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 Mrs Karen Windross are currently the co-chairs of the Governing Body. You are able to contact either of our clerks via email, at:

psanderson@stmatthews.cumbria.sch.uk or 

kwindross@stmatthews.cumbria.sch.uk

Bekah Bell is our clerk to the Governors. Bekah is the clerk to a number of small schools in our cluster.

She can be contacted by email on: ClerkASSP@blennerhasset.cumbria.sch.uk  

Mrs Patrice Sanderson

Co-Chair of Governors

LA Governor 

Term of Office: September 2022 - September 2026

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Governor
• Pupil Premium Governor
• Literacy Governor
• Curriculum Committee
• Staff and Salaries Committee
• Health and Safety Committee
• Discipline and Dismissals Committee
• Admissions Committee

Mrs Karen Windross

Co-Chair of Governors

Parent Governor

Term of Office: November 2022 - November 2026

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Governor
• Pupil Premium Governor
• Behaviour and attitudes/PSHE Governor
• Website Committee
• Staff and Salaries Committee
• Health and Safety Committee
• Discipline and Dismissals Committee

Mrs Debbie Johnson

Vice Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2021 - November 2025

• French and Music Governor
• Curriculum Committee (Chair)
• 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

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

Helen is also on the Westnewton Pre-School Committee.

Mrs Claire Beaty

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2022 - November 2026

• SEND Governor
• Health and Safety Committee
• Food committee

Mrs Karen Ford

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: November 2021 - November 2025

• RE and Collective Worship Governor
• Early Years Governor
• Curriculum Committee
• Admissions Committee

Mrs Louisa Harrison

Staff Governor

Term of Office: February 2021 - February 2025

• Treasurer
• Curriculum Committee
• Finance and Fabric Committee
• Website Committee

Mrs Mary Hodgson

Foundation Governor

Term of Office: June 2019 to June 2023 

• History and Geography Governor
• Art and DT Governor
• Health and Safety Committee

Mrs Emma Irving

Parent Governor

Term of Office: September 2021 - September 2025

• Maths Governor
• Leadership and Management Governor
• Finance and Fabric Committee
• Staff and Salaries Committee
• Curriculum Committee

Rev. Bryan Rothwell

Principal Officiating Minister

Term of Office: while in office

• RE and Collective Worship Governor
• Computing Governor
• Curriculum Committee

Miss Kelly Conway

Associate Member 

• Science Governor
• Finance and Fabric Committee
• Website Committee
• Food Committee
• Admissions Committee

Governing Body Diversity Data

As a Governing Body, we have a duty to recognise that diverse thoughts, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation.

We believe it is important that our Governing Body reflects the diversity of the school communities which we serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and children.

The governors are currently gathering data on the diversity of our governors, including data on age, gender and ethnicity. We will use that data to inform recruitment and training needs and ensure there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

We do not publish any diversity information that may disclose personal information about individual governors. This is due to our legal obligation to protect their personal data.