Our Governors

The Governing Body is made up of a group of volunteers whose role is to work as a team to monitor, support, and challenge the school and its senior leaders so as to improve and provide the very best outcomes for pupils.

The full governing body meets once a term and much of their work is carried out at either individual or small committee level. Our governors take lead roles in particular areas: literacy and numeracy, curriculum, finance, Catholicity, safeguarding, SEN, health and safety, pupil premium, equality, HR, admissions, and community engagement.

They report to parents on the school’s achievements and respond to inspection recommendations. They hear appeals from students and staff and consider complaints.

Governors provide the headteacher with support and advice, drawing on their knowledge and experience. They ask searching questions and respect the headteacher’s position as professional leader of the school.

Since St Thomas’ is part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership (KCSP), a multi-academy trust, its governance arrangements are regulated by the KCSP Governance Handbook, which includes the Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference. St Thomas’ has a Local Governing Body (LGB) which operates as a sub-committee of the KCSP Trust Board, to whom they are accountable.

KCSP’s Shared Vision and Strategy for all their academies can be viewed here.

Together with the headteacher and the KCSP Trust Board, the governors of St Thomas’ set the future strategic direction for the school. They take local decisions on matters such as the school’s improvement plan, and also ensures compliance with KCSP’s policies.

Our Foundation Governors have been appointed in the name of the archbishop of Southwark and have a duty to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school. The period of appointment is 4 years.

Staff Governors, like all governors, are volunteers and are elected by their colleagues. They must be employed by St Thomas’, and their period of appointment is 4 years.

Parent Governors are elected from amongst parents and carers of pupils at the school. They must have a child at the school at the time of the election but do not need to stand down if their child leaves the school. Again, the period of office is 4 years.

“[KCSP’s] core purpose is to increase the number of children and young people participating in Catholic education, keeping them safe and offering pupils the opportunity to grow in confidence and maximise their potential. The Trust aims to make our academies not only places of outstanding learning but also places where Catholic faith is both taught and nurtured.” 

Governance Handbook October 2019

Governors’ Scheme of Delegation October 2019

Local Governing Body – Terms of Reference- October 2019

Below is our current Local Governing Body:

• Claudia Aquilina

  Headteacher

• Clare Copeland

  Chair of Governors

• Gina Fromings

  Staff Governor

• Mark Ellis

  Parent Governor

• Fr David Gibbons

  Foundation Governor

• Catherine Ingram

  Vice Chair

• Ann Livingston

  Foundation Governor

• Neil Philipson

  Foundation Governor

• Patricia Pinington

  Foundation Governor

Jacqueline Nunes (Clerk)
c/o St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School
South Park
Sevenoaks
TN13 1EH
clerk@saintthomas.co.uk