St. Paul's School Governing Body
St Paul’s School Governing Body
The Governing Body work closely with the school to support us in our work and offer challenge that enables us to continue to move forward. The Governing Body meet on a termly basis, with all meetings minuted by the School Administrator.
The Head of School reports on the following matters at each meeting:
- Staffing / Recruitment
- Pupil numbers / Referrals
- Whole School Attendance
- Progression / Results
- Work Experience
- Destinations
- Teaching and Learning
- Safeguarding
Patrick Wing MBE JP – Chair of Governors
Pat has been a governor at St Paul’s school for a number of years. He is a retired police officer who now works in the community with Balsall Heath Forum. Pat and his late wife fostered children for over 30 years and have looked after youngsters with a range of disabilities. He is an ageing but keen sportsman and also sits on the boards of another two schools/colleges.
Patrick is also on the St Paul’s Trust Board of Trustees.
Gill Coffin – Vice Chair of Governors
Former local resident, involved with St. Paul’s Trust since 1979.
Retired senior local government manager, specialising in communications, equalities, and information management. Previous jobs included social work and social policy research.
Gill is also former Chair of the St Paul’s Trust Board of Trustees.
Ali Beard – Governor
I am passionate about providing opportunities for children and young people achieving their potential, and I have expressed this throughout my life in my voluntary work as well as in my career in the NHS as a Speech and Language Therapist with children in the community.
I have been a qualified Speech and Language Therapist for over 20 years and have worked in inner city London and across Birmingham with children and young people of all ages with complex speech, language and communication needs including those related to Autism and mental health difficulties. Having worked as part of integrated teams with teachers and senior leaders in a range of educational provisions across specialist and mainstream settings, I have a grounded understanding of teaching and learning.
As a dynamic and experienced leader in working cross agencies, I am familiar with the challenges in delivering good outcomes in a tight and complex financial and political environment. I have a close and in depth knowledge challenges and opportunities within implementing SEN support and am involved in current SEND development workstreams in Birmingham.
I am passionate for teaching staff to be excellent communicators and to use good communication strategies with students so they can understand, participate and make progress. I am strongly aware that many CYP’s speech, language and communication needs are often unrecognised and therefore unsupported, which severely limits their educational attainment as well as make them more at risk of mental health issues.
I bring my experience and specialist knowledge to the role of Governor, as well as a strong belief in the importance of family support to enable young people to thrive and achieve.
Amy Lassman – Governor/Trustee
Amy has spent her entire professional life in education, in this country and abroad. After working in inner-city primary schools in London for over ten years, Amy relocated to her hometown of Birmingham in 2015.
Amy has been on the governing body of 3 different schools over a long period and holds a senior leadership position in a Birmingham school.
Amy has always had a passion for enriching the lives of the children and families and closing gaps caused by economic and social disadvantage. Her work has always centred around the holistic child and their wider family and lived experience. Amy is focussed on the health and wellbeing of children and their families alongside their educational development.
Amy has completed Mental Health First Aid training as well as being a Designated Safeguarding Lead in her school. Amy is also a member of a running club and recently completed her first (and only!) marathon.
Clare Reardon – Governor/Trustee
I am a Public Health specialist with 17 years’ experience in both NHS and Local Authority Public Health teams. Throughout my career, I have led on a wide range of Public Health related policy, strategy and service delivery areas including; sexual health and teenage pregnancy, substance misuse, inclusion health, violence against women and girls, and more recently counter terrorism.
I am passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for communities, particularly those who are most vulnerable, marginalised and excluded.
The values of St Paul’s are strongly aligned to both my personal and professional values and learning more about the history and work of the Trust, I feel an affinity with its ethos.
Clare is also on the St Paul’s Trust Board of Trustees.
Chevourne Whittaker – Staff Governor
My interest in the various childcare professions stemmed from a young age. It began with work experience during secondary school, I was adamant that the only role I would like to experience was one within a setting that supports children. As the years went on my passion for wanting to work with young individuals grew; resulting in me successfully completing qualifications that helped me gain knowledge in this field, alongside gaining experience by undertaking various job roles.
My previous job roles gave me the opportunity to understand the development of babies, as young as 12 months – to – understanding the academic requirements and educational support required of primary aged children. Included in this I was able to obtain to recognise the challenges and differences faced by those with special needs. I developed an understanding of how a child can have a unique method of how-to problem solve, however still have a successful outcome.
This prepared me for sufficiently fulfilling my position at St Paul’s. Throughout my time working at St Paul’s, I continue to use my attributes and erudition to help the pupils – academically, socially and emotionally. This has led to me achieving positive professional relationships with parents, carers and other professionals, to ensure that the pupils of our school receive all that they need to develop as individuals in their own right.
I am proud to admit that I actively self-evaluate myself, I believe this is important, in order for me to continuously develop my current knowledge and so that I am aware and able to provide those around me with the best support.
I enjoy the oversight of school that being a staff governor provides and feel that I can contribute, in a positive way, to key decisions and discussions. I also feel that the professional development I get from being part of the Governing Body is invaluable. As a staff governor, I am able to represent the staff of St Pauls, but not have a mandate to put forward a particular point of view. I am able to present the views of the staff reasonably and faithfully, but also consciously act in accordance with my own thoughts and conscience and in the interests of the pupils and school as I see them.
I also acknowledge that outside school, being a parent aids me in seeing things from another point of view!
Halima Meddings – Parent/Carer Governor
I am the nominated looked after child governor and a parent/carer governor for St. Paul’s and I have been a foster carer for the last 3 years.
I have a foster child currently in the school so I am able to partake in this role by drawing from personal experience with the school as well as using my training to support the school and particularly the looked after young people.
Toni Estevez – Parent Governor
Originally a Senior community engagement consultant from London. I have been a part of school since 2018. I wanted to be more involved in an excellent school and help support the school and pupils. I have a level 5 in leadership and management and I have completed many courses around S.E.N, and understanding Autism just to name a few.
I am very passionate in volunteering my time to my position and my responsibilities lie in supporting the school. My aim is to continue to contribute to the school having a positive profile in the local community and city, at our school pupils and staff are nurtured, valued and their achievements celebrated.
I have two Autistic sons, one of which has been a pupil since 2018 he struggled terribly in mainstream school, and the school failed to support his needs, accepting a place at St Pauls has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. He has thrived and grown both academically and personally.
I feel very passionate about volunteering my time towards the school and enjoy all aspects of my role.
Could you be a Governor?
If you would like to become a Governor at St Paul’s School, please download and complete the below application form.
All completed forms are to be returned to the Senior Administrator of School and Governance.
SchoolOffice@stpaulstrust.org.uk Alternatively, please contact us for more information – 0121 464 4376.