The Little Way Catholic Educational Trust (LWCET) is governed by the Board of Directors who are responsible for, and oversee, the management and administration of the Trust and all of its academies. The constitution and rules governing how the Board of Directors operates is defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Directors have overall responsibility and ultimate decision-making authority for all the work of the LWCET and are accountable to external government agencies, including the Charity Commission, the Department for Education and the Education & Skills Funding Agency (including any of their successor bodies) as well as the Bishop of Clifton. To access information about the LWCET please visit the Trust's website: Little Way Catholic Educational Trust
The Directors appoint Local Governing Committees (LGC) to oversee the work of individual academies. They are a group of volunteers called Governors.
The constitution, membership and proceedings of the LGC is determined by the Directors and the Scheme of Delegation sets this out as well as acknowledging the authority delegated by the Directors to the LGC to run the Academy and fulfil its mission.
Local Governance Committees have delegated responsibility for the work of a single academy within the Trust. LGCs delegated remit will be focused on holding the Headteacher to account for the quality of standards and pupil outcomes, meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ethos, wellbeing and spiritual development, attendance, safeguarding, health and safety and community engagement.
As there is a lot to do, sometimes LGCs choose to carry out their work in smaller committees and then feedback to the full Local Governing Committee meeting.
On an individual level, governors are expected to act like a 'critical friend', recognising and celebrating the achievements of the school, whilst pointing out shortcomings, striking an appropriate balance between support and challenge. They have a role to monitor the progress towards strategic priorities and targets, and that policies are correctly implemented.
The Local Governing Committee at a LWCET school are usually made up of 10 Governors, as follows:
|
Membership |
Number |
Term |
Election Process |
|
Foundation Governors |
6
|
4 years |
Appointed by the Bishop |
|
Headteacher |
1 |
Ex-officio |
|
|
Staff |
1 |
4 years |
Elected by all staff |
|
Parent |
2 |
4 years |
Elected by parents |
Declarations of Pecuniary and Personal Interest
Each year members of the Trust Board and its Senior Leadership team as well as members of the Local Governing Committees are required to make declarations of their pecuniary interests and personal interests. Please refer to the documents at the bottom of this page for summaries of current declarations.
Have you considered becoming a Foundation Governor?
If you are interested and have time to give please visit the Clifton Diocese Schools and Colleges website:
Governance | Clifton Diocese Schools and Colleges
Then use the Recruitment pull down menu to access a video about being a governor, a leaflet about becoming a school governor as well as the New Foundation Governor Nomination Form.
Please contact clerk@st-josephs.gloucs.sch.uk for further information. We would love to hear from you.
The following documents may be found at the bottom of this page:
- Trust Governance Structure
- LWCET Scheme of Delegation
- Local Governing Committee Constitution
- LGC members Pecuniary and Personal Interests - April 2024
- Governor Attendance at Meetings during the last 12 months
| Category | Name | Term Starts | Term Ends |
| Foundation 1 |
Nicola Connolly - Chair
chair@st-josephs.gloucs.sch.uk
|
01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 |
| Foundation 2 | Sheila Pollard | 16/06/2025 | 15/06/2029 |
| Foundation 3 | John Andrews | 08/07/2025 | 07/07/2029 |
| Foundation 4 | Warnakulasuriya Fernando | 08/07/2025 | 07/07/2029 |
| Foundation 5 | Vacancy | ||
| Foundation 6 | Vacancy | ||
| Parent 1 | Claire Wooldridge - Vice Chair | 01/01/2024 | 21/11/2027 |
| Parent 2 | Annabel Hitchen | 26/11/2024 | 25/11/2028 |
| Staff | Katharine Piper | 01/05/2024 | 30/04/2028 |
| Headteacher | Clare Howells | 01/01/2024 | Ex Officio |
| Additional Governor | Astrid Barrowman |
15/01/2025 | 14/01/2027 |
Revd Deacon John Andrews
Category of Governor:
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
8th July 2025
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Bishop of Clifton
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link Governor for: Catholic Life and Mission (shared); Inclusion (shared); Computing and Science
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
TBC
Statement:
TBA
Mrs Astrid Barrowman
Category of Governor:
Additional Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 2-year term:
15th January 2025
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by members of the LGC
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link Governor for: Inclusion (shared); English and Music
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Parent of child/children attending the School
Statement:
TBA
Mrs Nicola Connolly
Category of Governor:
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Bishop of Clifton
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Chair of Governors; Nominated Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection, including designated governor for LAC; Link Governor for Inclusion (shared); member of the Pay Panel
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Parent of children attending the School
Statement:
I am a barrister specialising in family law. I have vast experience relating to financial remedies and children matters. I am a foundation governor and the Vice Chair of Governors at St Joseph’s. I am the nominated governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection and the link governor for Mathematics and Staff Wellbeing. I also sit on the Pay Panel.
