Governors
We are very proud to be governors of St James CE Primary School, a popular and successful Church of England school located in St Helens. The governing body exists to provide strategic leadership and accountability in school. We establish the vision and values of St James CE Primary School which are underpinned by our school policies.
Our school is a proud member of the Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust (LDST).
As a Local Governing Body (LGB), within the Multi Academy Trust (MAT), we have delegated powers under the LDST Scheme of Delegation to oversee the running of the school and have responsibility for day to day operational matters. Some of these powers have been delegated to committees or to the Executive Headteacher/Head of School but with the understanding that the ultimate responsibility lies with the LGB.
The school is accountable to us as the LGB and we are accountable to LDST-Governance
Governance Arrangements
Our LGB consists of 10 members. All appointments to the LGB are made by the Directors of the LDST.
The Local Governing Body consists of:
a) 2 Parent Governors
b) 2 Staff Governors (including the Headteacher)
c) 4 Co-opted Governors
d) 6 Foundation Governors (including Incumbent of St James the Great Church)
Our foundation governors, together with other governors, have a responsibility to preserve and develop the school’s religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England.
Our close links with St James the Great Church are a crucial part of maintaining, delivering and developing our Christian ethos and identity and ensuring that the school’s Mission Statement, Christian Values and Aims are embedded in all aspects of school life.
Governing Body Diversity
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We collect diversity information from our governors and depending on current data, can use this to:
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Target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
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Develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
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Prioritise training and awareness in identified areas
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Address potential 'blind spots' through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks
We are unable to publish this information as it would mean that individual members of our governing body are identifiable.
A Chair and Vice Chair are elected annually by the LGB and formally approved by the LDST. The Chair for 2025-26 is Mr Cyril Barratt and Mr Joe Heavey is the Vice Chair.
The Clerk to the Governors is employed through a Service Level Agreement with St Helens Local Authority. The Clerk works closely with the Executive Headteacher and Chair, arranges the agendas for the meetings, takes and distributes minutes and advises on procedural matters.
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS
The following documents are available on request from the school office:
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The agenda for the meeting of the governing body including committees
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The approved minutes of each meeting
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Reports, documents or other paper considered at each meeting
The school may exclude from any item material relating to:
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A named member of staff or proposed member of staff
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A named pupil/student or candidate for admission or referral to it
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Any matter which, by reason of its nature, the governors are satisfied should remain confidential
As of September 2025 our Governing Body is composed of the following members:
| Cyril Barratt |
Chair Person (Foundation Governor) Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish PCC Safeguarding Link Governor Term of office - 14/9/25 - 13/9/29 Declaration of interests - Yes - Daughter Teaching assistant at St James Governance roles in other educational institutions: Yes |
| Joe Heavey |
Vice Chair (Foundation Governor) Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish PCC Pupil Premium Link Governor/Curriculum Link Governor Term of office - 1/09/2023 - 31/08/2027 Declaration of interests - Clerk for other Educational Bodies Governance roles in other educational institutions: None |
| Carole Bond |
Foundation Governor Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish PCC Maths Link Governors Term of office - 27/11/25 - 27/11/29 Declaration of interests - None Governance roles in other educational institutions: none. |
| Father Michael Vyse |
Ex Officio Governor Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish PCC Christian Distinctiveness Link Governor Term of office - duration of incumbancy Declaration of interests - None Governance roles in other educational institutions: none. |
| Jennifer Young | Executive Headteacher Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish PCC Term of office - duration of headship Declaration of interests - None Governance roles in other educational institutions: Yes |
| Debra Robinson | Staff Governor Appointed by: Staff Term of office - 26/9/22 - 25/9/26 Declaration of interests - None Governance roles in other educational institutions: none. |
| Joanne Nelson |
Parent Governor Appointed by : Parental Election Term of Office - 01/12/2025-30/11/2029 Declaration of Interests - None Governance roles in other educational institutions:none |
| Audrey McNulty |
Co-Opted Governor Appointed by : Liverpool Diocese/Parish Term of Office : 21/09/2022-20/09/2026 Declaration of Interest - None Governance roles in other educational institutes;none |
| Thomas Lee |
Parent Governor Appointed by: Parental Election Term of Office: 10/03/2023-09/03/2027 Declaration of interest - None Governance roles in other educational institutes: none |
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Paul Hooten
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Co-Opted Governor Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish Term Of Office .26/04/2023-25/04/2027 Declaration of interest - None Governance roles in other educational institutes: none
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Lisa Isherwood
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Co-Opted Governor Appointed by: Liverpool Diocese/Parish Term of Office 13/11/2024 - 12/11/2028 Declaration of Interest - None Governance roles in other educational institutes : none |
How to contact the Governing Body
In the event that you need to contact any member of our Governing Body, please put your request in writing and/ or refer your query to our office staff. As soon as possible, your request will be forwarded to the appropriate member of our Governing Body.
Paper copies of the agenda for meetings of the governing body including committees, the approved minutes of each meeting and any report, document or other paper considered at each meeting are available upon request.