Governance
Our Catholic schools are a vital part of our parish communities, and by law diocesan schools have governing bodies made up of various categories of governor – the majority of which are Foundation Governors. Foundation Governors are appointed by the diocesan Bishop to represent his education policy in the school amid all the other objectives that are required by Law. Foundation Governors preserve and develop the Catholic ethos of the school.
Who can be a Foundation Governor?
You must be over 18
You must be a practising Catholic
A wide range of skills is a plus
The Diocese Of Shrewsbury Seeks To Provide The Means For
Christians To Be Formed – Educated – In The Faith.
The governors of a Catholic school work as a team, in close co-operation with the headteacher and all staff. All governors and staff contribute to the Catholic character of the school and the Catholic nature of the education provided, as set out in its mission statement.
Successive Governments have recognised the responsibilities of the trustees and the rights of the Catholic community as a whole to ensure that the long term future of Catholic education is secure. The law enshrines a number of guarantees from the State to ensure the Catholic character and ethos of the schools is maintained; particularly in the areas of admissions, staffing and governance.
The diocese (or religious order) has the legal right to appoint (and remove) an overall majority of governors, who are known as foundation governors. In addition to all the other legal responsibilities of the governing body, the law recognises that foundation governors are appointed specifically to ensure:
- That the Catholic character of the school is preserved;
- That the school is conducted in accordance with its trust deed;
- That the religious education curriculum is in accordance with the bishop’s policy for his diocese, based on the Bishops’ Conference Curriculum Directory.
England & Wales
School governors are often described as ‘unsung heroes’ including by Government ministers. Their work is largely hidden from view. In your parish there will be school governors amongst you who are providing a vital leadership role to our Catholic schools. In Catholic schools, foundation governors – practising Catholics appointed by the Diocese – make up the majority. A foundation governor has a responsibility to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school, but like all governors, also has to ensure high standards of educational achievement by the children.
Updated 2 April 2025
Cheshire East
Christ the King RC & CofE Primary School, Macclesfield – 1 vacancy
St Alban’s Catholic Primary School, Macclesfield – 1 vacancy
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Congleton – 1 vacancy
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Crewe – 1 vacancy
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Middlewich – 1 vacancy
Cheshire West and Chester
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, Ellesmere Port – 1 vacancy
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Ellesmere Port – 1 vacancy
St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School, Ellesmere Port – 4 vacancies
St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Chester – 3 vacancies
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Winsford – 2 vacancies
St Luke’s Catholic Primary School, Frodsham – 2 vacancies
St Saviour’s Catholic Primary School, Ellesmere Port – 3 vacancies
St Winefride’s Catholic Primary School, Neston – 1 vacancy
St Nicholas Catholic High School, Hartford – 1 vacancy
Halton
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Runcorn – 2 vacancies
Our Lady Mother of the Saviour Catholic Primary School, Runcorn – 3 vacancies
St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, Runcorn – 4 vacancies
St Clement’s Catholic Primary School, Runcorn – 4 vacancies
St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, Runcorn – 2 vacancies
St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, Runcorn – 2 vacancies
Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy, Runcorn – 4 vacancies
Manchester
St John Fisher and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Wythenshawe – 2 vacancies
St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Wythenshawe – 2 vacancies
St Paul’s Catholic High School, Wythenshawe – 1 vacancy
Shropshire
Our Lady and St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School, Oswestry – 1 vacancy
Stockport
Cheadle Catholic Infant, Stockport -1 vacancy
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Adswood – 1 vacancy
St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Stockport – 1 vacancy
St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Stockport – 1 vacancy
St Philip’s Catholic Primary School, Offerton – 5 vacancies
St Simon’s Catholic Primary School, Stockport – 1 vacancy
Aquinas College – 2 vacancies
Harrytown Catholic Highs School, Romiley – 2 vacancies
St James’ Catholic High School, Cheadle Hulme – 1 vacancy
Tameside
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Dukinfield – 1 vacancy
St James’ Catholic Primary School, Hattersley – 2 vacancies
St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Hyde – 1 vacancy
St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School, Millbrook – 2 vacancies
All Saints College, Dukinfield – 3 vacancies
