Governing Board Information
Welcome from our Chair of Governors Mrs Susan Varga
I have been a governor at St Oswald's CE Primary School since 2002 when I was appointed as the Local Authority governor by Sefton Council I wanted to volunteer to become a governor because I wanted to give something back.
I was lucky as my parents always thought a good education was paramount, they always supported me and I wanted to give something back to try and help children reach their full potential in a safe and secure environment. As a child I read every night to my dad who like me loved to read he knew that a good education was very important as he found out after he'd left school and joined the army.
I am a qualified Accountant with over 37 years experience of working for Sefton Council working in performance management and children's statistical analysis. I retired from Sefton council in 2016 and I then had the time needed to commit to being the Chair of Governors at St.Oswald’s.
I feel very privileged to be the Chair of Governors of St. Oswald’s and to be working with such a professional and committed team of staff and governors.
Chair of governors is a role that needs my full commitment I ensure that I have an open door policy ensuring that I am available to support Miss Murtagh, the staff, the governors, the children and I'm available to help parents and carers too. I take my role very seriously and make sure that I'm in school on a regular basis to assist where needed for example listening to children reading, helping with craft activities and supporting the PFA.
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.
I would recommend being a governor to anyone.
St Oswald's governing body
Children, parents/carers often ask what the governing body actually does so I thought I'd try and explain Governors are appointed to ensure that objectives are met, and that future planning is both visionary and realistic. We provide strategic direction for the improvement of the school; monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the school; and hold the school to account for the standards achieved and the quality of education.
We are here to support and encourage Miss Murtagh, Senior Leadership Team and all school personnel to ensure that every one of our children has access to an enriched education and to all the opportunities that they deserve.
The governing body is involved with our school at every level. This includes finance, safeguarding, premises management and staff appointments. As governors, we consider our most important role to be the safety, welfare and education of our pupils. Our role includes some of the following;
- Firstly, we are all volunteers giving our time and commitment freely to everyone at St. Oswald’s.
- We work closely with Miss Murtagh and the senior leadership team.
- We act as a critical friend to the school.
- At St Oswald's Primary School, Governors, staff, parents and children work together in a happy, creative and high-attaining environment, with our core vision and values underpinning everything that we do.
- We oversee the financial performance of the school making sure it's money is well spent.
- Most importantly, we ensure your children get the best education possible in a supportive and safe setting.
- Our Governors are visible and active members of St. Oswald’s Primary School.
The children in our school work so hard to achieve across the curriculum they are polite and a credit to us all. We are justifiably very proud of them and would like to thank the parents who encourage and support their children.
St Oswald’s CE Primary School Governing Board
|
Name |
Category |
Date Appointed |
Most recent appointment Date |
Appointed By |
Term |
Roles & Committees |
|
Miss E Murtagh |
Headteacher |
01.09.07 |
N/A |
School |
4 Years |
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 |
01.09.26 |
Diocese of Liverpool |
4 Years |
F & P, Vision and Pay Review. |
|
Mrs Elizabeth Furlong |
Foundation |
02.07.15 |
02.07.26 |
Diocese of Liverpool |
4 Years |
Vice Chair F & P, Safeguarding, Vision and Pay Review |
|
Mrs Anna Reardon |
Foundation |
18.02.19 |
18.02.23 |
Diocese of Liverpool |
4 Years |
Vision and Standards & Quality |
|
Ms Diane Haddock |
Local Authority |
10.03.20 |
24.05.23 |
Local Authority |
4 Years |
Standards & Quality |
|
Mrs Heather Doddridge |
Foundation |
19.05.26 |
18.05.30 |
Foundation |
4 Years |
Standards & Quality |
|
Miss Rachael Woolley |
Foundation |
17.05.23 |
17.05.23 |
Parent |
4 Years |
Standards & Quality and Admission |
|
Mrs Evie Jefferies |
Foundation |
03.05.23 |
03.05.23 |
Foundation |
4 Years |
Vision and Standards & Quality |
|
Mrs Kylie Knowles |
Foundation |
05.10.23 |
05.10.23 |
Parent |
4 Years |
Standards & Quality |
|
Mrs K Crawford |
Staff |
13.05.25 |
12.05.29 |
Staff |
4 Years |
Vision and Standards & Quality |
|
|
Vacancy |
|
|
Diocese |
|
|
Former Governors 2025/2026
Mrs N Gray
Membership of Committees 2026-27
|
Admissions |
Standards & Quality |
F & P |
Pay Review |
Vision & Values |
|
Mrs S Varga |
Miss E Murtagh |
Miss E Murtagh |
Mrs J Bateman |
Miss E Murtagh |
|
Mr J Bateman |
Mrs K Crawford |
Mrs J Bateman |
Mrs E Furlong |
Mrs J Bateman |
|
Miss R Woolley |
Mrs A Reardon |
Mrs S Varga |
Mrs S Varga |
Mrs E Furlong |
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|
Mrs S Varga |
Mrs E Furlong |
|
Mrs A Reardon |
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Ms D Haddock |
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Mrs S Varga |
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Miss R Woolley |
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Mrs E Jefferies |
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Mrs K Knowles |
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Mrs K Crawford |
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Register of Business and Financial Interests 2026/2027
|
Miss E Murtagh |
Nil |
|
Mrs S Varga |
Nil |
|
Mrs J Bateman |
Nil |
|
Mrs E Furlong |
Nil |
|
Mrs A Reardon |
Nil |
|
Ms D Haddock |
Nil |
|
Mrs N Gray |
Nil |
|
Miss R Woolley |
Nil |
|
Mrs E Jefferies |
Nil |
|
Mrs K Knowles |
Nil |
|
Mrs C Clarke |
Nil |
|
Mrs J Erskine |
Nil |
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Mrs G Webb |
Nil |
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Miss H Sutton |
Nil |
|
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|
|
Full Govs |
10th September 2025 SDP |
14th October 2025 |
3rd February 2026 |
19th May 2026 |
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Name |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
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Miss |
E Murtagh |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
S Varga |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
J Bateman |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
E Furlong |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
A Reardon |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Ms |
D Haddock |
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✔ |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
E Jefferies |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Miss |
R Woolley |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
N Gray |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
K Knowles |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
K Crawford |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
H Doddridge |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
J Parry |
Ex Officio |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Finance & Personnel Sub |
10th November 2025 |
12th May 2026 |
9th June 2026 |
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Name |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
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Miss |
E Murtagh |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
S Varga |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
J Bateman |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
E Furlong |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
A Reardon |
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Ms |
D Haddock |
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Mrs |
E Jefferies |
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Miss |
R Woolley |
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Mrs |
K Knowles |
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Mrs |
K Crawford |
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Admissions Sub |
16th September 2025 |
19th November 2025 |
2nd December 2025 |
3rd March 2026 |
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Name |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
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Miss |
E Murtagh |
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Mrs |
S Varga |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
J Bateman |
✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
E Furlong |
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Mrs |
A Reardon |
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Ms |
D Haddock |
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Mrs |
E Jefferies |
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Miss |
R Woolley |
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Mrs |
K Knowles |
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Mrs |
K Crawford |
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S & Q Sub |
15th April 2026 |
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Name |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
Attended |
Apologies |
Absent |
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Miss |
E Murtagh |
✔ |
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Mrs |
S Varga |
✔ |
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Mrs |
J Bateman |
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Mrs |
E Furlong |
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Mrs |
A Reardon |
✔ |
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Ms |
D Haddock |
✔ |
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Mrs |
E Jefferies |
✔ |
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Miss |
R Woolley |
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✔ |
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Mrs |
K Knowles |
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✔ |
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