Governors

The Governing Body

Our Governors play a vital role in our school life.  Not only do they, regularly, meet as part of their role in the Leadership and Management of the school, but they are also involved in many different aspects in the lives of the children whilst they are at school.

The Governing Body has twelve members, proposed or elected by various interests.  There are two Parent Governors voted for by parents/carers.  The Chair(s) and Vice-Chair are elected, annually, at the first meeting of the year (in September).  The minutes of Governing Body meetings, with the exception of matters deemed confidential, are available for inspection in the school office. Please contact the clerk if you wish to see them. At the AGM, Declaration of Business Interests forms are completed. At each governor meeting, declarations of interest are declared.

Mrs Patrice Sanderson and Mr Mark Renwick are the Co-chairs of the Governing Body. You are able to contact either of them, via email, at:

admin@stmatthews.cumbria.sch.uk

Please mark your email to the attention of Mrs P Sanderson or Mr M Renwick. 

Mr Mark Renwick

Co-Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: September 2022 - September 2026

• Discipline and Dismissal Committee (Chair)
• Health and Safety Committee (Chair)
• Curriculum Committee
• KS1 Attainment and Progress Monitor

Mrs Patrice Sanderson

Co-Chair of Governors

LA Governor

Term of Office: September 2022 - September 2026

• Child Protection Safeguarding Governor
• Curriculum Committee
• Safeguarding Monitor
• KS1 Attainment and Progress Monitor

Mrs Debbie Johnson

Vice Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2021 - November 2025

• Curriculum Committee (Chair)
• Discipline and Dismissal Committee 
• Staff and Salaries Committee
• KS2 Attainment and Progress monitor

Debbie is also a Governor at Nelson Thomlinson School.

Miss Helen Harrison

Headteacher

Term of Office: while in office

• Admissions Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• Finance and Fabric Committee
• Health and Safety Committee
• Food Committee
• Staff and Salaries Committee 

Helen is also on the Westnewton Pre-School Committtee.

Mrs Claire Beaty

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2022 - November 2026

• SEN Governor/Monitor
• Health and Safety
• Food committee
• Safeguarding Monitor

Mrs Karen Ford

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2021 - November 2025

Mrs Louisa Harrison

Staff Governor

Term of Office: February 2021 - February 2025

• Treasurer
• Curriculum Committee
• Finance and Fabric Committee
• Food Committee

Mrs Stacey Harrison

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2022 - November 2026

• Admissions
• Curriculum
• Discipline and dismissal
• Health and Safety
• Literacy monitor
• Staff and Salaries
• FS2 Attainment and Progress Monitor

Mrs Mary Hodgson

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: June 2019 to June 2023 

• Admissions Committee
• Health and Safety Committee

Mrs Emma Irving

Parent Governor

Term of Office: September 2021 - September 2025

Mrs Karen Windross

Parent Governor

Term of Office: November 2022 - November 2026

Rev. Bryan Rothwell

Principal Officiating Minister

Term of Office: while in office

• Discipline and Dismissal Committee
• RE/PHSE/SMSC/British Values Monitor
• Computing monitor

Miss Kelly Conway

Associate Member 

• Admissions Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• Finance and Fabric Committee
• Food Committee
• Development Plan and SEF Monitor

Mrs Bekah Bell

Clerk to Governors