Telford and Wrekin
Our Blessed Saints Federation – 2 vacancies
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Madeley – 3 vacancies
Holy Trinity Academy – 1 vacancy
Trafford
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Partington – 1 vacancy
St Hughes Catholic Primary School, Timperley – 1 vacancy
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Sale – 1 vacancy
St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School, Sale – 2 vacancies
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College – 1 vacancy
St Ambrose College, Altrincham – 2 vacancies
Warrington
Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, Latchford – 2 vacancies
St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, Latchford – 1 vacancy
Wirral
Christ the King Catholic Primary School, Bromborough- 1 vacancy
Holy Spirit Catholic and Church of England Primary School, Leasowe – 3 vacancies
Our Lady and St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead – 1 vacancy
Our Lady of Pity Catholic School, Greasby – 4 vacancies
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Moreton – 3 vacancies
SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, Wallasey – 1 vacancy
St Alban’s Catholic Primary School, Wallasey – 1 vacancy
St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Rock Ferry – 2 vacancies
St Anselm’s College, Birkenhead – 1 vacancy
St John Plessington Catholic College, Bebington – 2 vacancies
St John’s Junior, New Ferry – 1 vacancy
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead – 1 vacancy
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Upton – 3 vacancies
St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey – 4 vacancies
St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Noctorum – 2 vacancies
St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead – 2 vacancies
Inductions for New Foundation Governors – To book please click on the Booking Form
Please attend one session within 12 months from the appointment
23 September 2025 -virtual session from 11am-12.30pm Booking Form
23 September 2025 -virtual session from 6pm-7.30pm Booking Form
13 January 2026 – virtual session from 2pm-3.30pm Booking Form
13 January 2026 – virtual session from 6pm-7.30pm Booking Form
28 April 2026 – virtual session from 6pm-7.30pm Booking Form
29 April 2026 – virtual session from 2pm-3.30pm Booking Form
Governor Briefings
Please attend one session per term- to book please click on the Booking Form
Autumn 2025
30 September 2025 – virtual session from 6pm-7pm Booking Form
1 October 2025 – virtual session from 6pm-7pm Booking Form
2 October 2025 – virtual session from 2pm-3pm Booking Form
Spring 2026
27 January 2026 – virtual session from 6pm-7pm Booking Form
28 January 2026 – virtual session from 2pm-3pm Booking Form
28 January 2026 – virtual session from 6pm-7pm Booking Form
Summer 2026
12 May 2026 – virtual session from 6pm-7pm Booking Form
13 May 2026 – virtual session from 2pm-3pm Booking Form
14 May 2026 – virtual session from 6pm-7pm Booking Form
Governors’ Annual Conference
Saturday 8th November 2025 from 9.30am-3.30pm at Blessed Thomas Holford College, Altrincham, WA15 8HT Booking Form
Shrewsbury Diocese Chairs & Vice Chairs Forum
13 November 2025 from 6.30pm-8pm at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, Greenbank Lane, Hartford, CW8 1JW Booking Form
18 March 2026 from 6.30pm-8pm at St Saviour’s Catholic Primary School, Great Sutton,CH66 2BD Booking Form
18 June 2026 from 6.30am-8pm at St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School, Well Lane, Alsager, ST7 2PG Booking Form
Induction for new Chairs of Governing Bodies
18 March 2026 from 5pm-6pm at St Saviour’s Catholic Primary School, Great Sutton,CH66 2BD Booking Form
Other CPDF where Governors are welcome to attend:
School Support under CSI Framework
26 September 2025 from 9.30am to 12pm at Loreto Education Centre, Dunham Rd, Altrincham, WA14 4GZ Booking Form
30 January 2026 from 9.30am-12pm – Virtual session Booking Form
1 May 2026 from 9.30am-12pm at Loreto Education Centre, Dunham Rd, Altrincham, WA14 4GZ Booking Form
Prayer and Liturgy CPDF support
20 October 2025 from 12.30pm-4pm at Loreto Education Centre, Dunham Rd, Altrincham, WA14 4GZ Booking Form
14 January 2026 from 12.30pm-4pm at Loreto Education Centre, Dunham Rd, Altrincham, WA14 4GZ Booking Form
24 June 2026 from 12.30pm-4pm at Loreto Education Centre, Dunham Rd, Altrincham, WA14 4GZ Booking Form
| www.ace-ed.org.uk | Advisory Centre for Education |
| www.gov.uk/government/organisations/equality-and-human-rights-commission | Equality and Human Rights Commission |
| www.education.gov.uk | Department for Education: News |
| www.education.gov.uk/schools | Department for Education: Schools |
| www.ncsl.org.uk | National College for Teaching and Leadership |
| www.nga.org.uk | National Governors’ Association |
| www.ofsted.gov.uk | Office for Standards in Education |
| www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance | Department for Education: School Performance Tables |
www.catholiceducation.org.uk/guidance Catholic Education Service- Guidance and resources
www.catholiceducation.org.uk/formatio/governors Catholic Education Service: Formatio for Governors
The Diocese provides an Induction session for new Foundation Governors. However, all categories of Governors are very welcome to attend.
