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

 

Name

Category

Date Appointed

Most recent appointment Date

Appointed By

Term

Roles & Committees

Miss Emma Murtagh

Headteacher

01.09.07

N/A

School

4 Years

Headteacher, member of all committees

Mrs Susan Varga

Foundation

25.09.02

02.10.20

Diocese of Liverpool

4 Years

Chair of Governing Board, F & P, Pay Review, Vision, Standards & Quality, Safeguarding, Admissions

Mrs Julie Bateman

Foundation

01.11.11

01.09.22

Diocese of Liverpool

4 Years

F & P, Vision and Pay Review.

Mrs Elizabeth Furlong

Foundation

02.07.15

02.07.22

Diocese of Liverpool

4 Years

F & P, Safeguarding, Vision, and Pay Review

Mrs Anna Reardon

Foundation

18.02.19

18.02.23

Diocese of Liverpool

 

Vision and Standards & Quality

Mrs Beth Hughes

Staff

13.07.16

13.07.20

School

4 Years

Vision and Standards & Quality

Ms Diane Haddock

Local Authority

10.03.20

10.03.20

Parents

4 Years

Standards & Quality

Mrs Cheryl Ruddy

Parent

11.03.20

11.03.20

Parents

4 Years

Standards & Quality

Mr Andrew Coulson

Diocese

11.05.22

11.05.22

Diocese of Liverpool

4 Years

Vision

Mrs Julie Erskine

Clerk to Governing Board

01.09.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Governors 2022/2023

Mrs J McIlveen

 

Membership of Committees 2022/2023

Admissions

Standards & Quality

F & P

Pay Review

Safeguarding

Vision & Values

Mrs S Varga

Miss E Murtagh

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs J Bateman

Miss E Murtagh

Miss E Murtagh

Mr J Bateman

Miss B Hughes

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs J Bateman

 

Mrs A Reardon

Mrs S Varga

Mrs S Varga

Mrs S Varga

Mrs E Furlong

 

Mrs S Varga

Mrs E Furlong

 

 

Miss B Hughes

 

Ms D Haddock

 

 

 

Mr A Coulson

 

Mrs C Ruddy

 

 

 

Mrs A Reardon

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs S Varga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register of Business and Financial Interests 2022/2023

Miss E Murtagh

Nil

Mrs S Varga

Nil

Mrs J Bateman

Nil

Mrs E Furlong

Nil

Miss B Hughes

Nil

Mrs J McIlveen

Nil

Mrs A Reardon

Nil

Mrs C Ruddy

Nil

Ms D Haddock

Nil

Mr W Hughes

Nil

Mr A Coulson

Employed by Sefton CVS

Volunteer Steering Group Member of L30’s Millions

Mrs C Clarke

Nil

Mrs J Erskine

Nil

Mrs G Webb

Nil

Mrs J McNally

Treasurer of School PFA

Mrs L Carr

Nil

 

Attendance at Meetings 2021/2022

SDP Meeting

07.09.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs B Hughes

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs A Reardon

Ms D Haddock

Ms C Ruddy

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

 

Safeguarding Sub Committee Meeting

14.09.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs E Furlong

Nil

 

Full Governing Board Meeting

05.10.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

 

Mrs E Furlong

 

 

Finance & Personnel Sub Committee Meeting

12.10.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs E Furlong

 

 

Complaint Meeting

18.10.21

Present

Apologies

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs B Hughes

Ms D Haddock

Nil

 

Standards & Quality Sub Committee  Meeting

10.11.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs A Reardon

Ms D Haddock

Ms C Ruddy

Nil

 

Safeguarding Sub Committee Meeting

11.11.21

Present

Apologies

Meeting did not take place.

 

 

Vision Sub Committee Meeting

23.11.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs B Hughes

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs A Reardon

Mrs J Bateman

 

Safeguarding Sub Committee Meeting

06.12.21

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs E Furlong

Nil

 

Mrs B Hughes on maternity leave from December 2021.

 

Full Governing Board Meeting

31.01.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs B Hughes

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs A Reardon

Ms D Haddock

Ms C Ruddy

Nil

 

Finance & Personnel Sub Committee Meeting

08.02.22

Present

Apologies

Meeting did not take place

 

 

Finance & Personnel Sub Committee Meeting

01.03.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs E Furlong

Nil

 

Admissions Sub Committee Meeting

04.03.22

Present

Apologies

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Nil

 

Standards & Quality Sub Committee  Meeting

09.03.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs A Reardon

Mr W Hughes

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs D Haddock

 

Vision Sub Committee Meeting

15.03.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs D Haddock

Mr W Hughes

Mrs J Bateman

 

Governors Ofsted Prep Meeting

21.03.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs A Reardon

Ms D Haddock

Ms C Ruddy

Mrs E Furlong

 

Governors Ofsted Prep Meeting

03.05.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs A Reardon

Ms D Haddock

Mr W Hughes

Nil

 

Finance & Personnel Sub Committee Meeting

14.06.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs E Furlong

Nil

 

Safeguarding Sub Committee Meeting

16.06.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs E Furlong

Nil

 

Full Governing Board Meeting

04.07.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs A Reardon

Mr W Hughes

Mr A Coulson

Mrs E Fulrong

Ms D Haddock

 

Standards & Quality Meeting

06.07.22

Present

Apologies

Meeting did not take place.

 

 

Vision Sub Committee Meeting

11.07.22

Present

Apologies

Miss E Murtagh

Mrs S Varga

Mrs J Bateman

Mrs E Furlong

Mrs A Reardon

Mr W Hughes

Mr A Coulson

Mr A Coulson

 

 

 

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St Oswald's CE Primary School. Ronald Ross Avenue, Netherton, Bootle L30 5RH

Tel: 0151 525 4580 | E: admin.stoswalds@schools.sefton.gov.uk