Governor Diversity Statement
The governors of Twelve Apostles School believe it is important that the governing board reflects the diversity of our school community. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for our children and young people. Data currently collected on the diversity of the board, which is used to inform our recruitment and training needs to ensure that there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making. However, due to our relatively small board we do not publish this data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.
Name of Governing Body: XII Apostles RC Primary School
The remit for the Governing Body is to:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Governing Body Composition:
| Type of Governor | No. |
|---|---|
| Foundation | 7 |
| Headteacher | 1 |
| Local Authority | 1 |
| Parent | 2 |
| Staff | 1 |
| Foundation Governor Vacancy | 1 |
| Names of Governors | Type of Governor | Term of Office | Date of appointment | Appointing Body |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Tracey Whitton | Headteacher, Ex Officio Governor | From: 01.09.2023 To: |
n/a | |
| Mrs Paula Crawley (Chair) Elected Chair 19th June 2025 |
Foundation | 4 Years 1 year as Chair |
From: 04.07.2023 To: 03.07.2027 |
The Governing Body |
| Ms Christine Lovelady (Vice Chair) Elected Vice Chair 19th June 2025 |
Foundation | 4 Years 1 year as Vice Chair |
From: 01.11.2021 To: 31.10.2029 |
Liverpool Archdiocese |
| Mrs Sharon Boon | Foundation | 4 years | From: 01.09.2023 To: 31.08.2027 |
Liverpool Archdiocese |
| Mrs Anne Hanrahan | Foundation | 4 years | From: 20.06.2024 To: 19.06.2028 |
Liverpool Archdiocese |
| Mrs Danielle Coburn | Foundation | 4 years | From: 10.10.24 To: 09.10.2028 |
Liverpool Archdiocese |
| Mr Connor Rowlands | Staff | 4 years | From: 01.09.2022 To: 31.08.2026 |
Elected by Staff |
| Mrs Maxine Armes | Local Authority | 4 years | From: 22.09.2022 To: 23.09.2026 |
Nominated by Council and appointed by the Governing Body |
| Ms Jane Lovett | Foundation | 4 years | From: 26.10.2022 To: 25.10.2026 |
Liverpool Archdiocese |
| Mrs Meena Jesani | Parent | 4 years | From: 25.09.2023 To: 24.09.2027 |
Elected by Parents |
| Mrs Nicola Bickell | Parent | 4 years | From: 17.10.2024 To: 16.10.2028 |
Elected by Parents |
| Vacancy | Foundation Governor |
Full Governing Body Attendance Record 2025/26
| Name of Governor | Dates of Full Governing Body Meetings Attended | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02.10.25 | 27.11.25 | 05.02.26 | 12.03.26 | 23.04.26 | 18.06.26 | |||||||||
| Clerk to Governors Helena Carmen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Tracey Whitton (Headteacher) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Paula Crawley (Chair) Foundation | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | ||||||||
| Mrs Sharon Boon (Foundation) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | ||||||||
| Ms Christine Lovelady Vice Chair (Foundation) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Ann Hanrahan (Foundation) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Danielle Coburn (Foundation) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Debbie Davies (Foundation) | Yes | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Mrs Jane Lovett (Foundation) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | ||||||||
| Mr Connor Rowlands (Staff) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Maxine Armes Local Authority Governor | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Meena Pindoria Jesani (Parent) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Mrs Bickell (Parent) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| Name of Governor | Dates of Pay Committee | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.11.25 | ||||||
| Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| Helena Carmen: Wigan Governor Services | ||||||
| Mrs Tracey Whitton HT |
||||||
Headteacher Performance Management Reviewers
| Name of Governor | Type of Governor | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Paula Crawley | Foundation Governor | |||||
| Mrs Anne Hanrahan | Foundation Governor | |||||
| Mrs Nicola Bickell | Parent Governor | |||||
Specific Responsibilities
| Name of Governor | Responsibility | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jane Lovett | SEND* | |||||
| Mrs Sharon Boon | Safeguarding* | |||||
| Mrs Anne Hanrahan | Health and Safety* | |||||
| Mrs Danielle Coburn | Attendance/ Behaviour* | |||||
| Mrs Meena Pindoria-Jesani | Attendance/ Behaviour* | |||||
| Mrs Chris Lovelady | RE/ Curriculum* | |||||
| Maxime Armes | Well-Being | |||||
| Mr Rowlands | Well-Being | |||||
*statutory
Register of Interests 2025/26
Name |
Details of Pecuniary Interest |
Details of personal interest |
Mrs Tracey Whitton |
Husband an employee of Abtec Computer Solutions (School’s IT support Provider) |
Nil |
Ms Christine Lovelady |
Leigh and District U3A Trustee |
Nil |
Mrs Sharon Boon |
Nil | Trustee of Friends of XII Apostles Association |
Mrs Paula Crawley |
Business sole proprietor (Paula Crawley Education). |
Nil |
Mrs Maxine Armes |
Nil | Nil |
Mrs Meena Jesani |
Parent of a child in school | |
Mr Connor Rowlands |
Nil |
Teacher at XII Apostles RCPS |
Mrs Danielle Coburn |
Nil |
Parent of a child in school. |
Schedule of Meetings 2025-26
|
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
Full Governing Body (In School) |
3rd October 2025 at 5.30pm |
5th February 2026 at 5:30pm |
23rd April 2026 at 5:30pm |
Pay Committee |
27th November 2025 at 5:00pm |
|
|
HT Performance Review |
9th October 2024 5:00pm in School |
Mid-Year Review TBC |
|
Governor Visits to School |
14th November 2025 AM |
4th March 2026 AM |
8th June 2026 PM |
Governors’ Annual Report 2025–2026
The Governing Body of Twelve Apostles RC Primary School is accountable for the strategic leadership and statutory governance of the school. During 2025–2026, governors have continued to fulfil their responsibilities in line with the Department for Education’s maintained schools governance guidance, ensuring that governance remains focused on strategic leadership, accountability, assurance, compliance and the best possible outcomes for pupils.
