Our Governors

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Our Governing Body

The role of the governing body, like all school governing bodies, is to ensure that both schools deliver high standards of achievement within a broad and balanced curriculum for every child.

This involves:

  • Ensuring clarity of the schools’ vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding the Head Teacher to account by monitoring the educational performance of the schools and their pupils.
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the schools and making sure the funding is well spent, by seeking value for money and targeting resources to areas that will best help your children achieve their full potential.

All the governors sit on one of two committees – resources, or curriculum and standards. Some have a specific area of oversight and are known as link governors.

We also try and visit school as often as possible to see for ourselves how the school is functioning. We do this by meeting with subject leaders, attending some staff training, observing in class, being involved in workshops and assemblies and attending parent’s evenings when appropriate.

The governors come from a range of backgrounds and have different skills, but we could not do our job without the expertise of the Head Teacher, Leadership Team, Staff Governors and all the amazing staff.

We all want to give your children the best possible chance to succeed in life and we believe with the right commitment from everyone, the children, the governors, the staff and yourselves, we will forge a dynamic partnership that will enable this to happen.

To find out more about what a governor does, CLICK HERE.

Mr. Patrick Gillespie (Chair of Governors)
Ms Maria Southall (Vice Chair of Governors)

Mr. Nicholas Ajaegbu (Co Vice Chair of Governors)
Ms. Sarah Cooper (Clark of Governors)

About our Governing Body

Patrick Gillespie – Chair of Governors

I have been a Foundation Governor at English Martyrs Catholic Primary School since 2010 and the Chair of Governors since 2012. I initially became a Foundation Governor of a primary school in Plumstead which is where my two daughters attended. I am committed to catholic education with a strong belief in the choice offered through a catholic school, now and for future generations of children.

I feel privileged to be a foundation governor of English Martyrs, and I am very impressed by the strong catholic ethos that the school embodies, the outstanding care shown to the children and the schools consistently high standards of education which is delivered by dedicated and hardworking teachers under the excellence leadership of the Headteacher.

I am now semi-retired after working in Mental Health initially as a nurse and then as a manager for over 30 years. I believe my work place skills support the Headteacher and staff of the school. Being actively involved as a governor has given me a greater understanding of other important roles in school life.


Janet Douglas Gardner – Foundation and Deputy Chair 

My name is Janet Douglas Gardner and I am a Foundation Governor. As an educator, I use my knowledge and skills of policy and pedagogy to be a critical friend to the school.

I am a member of the Curriculum Committee and Link Governor for Literacy.

 


Julius Ogunmuyiwa – Foundation Governor

I have been a foundation Governor at English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary  School for over 4 years. I  serve on the Premises and Finance committee, and also sit on the Diocese of Southwark Schools Admissions Appeals Panels.

I am a practising Catholic and a strong believer of the choice offered by the catholic ethos embodied  in our schools which consistently reflected in high standard of education.

I am retired but active. During my working life abroad and in the UK worked in Accounting and Finance. Since retirement I have been giving my skills and experience to Society by volunteering in the community. I volunteer in courts with Citizen Advice – Witness Service, Pact – helping and supporting prisoners and their families.

I have a wide and good experience of the inner city and hope that my skills and experience can be of help to the development of future generation.


Marie Southall – Foundation Governor

I have been a Foundation Governor at English Martyrs’ School  since 2013.

have worked in numerous public affairs roles during the past 5 years and currently manage the public affairs team at the Catholic Education Service.  I am proud of the success of the pupils and staff at English Martyrs’ and look forward to continuing to play my part to ensure that all children receive the best possible Catholic education.

 


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Ms Mead – Staff Governor

 Appointed January 2021.


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Nicholas Ajaegbu – Associate Member Foundation Governor (Co Vice Chair)


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Orestis Nikou – Co-Opted Governor


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Joy Akpojotor – Staff Governor


(Awaiting Photo)

John Camilleri – Headteacher

Interested in becoming a governor?

If you are interested in becoming a governor for the English Martyrs’ Primary School, you can contact us via the school office: office@emps.schoolTo contact our Chair of Governors, please email on governors@emps.school.

Governing Body Information:

Headteacher Performance:

  • Patrick Gillespie
  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • Orestis Nikou
  • Julius Ogunmuyiwa
  • Marie Southall

Curriculum & Pupil Progress:

  • Patrick Gillespie
  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • Joy Akpojotor
  • John Camilleri
  • Sarah Cooper
  • Shannon Mead
  • Orestis Nikou
  • Marie Southall

First Committee:

  • Patrick Gillespie
  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • Julius Ogunmuyiwa
  • Marie Southall

Resources Committee:

  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • John Camilleri
  • Sarah Cooper
  • Patrick Gillespie
  • Orestis Nikou
  • Julius Ogunmuyiwa

2nd Committee (Appeals):

  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • Julius Ogunmuyiwa
  • Patrick Gillespie
  • Marie Southall

Download Centre:

Please click on the links below to download a document. All documents are offered in .PDF format for ease of viewing, printing and downloading.

Register of Interests:

The Governing Body Register and declaration of business interests can be viewed via the link below.

Code of Conduct:

To download information regarding the code of conduct of a School Governor, please click on the link below.