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Our Governors
Governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in all St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust schools. However, the ultimate responsibility for the school lies with the Board of Directors with much of the work delegated to the Local Governing Body (LGB).
In trusts, the purpose of local governance is to provide:
- Strategic leadership
- Accountability and assurance
- Strategic engagement
Governors set the aims and objectives for the school and set the targets/policies for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher.
Governors bring a wide range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing body and schools benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers.
To contact the governors, please email the clerk to governors: sid.clerk@stcmat.org
The minutes of LGB meetings are available upon request by contacting the clerk to governors:
sid.clerk@stcmat.org
William has previously served as a school governor on two occasions and works in an educational setting at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter.
In terms of governance, William has special interests in celebrating the diversity at St Sidwell's as well as staff well-being and recruitment.
Having always worked in the education sector as a Teacher, Headteacher, Ofsted Inspector and Educational Consultant I am passionate that every child is given the opportunity to reach their maximum individual potential whatever that maybe. Schools are instrumental in providing an important platform to initiating this and I am pleased to be part of a team that hopefully facilitates this for all the children. My three grandsons have all attended the school so I have connections over many years and hope to support the school on its latest journey.
I previously I worked alongside my husband in a busy, multi-cultural parish in Coventry, where I was also a School Governor. In that role I was particularly interested in developing links between the school, the community and the church. Throughout my career I have been involved in supporting families in a variety of ways, so that they can make the best of their situations . I enjoy the company of children and my 4 little granddaughters keep me up to date on current trends. By training I am a pastoral counsellor and have lived in India and worked for short spells in Africa. I really enjoy being outdoors, bird-watching and gardening and we have an allotment beside St James Park Station.
I work at the University of Exeter as a Professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing and, as a former St Sidwells parent, am really pleased to be able to give back to the school as it embarks on the next stage of its journey as part of St Christopher’s MAT. I have served as a school governor before and am particularly interested in literacy, reading and increasing access to a wide range of books and stories in primary settings.
When we decided to move to Exeter from London, I viewed a lot of schools. As soon as I walked into St Sidwells, I knew it was where I wanted my children to go. I loved the atmosphere, the strong feeling of care and community, and most especially the diversity of the school.
In my day job, I work for the University of St Andrews in Scotland raising money for medical research and science which is helping us transition to a more sustainable future. In London, I spent 18 years raising money for the very best of theatre, culture and the arts in London. I am as passionate about the importance of the arts and creative industries in our life, as I am about curing disease and saving our planet!
However the job I am most proud of, is my role at St Sidwells. It is so rewarding to be part of the team of governors, staff and parents who together make our school a school to be proud of. As governors we are all here to do our best for the children and to promote the highest standards at the school. If you have any ideas or want to get involved - please do get in touch.
Catherine Partridge: Foundation Governor / Operations
Patricia White: Foundation Governor / Maths
I joined St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust in 2022 and now clerk for four local schools, providing administrative support to their Local Governing Bodies. Previously, I have taught IB and A Level German, and worked as a junior school Teaching Assistant, as well as in translation proofreading.
I find the clerking role interesting, rewarding and enjoyable, particularly because it is varied and draws on my organisational and written communication skills, and gives me opportunities for continuous professional development and for building relationships with others.
I always come away from Local Governing Body meetings feeling inspired by how deeply our governors and school leaders care about securing the best possible outcomes for our children. I feel privileged to serve our school community in my role as clerk.
To contact Vikki or the Governors please email sid.clerk@stcmat.org
Summary of Governor Information
Diversity Data
The board believes that it is important that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people. We collect data on the diversity of the board, including age, ethnicity, and gender, and we use this data to inform our recruitment and training needs, ensuring there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making. We do not publish diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.