Governors

Governors’ Vision and Aims

Our vision is to provide outstanding Catholic primary education to all children that we are blessed to have in our care. We believe that positive values instilled during our children's formative years will guide them through the rest of their lives, providing them with a firm foundation for success in whichever path is right for them.

Our aim as governors is to provide support, understanding, skills and knowledge to enable the effective running of our school to enable it to achieve its vision.

We can achieve this by:

 

  • Actively and proactively supporting engagement within OLSJ
  • Maintaining and growing our knowledge
  • Challenging to raise and improve standards
  • Celebrating and recognising all whilst acknowledging diversity through equal opportunities

The above is underpinned by the teachings of the Catholic faith.

Governing Body

Joanne Faulkner

Chair of Governors / Foundation Governor

I’m originally from the North West and despite 30 years of living in London, I can still admit to supporting Lancashire County Cricket and Manchester Utd!! My work as a Change Management Consultant has enabled me to travel around the world but my heart has always been firmly in the East End...

Lorraine Adams

Foundation Governor

I was born in Poplar and have lived here all my life. I attended Holy Child Primary School (now Bygrove School) before it amalgamated to became Holy Family on the current OLSJ site. I taught at OLSJ for 22 years until I retired in July 2020. During my time there I became Assistant Head and...

Patrick Devereux

Executive Headteacher

I am originally from Waterford, the oldest and probably the most beautiful city in Ireland. I moved to London in 2005 to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher. I started my teaching career in a secondary school in Dagenham, before moving to a primary school in Redbridge and then to Tower Hamlets,...

Ms Lynch

Associate Member - Head of School

Born and raised in the beautiful city of Cork in the south of Ireland, I developed a deep appreciation for language and culture from an early age. Attending both primary and secondary school through the Irish language, I continued my passion for linguistics by pursuing a degree in Language and...

Sheila McCabe

Associate Member / School Business Manager

I'm originally from Acton in West London but I'm really enjoying working in the East End. In my spare time I love going to the theatre, walking and exploring parks and museums in London with my family. I have worked as a School Business Manager since 2012 and I love the rich variety of the...

Terri Rowe

Staff Governor

I’ve lived in Tower Hamlets from birth and attended both primary and secondary school in the borough. I am married with 3 young children. We enjoy going on family fishing trips and days out with family and friends. I’ve worked at OLSJ for five years. I started in the role of HLTA...

Louise Vernon

Co-opt Governor

I was born in West London where I grew up, moving East to graduate and begin a rewarding career of over 20 years in primary education. In 2016 I left teaching for a new challenge in my current role as an Adult and Child Safeguarding Advisor and trainer. Now I have a bit more time to spend with...

Matthew Collyer

Foundation Governor

I am from Cheltenham and moved to London after university. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and work in the renewable energy sector, primarily supporting public sector pension schemes. I live locally in Tower Hamlets and love the diversity and energy of the borough. It is a great privilege to...

Sophie Collier

Parent Governor

I was born and have lived in Poplar my whole life. I have three young children who all attend OLSJ. I strongly believe in schools being the heart of a community, as a local resident and parent, it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to support the schools governance and play a part in the...

Katie Barnes

Co-opted governor

I was born and grew up in South London and work within Tower Hamlets as a Finance Professional supporting an international content-driven technology provider. I am keen to apply my 20+ years corporate experience in supporting the community. In my spare time, I love spending time with family and...

Declarations of Interest

Register of interests 2025

Governance Structure

The Governing Body of Our Lady & St Joseph agreed Model 14b comprising of the following types of governors for their Instrument of Government.

Committee Terms Of Reference 

Meeting Attendance 2023-2024

Meeting Attendance 2025-2026

Name Governor Type End of Term

Jo Faulkner (Chair)

Foundation Governor

31st August 2027

Sr. Christine Frost

LA Governor

13th October 2026

Fr. Andrew Bowden

Foundation Observer

31st August 2027

Patrick Devereux

Headteacher

N/A

Caroline Modest (Vice Chair)

Foundation Governor (Diocese)

31st August 2025

Lorraine Adams

Foundation Governor (Diocese)

31st August 2025

Terri Rowe

Staff Governor

2nd January 2026

Amy Charles Associate Member 16th July 2025

Sheila McCabe

School Business Manager

Associate Member

16th July 2025

Cynthia Lynch

Deputy Head

Associate Member

16th July 2025
Sophie Collier Parent governor 6th June 2026
Julia Scott Parent governor 6th June 2026
Louise Vernon Co-opt governor 18th April 2027
Mathew Collyer Foundation Governor 31st August 2027
Katie Barnes Co-opted governor 22nd Janunary 2028
Antonis Antoniou Observer N/A
David Waller    

Chair Committee Membership

Resources Committee

Matthew Collyer

Pay Committee

Ms Caroline Modest

Teaching & Learning Committee

Lorraine Adams

RE & Culture committee

-

Link Governors

Area

Link Governor

SEND

Lorraine Adams

Maths

Matthew Collyer

Finance

Matthew Collyer

Reading- EYFS/ks1

Sophie Collier

Health and Safety

Andrew Bowden

Safeguarding

Louise Vernon

Religious Education

Andrew Bowden*

Writing

Jo Faulkner

Music

Jo Faulkner

RSE

Christine Frost

P4C

Lorraine Adams

Drugs and Alcohol Misuse

Lorraine Adams

Pupil Premium

Katie Barnes

EYFS

Jo Faulkner

Types of Governor

Foundation Governors

Foundation governors are volunteers who serve as the Bishop’s representative to assist in managing our Catholic schools. They work alongside other governors including parent governors to form a governing body or board of directors.  They are involved in decisions about all aspects of managing the school – such as running buildings and budgets, supporting staff, monitoring standards and the Catholic ethos and help make big decisions about the school’s long-term goals.  Foundation Governors have specific responsibility for admissions to the school, the employment of staff, Religious Education and collective worship.  The governors help determine the future for pupils attending our schools.

The work of the Governing Body is facilitated by a Clerk and training and support for governors is provided by the Diocesan Department for Schools and Colleges and the Local Authority.

Parent Governors

These are parents of children who attend Our Lady & St Joseph Catholic Primary School. They are elected on to the Governing Body by the votes of other parents, and they represent the voice of the "users" of the school. Their term of office runs for four years.

Local Authority Governor

The Local Authority (LB Tower Hamlets) appoints a representative to the school’s governing body.

Policies related to governance

Policies related to governance available upon request  

SEND Reports 

SEND Reports related to governance available upon request

Links to DfE website Re: Governance 

Maintained schools governance guide - 5. Governance structures - Guidance - GOV.UK

Maintained schools governance guide - Guidance - GOV.UK

Former Governors

Ashley Hill - Parent Governor - Resigned 24th February 2022

Mark Hale - Staff Governor - 28th April 2021 to 3rd November 2021

Shanine Blom - Associate Governor - Resigned 7th July 2021

Teresa Parker - Appointed by foundation/Trust - 5 October 2017 to 3rd November 2021

Laurell Hector - Appointed by foundation/Trust - 1 March 2018 to 30 August 2021