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.
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 |
As part of the transition to academy status, it has been exceptionally agreed that the school's previous Local Authority Governor, Cllr Loraine Patrick, may be an additional governor to the LGC structure for the remainder of her term of office, after which the structure of the LGC will revert to the membership as listed above.
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
- Articles of Association for LWCET
- LWCET Scheme of Delegation
- Local Governing Committee Constitution
- LWCET Trust Board and Senior Leadership Team Pecuniary and Personal Interests - January 2024
- 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 | Sydney Gwyer | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 |
| Foundation 2 | Nicola Connolly - Chair | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 |
| Foundation 3 | Vacancy | ||
| Foundation 4 | Vacancy | ||
| 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 | Loraine Patrick | 01/01/2024 | 19/01/2025 |
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:
Vice Chair of Governors; Nominated Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection; Link Governor for Maths; Staff wellbeing; 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.
Mrs Sydney Gwyer
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:
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:
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.
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:
Category of Governor:
Additional Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Date Term Ends:
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
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:
TBC
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
School employee
Statement:
TBC
Mrs Claire Wooldridge
Category of Governor:
Parent Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
01/0/2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Elected by parents (unopposed)
Date Term Ends:
21/11/2027
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
TBC
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Parent of 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 Gabriella Tiley
Category of Governor:
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed/Elected for a 4-year term:
1st January 2024
Date Term Ended or Stepped Down:
7th October 2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Appointed by the Bishop of Clifton
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
Chair of Governors; Member of the Pay & Conditions Committee; Nominated Governor for Finance, Health & Safety and for Inclusion (Attendance, Behaviour and Special Educational Needs & Disabilities); Link Governor for Geography and Music
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
None
Statement:
Following careers in banking and the TA, I spent some years working in my local parish and as a Registrar of births, deaths and marriages. Since 2012, I have worked as a commercial property asset manager. Our 4 boys attended St Joseph’s between 2000 – 2020, before moving on to St Peter’s Catholic School, Gloucester. I am committed to Catholic Education and feel privileged to be able to use my professional skills to help support our wonderful team of staff who provide a secure, safe and caring environment where pupils are nurtured to be the best they can be. As a family, we enjoy visiting the Channel Islands, Cornwall and Cumbria. I also enjoy baking, reading and needlework, when time permits!
Charlotte Hathaway
Category of Governor:
Staff Governor
Date Appointed/Elected:
1st January 2024
Date Term Ended or Stepped Down:
22/03/2024
Appointed/Elected by:
Elected by Staff (unopposed)
Governor Link Roles and Responsibilities:
TBC
Other Relevant Information, including any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests:
Employee of the school
Statement:
TBC