Welcome from the Chair of Governors

On behalf of the Governing Body, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to St Bernard's RC Primary School.

St Bernard's is a very special place. It is a school where every child is known, valued and loved; where faith is lived each day through kindness, compassion and service; and where we strive to ensure that every child receives an education that enables them to flourish academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally.

As governors, we are privileged to serve this wonderful school community. We recognise that every child who walks through our doors has their own unique story, their own God-given gifts and their own potential to make a positive difference in the world. Our responsibility is to work alongside the Headteacher, staff, parish and families to ensure that every decision we make helps children to discover and develop those gifts.

Our role is one of stewardship. We provide strategic leadership, support and challenge, ensuring that the school remains faithful to its Catholic mission while continually seeking to provide the very best education for every child. We monitor standards, safeguard children, oversee the school's finances and work closely with leaders to ensure that St Bernard's continues to grow and improve for the benefit of all.

We are incredibly proud of the direction in which our school is travelling. Under the leadership of our Headteacher and dedicated staff, St Bernard's has embraced a clear vision of becoming the school God wants us to be. This vision places children at the heart of every decision and is reflected in our commitment to inclusion, excellent teaching, strong relationships and the belief that every child can succeed.

Governors regularly spend time in school, meeting children, visiting classrooms, attending worship and speaking with staff. These visits allow us to see first-hand the warmth, ambition and sense of belonging that characterise life at St Bernard's. They also help us ensure that the experiences of our children remain at the centre of our strategic decision-making.

We know that education is most successful when schools and families work in partnership. We are grateful for the trust that parents and carers place in us and value the positive relationships that exist throughout our school community. Together, we can provide children with the secure foundations they need to become confident learners, compassionate citizens and faithful followers of Christ.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our Governing Body and the work that we do. We hope that our website gives you a genuine insight into the values, aspirations and ambitions that shape every aspect of life at St Bernard's.

We remain committed to supporting our school as it continues to grow, to improve and to fulfil its mission of helping every child Believe, Grow and Succeed.

May God continue to bless our children, our families, our staff and our whole school community.

Ms Jones
Chair of Governors
St Bernard's RC Primary School

How Our Governors Make a Difference

At St Bernard's RC Primary School, our governors are united by one shared purpose:

To ensure that every child receives the very best Catholic education possible.

Governors are volunteers who generously give their time, experience and expertise to support the strategic leadership of our school. Working in close partnership with the Headteacher and senior leaders, they help shape the future of St Bernard's while ensuring that every decision is made in the best interests of our children.

Although governors are not involved in the day-to-day management of the school, they play a vital role in asking thoughtful questions, providing support, celebrating success and ensuring that the school continues to improve.

Everything our governors do is guided by our mission of Believe. Grow. Succeed. and our vision of becoming the school God wants us to be.

Living Our Catholic Mission

Governors work closely with school leaders to preserve and strengthen the distinctive Catholic character of St Bernard's.

They regularly participate in worship, celebrate liturgical events and monitor how our mission is lived throughout the school. They ensure that our values are reflected not only in policies and procedures but also in the everyday experiences of our children.

Our governors understand that Catholic education is about forming the whole child and helping every pupil discover the unique person God created them to be.

Championing High-Quality Education

Governors work alongside school leaders to ensure that every child receives an ambitious, inclusive and inspiring education.

They monitor the quality of teaching and learning, receive regular reports on curriculum development and discuss how well pupils are achieving across all subjects.

Governors take a particular interest in ensuring that our curriculum reflects our vision of helping children develop academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally while preparing them for life beyond primary school.

Ensuring Every Child Belongs

Inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do.

Our governors actively monitor the experiences and outcomes of all children, particularly those who may face additional barriers to learning.

They regularly review provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, disadvantaged pupils, vulnerable learners and those requiring additional support, ensuring that every child is given every opportunity to flourish.

Governors understand that true inclusion is about much more than access.

It is about belonging.

Safeguarding Our Children

Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our pupils.

Governors ensure that safeguarding remains the highest priority across every aspect of school life. They receive regular safeguarding updates, complete appropriate training and work closely with school leaders to ensure that statutory responsibilities are met.

They monitor attendance, wellbeing, behaviour and safeguarding procedures carefully, recognising that children thrive when they feel safe, secure and valued.

Supporting Positive Behaviour and Personal Development

Governors recognise that education is about developing character as well as academic achievement.

They support our work in promoting positive behaviour, emotional wellbeing, mental health, British Values, Catholic Social Teaching and personal development.

Through regular visits and discussions with leaders, governors see first-hand how children are developing into respectful, compassionate and confident young people who contribute positively to the life of our school and wider community.

Overseeing Resources Responsibly

Governors have a responsibility to ensure that the school's finances are managed carefully and responsibly.

Every financial decision is made with one question in mind:

"How will this improve the experiences and outcomes of our children?"