1. Ensuring Clarity of Vision, Ethos and Strategic Direction
The Governing Body has met regularly as a Full Governing Body throughout the year to set, review and challenge the school’s vision, ethos and strategic priorities. Governors have scrutinised and approved the School Improvement Plan and received regular progress updates from the Headteacher and senior leaders. Monitoring activities have ensured that actions remain closely aligned to the school’s mission, Catholic ethos, statutory duties, curriculum priorities and commitment to inclusion for all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with SEND.
2. Holding the Headteacher to Account for the Educational Performance of the School and its Pupils, and the Performance Management of Staff
Governors have held the Headteacher and senior leaders robustly to account by:
- Scrutinising attainment, progress, attendance and wider outcome information for all groups of pupils, with a particular focus on disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and those requiring additional support or challenge.
- Monitoring the quality of education through Headteacher reports, subject leadership updates, assessment information, pupil voice, work scrutiny and triangulated evidence from governor visits.
- Undertaking focused visits linked to school improvement priorities, including curriculum provision, safeguarding, Catholic Life, SEND, attendance, behaviour, health and safety, and pupil wellbeing.
- Overseeing the performance management of the Headteacher and ensuring that appraisal systems for staff are rigorous and aligned to school improvement priorities.
- Receiving detailed reports from statutory and link governors in key areas such as safeguarding, SEND, Catholic Life, curriculum, attendance, finance, health and safety, and pupil mental health and wellbeing to provide assurance of compliance and impact.
Governors have consistently asked challenging and constructive questions to validate evidence presented by leaders, test the impact of school improvement work and ensure that decisions are informed, transparent and accountable. This has supported leaders in maintaining high expectations while ensuring that the needs of pupils, staff and families remain central to decision-making.
Governors also provided strong strategic support and assurance throughout the recent Ofsted inspection process. They worked closely with the Headteacher and senior leaders to articulate the school’s vision, priorities and improvement journey, while evidencing the effectiveness of governance in providing both challenge and support. This contributed to inspectors’ recognition of the school’s strengths and supported the Ofsted judgement that leadership and governance are strong.
3. Overseeing the Financial Performance of the School and Ensuring Value for Money
Governors have continued to discharge their financial oversight duties by ensuring that the school’s budget and resources are used effectively, sustainably and in line with statutory requirements. During 2025–2026, this has included:
- Reviewing and approving the annual school budget for 2025–2026, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, staffing needs, curriculum provision and statutory obligations.
- Monitoring income and expenditure at termly meetings, including the impact of funding changes, staffing costs and any significant budget variances.
- Reviewing the planned use and impact of targeted funding, including Pupil Premium, PE and Sport Premium and SEND funding, to ensure that expenditure is evidence-informed and supports improved outcomes and wider opportunities for pupils.
- Seeking assurance on financial controls, procurement, risk management, premises, cyber security and value for money to safeguard the effective and sustainable use of public funds.
Governance Development and Compliance
The Governing Body has demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement by engaging in governor training and development linked to statutory responsibilities and school priorities. This has included safeguarding, safer recruitment, financial oversight, curriculum and assessment, SEND, Catholic governance, attendance, health and safety, pupil mental health and wellbeing, and cyber security. Governors have reviewed policies, maintained statutory compliance and used link governor roles and committee structures to strengthen accountability and assurance across the school.
Conclusion
The Governing Body remains fully committed to ensuring that Twelve Apostles RC Primary School provides a high-quality Catholic education underpinned by strong values, effective leadership, inclusion and statutory compliance. Governors will continue to provide strategic challenge and support, hold leaders to account, oversee financial performance and uphold the vision and ethos of the school so that all pupils are supported to flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.