I am a very proud mother of two boys. When not on family adventure walks or out exploring the outdoors with my boys, I also enjoy swimming, dancing and horse riding. I also love music and sing with a band.
I love the school ethos. It is really important to me that this is upheld as I firmly believe that with a solid foundation, built through faith, hope and love, children really can REACH to be the best they can be, now and in their future.
Mr Warnakulasuriya Sanjaya Fernando
Category of Governor:
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
8th July 2025
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Bishop of Clifton
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link Governor for: Finance (shared); Health & Safety; GDPR, Design Technology
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
TBC
Statement:
TBC
Mrs Annabel Hitchen
Category of Governor:
Parent Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
26th November 2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Elected by parents (unopposed)
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link Governor for: Art & Design; Geography and History; MFL
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Parent of child/children attending the school
Statement:
TBA
Mrs Clare Howells
Category of Governor:
Headteacher of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Ex-officio as Headteacher
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
TBA
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Employee of the School
Statement:
TBA
Category of Governor:
Staff Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st May 2024
Date Term Ends:
30th April 2028
Appointed/Elected by:
Elected by staff
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link Governor for: Staff Wellbeing
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
School employee
Statement:
TBC
Mrs Sheila Pollard
Category of Governor:
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
16th June 2025
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Bishop of Clifton
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link Governor for: Catholic Life and Mission (shared); Maths; RSHE/PSHE
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
TBC
Statement:
TBA
Mrs Claire Wooldridge
Category of Governor:
Parent Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Elected by parents (unopposed)
Date Term Ends:
21st November 2027
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Vice Chair of Governors; Link Governor for: Finance (shared); EYFS, including Early Reading and Phonics; PE and Sports Premium
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Parent of child/children attending the School
Statement:
With a pre-children career in financial services and corporate banking, I am aware of the importance of a well-run school. I have a particular interest in early years reading and phonics, and am a big supporter of the sporting activities and events attended by St Joseph’s.
When I have a few moments to spare I love gardening, horse riding and reading, and at the weekends we are active as a family, enjoying walks with the dog, bike riding and many other outdoor activities.
Our two eldest boys joined St Joseph’s in 2021 and our youngest started Reception in 2022. I have been impressed with the school values and the way they are upheld throughout the school from day one. I was keen to help to further embed the fantastic sense of family, community and love of learning that the school inspires in our children by becoming a Governor.
Mrs Sydney Gwyer
Category of Governor:
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Date Term Ended:
28th February 2025
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Bishop of Clifton
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Member of the Headteacher's Performance Management Panel; Link Governor for Chaplaincy, History, RE & PSHE, MFL and ECO champion
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
None
Statement:
We moved to Nympsfield in 1971. Our 7 children were all at St Joseph’s school. I worked as a dentist in the NHS, with my husband. We have both been active within the Parish, supporting schools via PTA and Governors. I have been a catechist, doing Communion classes for 10 years. I enjoy reading, gardening, playing bridge and spending time with our 20 grandchildren.
Category of Governor:
Additional Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Date Term Ended:
19th January 2025
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Schools and Colleges Committee
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Link governor for English including DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Member of Dursley Town Council
Statement:
TBC