Easby, Skeeby, Brompton on Swale and Bolton on Swale. I have a passion for all children to know they are special and for each child to know that their education and needs matter. I find St Mary’s a happy and encouraging place for all children of all faiths and of none to learn and flourish in all areas. I am passionate about the Christian Ethos of St Mary’s, and its Church School Distinctiveness which is obvious just from being in the building and among the staff and children, this ripples into the way school and family life connects with the Church within our parish.
Previous to living in Brompton on Swale, I have been a school governor in many capacities, over many years and in many schools, including Special Needs Schools, and none denominational schools. I have enjoyed working as a psychotherapist in my own practice and within other organisations, as a training support worker for those with mental heath problems and substance addictions, a Wine Master, a Nursery Nurse and as a Fraud investigator in a bank. I am a wife to Neil, and mum to Jacob and Joseph. I hope that through my wide experiences of life I may contribute positively to the life, spirit and energy of St Mary’s C of E School today and into the future.
Louise Gigante - Foundation Governor
In was invited to become a Foundation Governor in 2019. This was a role I was pleased to accept, having been a Parent Governor since 2016. I have a son in the school and I am keen to support the school in its mission of ‘Developing the whole child’. I am also the Health and Safety designated Governor.
My professional background is in insurance. I have worked in the Property and Liability insurance industry for 25 years and the last 17 years has been with North Yorkshire County Council. Principally this has provided me with experience in providing insurance and risk management and claims handling services to schools, which has enabled me to understand the issues and needs of schools in providing education across the County, some of the risks to this and how they have been addressed. I also have a good understanding of processes and procedures of the Local Authority such as procurement and traded services and how these can impact schools. I aim to share this knowledge and experience for the benefit of the school.
I enjoy working with the Headteacher, Governors and staff to support their excellent work in helping the pupils reach their full potential and aim to contribute towards the continued strong development of the school.
Paula Reynolds - Staff Governor
As staff governor I aim to work collaboratively with our Governing Body to secure the best possible outcomes for all our children ensuring that they all achieve their full potential.
As Deputy Head, EYFS Teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator I bring a broad educational skill set to the governing body. I am an Early Years Lead Teacher for North Yorkshire and am passionate about ensuring that every child and their family has the best possible start to their education. My interest in Special Educational Needs also supports the governing body in fulfilling its important responsibilities in this area.
Register Of Interests
21 – 22
Name | Category | Appointed By | Term in Office |
Committees Currently Serving On |
Other Positions of Responsibility | Business Interests * | Relationships ** |
Clare White | Foundation Governor – Chair of Governors | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds | 3/10/2018 – 2/10/2022 | Resources Committee | Designated Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection Designated Governor for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Designated Governor for English, French, PSHCE and Religious Education |
None | None |
Lisa Hutchinson | LEA Governor – Vice Chair | Election of parents in school | 17/01/2022 – 16/01/2026 | Resources and Admissions Committee | Designated Governor for Music and Pupil Premium | None | None |
Lesley Chandler | Foundation Governor | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds | 30/7/2018 – 29/7/2022 | Resources Committee | Designated Governor for History, Maths, PE and Sports Premium | Husband owns Paul Chandler Landscape and Property Maintenance Company | None |
Helen Richardson | Foundation Governor | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds | 13/12/2019 -19/1/2024 | Admissions Committee | Designated Governor for Art and Design, Design Technology, Computing and Science | None | None |
Robert Booth | Foundation Governor | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leed | 31/8/2020-28/9/24 | Resources Committee |
Designated Governor for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Designated Governor for EYFS and Geography |
Owner of the land adjacent to school; dairy farmer | None |
Charles White | Foundation Governor | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds | 28/09/2020 – 28/09/2024 | Resources Committee | Designated Governor for History, Maths, PE and Sports Premium | None | Charles White is related to Foundation Governor Clare White as brother-in-law |
Reverend Yvonne Callaghan | Ex officio Foundation Governor | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds | N/A | Designated Governor for Collective Worship |
None 20/21 TBC 21/22 |
None | |
Reverend Mary Williams | Ex officio Foundation Governor | Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds | N/A | Designated Governor for Collective Worship | None | None | |
Vanessa Rafelt
|
Parent Governor |
Election of parents in school
|
15/11/19-15/11/2023
|
Designated Governor for English, French, PSHE and Religious Education
|
None
|
None
|
|
Paula Reynolds | Staff Governor (Deputy Head) | Election of staff | 1/12/2017 – 30/11/2021 | None | None | ||
Jonathan Spencer | Clerk to Governors – North Yorkshire County Council | ||||||
Nicola Dobson | Ex officio Headteacher | N/A |
Resource Committee Admissions Committee |
None | None | ||
* Relevant business interests of governors and details of any other educational establishments they govern
** Relationships between governors and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives
Governor Attendance
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Governor Attendance at Meetings for the academic year 2018-2019
Governor Attendance at Meetings for the academic year 2017 – 2018
Governor Attendance at Meetings for the academic year 2016 – 2017
Clare White – attended 11 of 11 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Lisa Hutchinson – attended 9 of 10 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of specific attendance at governing body and committee meetings)
Janet Pringle – attended 9 out of 9 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings
Lesley Chandler – attended 9 of 11 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Helen Richardson – attended 7 of 9 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Robert Booth – attended 8 of 9 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Charles White – attended 9 of 9 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Reverend Yvonne Callaghan – attended 2 of 6 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Paula Reynolds – attended 7 of 8 meetings for the 2018-19 academic year (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Nicola Dobson – attended 10 of 11 meetings for the 2018-2019 (refer to link for detail of attendance at specific governing body and committee meetings)
Governor Committees and Membership
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Resources Committee
Lisa Hutchinson (Chair)
Headteacher
Robert Booth
Lesley Chandler
Louise Gigante
Charles White
Clare White
Admissions Committee
Helen Richardson (Chair)
Headteacher
Lisa Hutchinson
Janet Pringle
Louise Gigante