St Mary's Sabden

With Jesus in our hearts, we welcome, we learn, we laugh, we flourish.

St Mary's Governing Body

Meet the Governors

Our school is blessed with a wonderful group of committed governors who play an integral part in helping us to develop and grow. Although working voluntarily, the governing body is a legally constituted group responsible for ensuring good quality education and the welfare of all pupils – they work in close partnership with the Head Teacher.

Our current governors are:

  • Michael Mulrooney (Chair – Foundation)*
  • Father Paul Brindle (Parish Priest)
  • Peter White (Foundation)
  • John McNulty (Vice Chair – Foundation)
  • Claire McGuigan (Foundation)
  • Amanda Bishop (Staff) 
  • Mark Doney (Parent)
  • Claire Halstead (Executive Headteacher)

*Mr Mulrooney is also on the Board of Governors at St John’s RC Primary School in Burnley

Governors are appointed in a variety of ways, foundation governors are appointed by the Bishop, parents elect the parent governors and Lancashire County Council elect local authority governors. The staff governors are elected by the school and the head teacher is always a member of the governing body. All the governors work together for the good of the school, offering support along with constructive advice to the head teacher.

Meetings

At St Mary’s the two Committees meet together and run as a Combined Committee, but all the above elements are still included and discussed.
As St Mary’s is part of a Collaboration with Thorneyholme RC Primary School, there is also a Joint Collaboration Committee, who meet to discuss items pertinent to the Collaboration including the Appraisal of the Executive Headteacher.

The governors meet as a full group three times a year (once a term). There are also committees that work at a more detailed level on specific items of school development. Each committee meets once a term and reports back to the full governors.

The Resources Committee is responsible for financial management; they also review the admissions policy, staff appointments and personnel issues. They are also responsible for the school premises and health and safety issues.

Meeting Attendance 2025/2026

The Standards and Curriculum Committee is responsible for ensuring the curriculum meets statutory requirements, they work alongside the Executive Head teacher on the School Development Plan, pupil performance, and teaching quality. This committee is also responsible for Special Educational Needs & Disability and Religious Education.

If you would like any further information about the Governing Body please contact the school office.

Following Boris Johnson’s 8pm announcement we now know that as of midnight tonight the country has entered a new period of Lockdown, a Lockdown that includes the closure of school. 

School will be open for the children of Key Workers and for pupils who are deemed vulnerable. All pupils will be provided with work in order for them to keep learning. 

Tonight’s announcement was very short notice for you as parents and also for us as a Staff. Tomorrow, by 11am there will be three tasks on the school website for each Class to complete as their Tuesday learning. However, School will be closed to ALL pupils tomorrow. 

 

Staff, however, will be in school preparing for the rest of the Lockdown. Through tomorrow we will prepare school to make it safe for Key worker pupils and vulnerable children to return. 

We will send out a form for you to apply for a place in the Keyworker Bubbles and we will let you know more about how children will be learning remotely. We will do our very best to re-open to Key Worker children and vulnerable pupils by Wednesday. 

I am aware of how difficult this is for you all, School closing creates a multitude of problems for everyone but data surrounding this awful disease dictates that this is a necessary step. As ever, the safety and health of everyone must be a priority. 

Thank you for your continued support and we will be in frequent contact over the next few days. 

Many thanks

Claire Halstead