Trust and School Governance Structure
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is structured in accordance with its Articles of Association (see below).
There are three levels of governance within the Trust: The Members, The Trust Board of Directors, and the governors who make up the Local Governing Committee for each academy in the Trust.
The Trust comprises five Members. The Members are accountable to the DfE and have ultimate responsibility for the Trust achieving its charitable objectives. They sign off the Articles of Association and have the power to appoint and remove the Directors. The Members include representatives from the Diocese of Newcastle and Hexham. The majority of the Members are independent of the Directors to provide challenge and scrutiny to the Board.
The ultimate responsibility for the running of our schools resides with the Directors of the Trust. They set the strategic direction for the Trust and are accountable to the Secretary of State for the performance of the schools within it. This is set out in a legal document known as the ‘funding agreement.’ As charity trustees, they must also ensure that they are complying with charity law requirements.
Directors are appointed on the basis of skills need.
The authority for running each school remains at Local Governing Committee level and is clearly defined by our scheme of delegation (see below).
The Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is governed by people in our local communities who have each made a significant impact on the lives of young people.
St Cuthbert's local governing committee
Our local governing committee comprises of 7 governors including foundation, parent and staff governors. Each governor appointed to the Local Governing Committee must meet the core competencies and adhere to the governor code of conduct (see below).
Parent governors are representative parents rather than representatives of parents. That is to say, the parent governor provides their impartial parental perspective to the work of the local governing committee, rather than bringing or representing individual parental ‘issues’.
Parent governors do not personally become involved in individual concerns as no governor has the authority to act individually on behalf of the school. Sometimes parent governors find they are approached by parents with individual concerns. In this case, it would not be appropriate to take the issue to the governing body and as governors they would encourage the parents to take the matter up with their child’s class teacher, Deputy Headteacher or the Headteacher. Effective parent governance links working alongside the other members of the Local Governing committee to ensure that the work of the governing body fulfils its duties to all children.
Mrs Barbara Simpson
Chair of Governing Commitee - Foundation
Term start date 18/05/2022
Term end date 17/05/2026
My name is Barbara Simpson and I am the chair of governors here at St Cuthbert’s. I am also a volunteer for CAFOD so you may have seen me leading assemblies in school too! I was the Head teacher of another St Cuthbert’s school in Durham before retiring to the local area, so I have lots of experience and knowledge which I use to help this school. Please say hello if you see me around or if you have any questions or suggestions.
Mr Peter Johnson
Vice Chair - Foundation
Term start date 18/05/2022
Term end date 17/05/2026
Hi, my name is Peter Johnson. I have been a governor since December 2017. Before retiring I was the Head of a large Special School in London. I moved to Northumberland in July 2014. I am very supportive of inclusive education, giving every child the opportunity to blossom. I have a masters degree in the education and Psychology of children with special educational needs. I have two grown up children and a grandson born in 2017.
Mrs Judy Crow
Foundation Governor
Term start date 18/05/2022
Term end date 17/05/2026
My name is Judy Crow, I came to live in Berwick four years ago and my six grandchildren love to visit us here. I am a retired Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist. I specialised in working with children with all types of SEND, particularly those on the Autism Spectrum. I worked for the NHS but almost all our practice took place in schools across Northumberland. I recently completed a Master’s degree in Creative Writing. I love writing and especially listening to, stories by, for and about children.
Mrs Sheila Johnson
Foundation Governor
Term start date 18/05/2022
Term end date 17/05/2026
I am a retired Local government officer, specialising in waste management and recycling and a retired Cub Scout leader of 25 years. I now run a small bed and breakfast business with my husband in Norham. I am interested in local history, genealogy, folk music, patchwork and anything ‘crafty’. I have had 21 years previous experience of school governance including holding the positions of Chair and deputy. We have a family of three children and four grandchildren.
Fr Shaun O'Neill
Foundation Governor
Term start date 15/11/2023
Term end date 14/11/2027
I’m Father Shaun, Foundation Governor and parish priest of Berwick, Seahouses and Holy Island. I was ordained priest in 1996. I enjoy watching rugby and going out running. I’ve found both our school and Berwick to be most welcoming and open.
God bless you all.
Ms Louise Martin
Parent Governor
Term start date 20/09/2017
Term end date 19/09/2025
Hi my name is Louise Martin and. I have 2 children; Imogen and Charlie. I enjoy giving my time to support the work of the school. I am the safeguarding governor and regularly meet with Mrs McGregor to make sure everything is safe for the children and staff.
Mrs Katie Dyer
Staff Governor
Term start date 17/07/2023
Term end date 16/07/2027
I am the Deputy Head Teacher at St Cuthbert's School, I teach Class 3 and am the SENDco for the school. I help Mrs McGregor and the governors look after our school and make key decisions that help all the children.
Mrs Clare McGregor
Headteacher
Term start date 01/04/2015
No end date
I am the head teacher and therefore automatically a member of our local governing committee. I have been head teacher since 2015 and I am very privileged to look after such an amazing school.