Governors oversee budgets, monitor spending and help ensure that school resources are used wisely to provide the very best opportunities for every pupil.

They understand that good stewardship means making decisions that support both the present needs and the long-term future of our school.

Visiting School

Governors regularly spend time in school because the best way to understand St Bernard's is to experience it.

Governor visits may include:

• spending time in classrooms
• meeting with pupils
• talking to staff
• joining collective worship
• visiting curriculum lessons
• learning about subject developments
• reviewing safeguarding practice
• exploring new initiatives
• celebrating children's achievements.

These visits are not inspections.

They are opportunities to understand school life, celebrate successes and support ongoing improvement.

By seeing our vision in action, governors are better equipped to make informed strategic decisions that benefit every child.

Working in Partnership

Strong schools are built on strong partnerships.

Our governors work closely with the Headteacher, staff, parents, the parish, the Diocese of Salford and the Local Authority, recognising that education is most successful when everyone works together with a shared purpose.

They value the voices of children, parents and staff and understand that listening carefully is an important part of effective governance.

Looking to the Future

Governance is not simply about maintaining what we have.

It is about preparing for what comes next.

Our governors continue to support the school's journey of improvement, ensuring that St Bernard's remains a place where every child is welcomed, challenged, supported and inspired to achieve their very best.

Together, we remain committed to our shared vision of:

becoming the school God wants us to be.

Because every decision we make begins with one simple question:

"Is this the very best we can do for our children?"

Ms P Jones

Chair

Appointed by: Bishop J Arnold

Pecuniary Interests: No

Ms G Furey

Vice Chair

Appointed by: Bishop J Arnold

Pecuniary Interests: No

Monsignor M Kujacz

Foundation Governor

Appointed by: Bishop J Arnold

Pecuniary Interests: No

Mr N Mansfield

LA Governor

Appointed by: LA

Pecuniary Interests: No

Ms A Smyth

Foundation Governor

Appointed by: Bishop J Arnold

Pecuniary Interests: No

Ms C Cullen

Foundation Governor

Appointed by: Bishop J Arnold

Pecuniary Interests: No

Parent Governor

Vacancy x 2

[please contact the school office to express an interest in joining our Governing Body as a Parent Governor]

Staff Governor

Vacancy x 1

[to be appointed in September 26]

Governor Profiles

PAT JONES

My name is Pat Jones and I am a Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Salford for St Bernard’s RC Primary School. I am a parishioner of St Bernard’s and I play the organ, I read at Mass and lead the singing in church. I have over 35 years of teaching and school leadership experience working in primary schools in the diocese. For 22 years I was a Primary Headteacher in Manchester and Bury and in the 1980s I worked as a teacher in St Bernard’s School. Our catholic school is where children can develop their faith and learn and flourish as members of our school and parish community.

GERALDINE FUREY

My name is Geraldine Furey, I am a Foundation Governor at St Bernard’s R.C. Primary School. I am a parishioner of St Bernard’s, and prior to COVID I was a Catechist helping with the First Holy Communion children. Recently, I have joined the Baptism team. My main role is mum to my seven children, all of whom attended St Bernard’s and I also help my husband run his business. In the past, I worked for Manchester City Council in the Libraries Department. I worked in Burnage, Longsight and Manchester Central Libraries.

MONSIGNOR MICHAEL KUJACZ

I have been the Parish Priest of St Bernard’s since November 2011 and I have served on the governing body since 2012. Throughout the years there have been many significant changes in education, however, one thing that has never changed is the commitment and dedication of all who work in our parish primary school. I am proud of all the school has achieved and I will continue to support the Headteacher, staff and governors to make St Bernard’s a place where every child can ‘Believe, Grow and Succeed’ academically, emotionally, socially and spiritually to make them great citizens for the future.

NICK MANSFIELD

I’m Nick Mansfield, the Local Authority governor. I have had many years experience as school governor, sometimes in special schools. Though I am now semi-retired I spent over 30 years working in museums. Currently I work part-time as a Professor of History at UCLan in Preston. I Chair the St Bernard’s Resources Committee.

ANNE SMYTH

My name is Anne Smyth and I became a Governor at St Bernard's in 2021. I have a long association with St Bernard's as I came here myself as a pupil and my children have also attended St Bernard's School. I have worked in the Education sector for a number of years moving from Further Education to Secondary Education and now for the past 26 years I have worked in a local Primary School setting. My role within the education sector has been within various finance roles.

DARREN RUDDICK

My name is Darren Ruddick. I am proud to serve as a foundation governor and to be a parishioner at St Bernard's. My connection to the school is deeply personal; my children attended St Bernard's, and I have always admired the staff's dedication to providing an exceptional education. Through my ongoing work in the NHS, I bring a unique perspective on strategic planning and teamwork to the governing board. I am passionate about working together to ensure every child at our wonderful school is given the chance to believe, grow and succeed.