Governing Board Information

About our Governing Board

All schools in England have a Governing Board which is responsible for overseeing the strategic decisions of the school. As a Board our overarching aim is to ensure that the children who attend St Oswald's CE Primary are able to achieve to the best of their ability. The challenge for us as a Board is how we accomplish this by exercising our three core functions as outlined below and whilst working within the legal requirements that apply to all maintained schools.

The three core functions of the Board of Governors are:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff, and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

As a governing board we are a committed team who are dedicated to raising standards and achieving positive outcomes for all the children, staff and wider school community.  Members of the Board have a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience with each governor bringing something vital to the team.

The governing board consists of different categories of governor, each appointed in different ways. Our governing board consists of 12 governors following a process of reconstitution as follows:

• 2 elected Parent Governors
• 1 Headteacher
• 1 elected Staff Governor
• 1 appointed Local Authority Governor
• 6 Foundation Governors

The governing board has set the terms of office for a governor at four years. The Chair and Vice-Chairs of Governors are elected at the first meeting of the academic year.

The Chair of Governors is Mrs Susan Varga and can be contacted via the Clerk to Governors at admin.stoswalds@schools.sefton.gov.uk. The Vice-Chair is Ms Diane Haddock. 

The governing board hold three meetings each term with each meeting and sub committee meetings are also held each term.  The sub committees are as follows: Curriculum, Finance & Personnel, Safeguarding and Vision &Values.  The Admissions sub committee meeting takes place once per year.

Our Governing Board is a committed team of foundation, local authority, staff and parent members who work together to support our school in all aspects of its work, all working towards providing the best education for our children whilst upholding our Christian Values of friendship, creation, thankfulness, justice, peace, hope and perseverance.

Welcome from our Chair of Governors Mrs Susan Varga

I have been a governor at St Oswald's since 2002 when I was first appointed as the Local Authority representative by Sefton Council. I volunteered to become a school governor because I wanted children in Sefton to get the best education possible.

I am a qualified Accountant with over 37 years experience of working for Sefton Council working in finance,  performance management and children's performance. I retired in 2016, this allowed me the time to commit to being the Chair of Governors I have been the Chair of Governors at St Oswalds for six years.

I always considered myself to be very lucky as my parents always thought a good education was paramount they wanted all of us to get the education they didn't, they always supported me in whatever i wanted to do. This is why i wanted  to give something back to try and help other children ireach their full potential in a safe and secure environment. I enjoy reading, maths and crafts including cooking I have shared this enjoyment by previously running an after school craft club.

Having worked for a Local Authority I am used to getting things done on a shoestring, working in partnership to get value for money by finding new and innovative ways of doing things which is even more important in this current financial crisis.

I hope I can use my skills and commitment to help St Oswalds continue to be a great school. Being a part of the governing body has enabled  me to play an active role in the life of school and strive to give all children who attend St Oswalds the opportunity to achieve and aspire to fulfil their potential.  

I would recorecommend being a governor to anyone it is rewarding but you must be willing to commit both your skills and your time. 

Chair of Governors 

St Oswalds Governing Board Information

Former Governors 2022/2023

Membership of Committees 2022/2023

Register of Business and Financial Interests 2022/2023

Attendance at Meetings 2021/2022

Mrs B Hughes on maternity leave from December 2021.

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