In addition, we run termly Briefing sessions for Governors.
Currently, these sessions are virtual.
Annually, we also hold a Governors’ Conference on a Saturday, where we have a national keynote speaker, as well as workshops, run by the Education Team and Headteachers.
Further details and booking for all of these is through:
The CES also has a programme of training for Governors – please click to access. This training consists of 5 online modules:
- An Introduction to Catholic Education;
- The Environment of a Catholic School
- Strategic Leadership
- Accountability
- Financial Performance
Each Local Authority will also have its own training programme for Governors, so please contact your LA’s Governor Services for details
The Governing Body is responsible for Admissions to Catholic schools, and it should ensure that the Diocesan Model Admissions Policy is followed. This Policy is based on the CES (Catholic Education Service) Model’s Policy, and is fully compliant with the current statutory Admissions Code of Practice.
The term of office is four years.
Please check our latest vacancies for more details.
Apply to be a Foundation Governor in a Diocesan Voluntary Aided School
Apply to be a Foundation Governor in a Diocesan Voluntary Aided School, a Voluntary Academy (part of a Multi Academy Trust)
In Catholic schools, the Governing Body (not the Diocese nor the LA), is the employer of staff. Governing Bodies are urged to seek independent HR and Legal advice in relation to staffing, through the purchase of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) or similar.
A school’s Instrument of Government is a legal document that records the constitution of the governing body and length of the term of office for each category of governor as well as the name of the school. In Voluntary Aided Catholic schools, for the reasons listed in question 2 above, the Instrument of Government must record that the majority of Governors in a catholic school must be Foundation Governors, ie 7 in a Governing Body of 12 members, 8 in a Governing Body of 14 Governors. The school’s Instrument of Governance is held by the school, and by the Trustees of the Diocese.
Yes. This is because in addition to the main roles and responsibilities that all Governors hold, Foundation Governors hold additional responsibilities in relation to promoting and developing the Catholic Life and religious character of the school. They are the Bishop’s representatives and as such, must ensure that his policies are implemented in the school. Foundation Governors must always look through Catholic eyes as they maintain and develop not only the interests of the school in which they serve, but the interests of Catholic education throughout the Diocese.
General grounds
Registered pupils cannot be governors.
A governor must be aged 18 or over at the time of election or appointment.
A person who is employed at the school is not able to be appointed as a Foundation Governor.
A person cannot hold more than one governor post at the same school at the same time.
Grounds that apply to particular categories of governor
Family members will not be appointed as Foundation Governors on the same governing body.
A person is disqualified from being a parent governor if they are an elected member of the LA or paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours (i.e. for more than one-third of the hours of a full-time equivalent) in any consecutive twelve month period (at the time of election or appointment).
A person is disqualified from being a local authority governor if they are eligible to be a staff governor at the school.
Grounds that arise because of particular failings or actions on the part of the governor
A person is disqualified from being a governor of a particular school if they have failed to attend the meetings of the governing body of that school for a continuous period of six months, beginning with the date of the first meeting they failed to attend, without the consent of the governing body.
A foundation, local authority, co-opted or partnership governor at the school who is disqualified for failing to attend meetings is only disqualified from being a governor of any category at the school during the twelve month period starting on the date on which they were disqualified.
A person is disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office if that person:
- is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim order, debt relief restrictions order, an interim debt relief restrictions order or their estate has been sequestrated and the sequestration has not been discharged, annulled or reduced is subject to a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, a disqualification order under Part 2 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, a disqualification undertaking accepted under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, or an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under county court administration order);
- has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by the Charity Commission or Commissioners or High Court on grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement, or under section 34 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 from being concerned in the management or control of any body;
- is included in the list of teachers or workers considered by the Secretary of State as unsuitable to work with children or young people;
- is barred from any regulated activity relating to children;
- is subject to a direction of the Secretary of State under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008;
- is disqualified from working with children or from registering for child-minding or providing day care;
- is disqualified from being an independent school proprietor, teacher or employee by the Secretary of State;
- has been sentenced to three months or more in prison (without the option of a fine) in the five years before becoming a governor or since becoming a governor;
- has received a prison sentence of two years or more in the 20 years before becoming a governor has at any time received a prison sentence of five years or more;
- has been fined for causing a nuisance or disturbance on school premises during the five years prior to or since appointment or election as a governor;
- refuses a request by the clerk to make an application to the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) for a criminal records certificate.