Catholic Deanery of Eastbourne and St Leonards
Called to Serve: Foundation Governors in our Catholic Schools
Sally McMahon, Clerk to the Governors, St Thomas a Becket Catholic Primary School, Eastbourne
One of the greatest joys and privileges is to serve young people and make a difference to their life chances and those of future generations. Volunteering as a school governor is hugely rewarding and makes a profound difference to the work of schools, offering professional challenge and support.
St Thomas a Becket Catholic Primary School in Eastbourne, among other Catholic schools in the area, are looking for practicing Catholics committed to wanting the best for our children and prepared to offer a few hours a month as a Governor at our school.
This is an open invitation across our Catholic community. You may be exactly the person one of our schools needs.
A mission of service and witness
Foundation Governors help ensure that our schools remain rooted in their Catholic identity, supporting children and young people to grow in faith, learning, and life. Appointed in the name of the Bishop, for a term of four years, they help to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school.
This is not only governance — it is mission. It is a practical way of living out our faith through service, helping to shape the life and direction of our Catholic schools.
As St Teresa of Calcutta reminds us, “Faith in action is love—love in action is service”, a sentiment that resonates strongly with those who serve in this role. As Chiara Potenza reflects, “My faith compels me to help others; to spread love, peace and understanding and I see no greater way to do this than in helping our children thrive.”
Why Foundation Governors matter
Foundation Governors play a very important role in Catholic education, they form the majority on governing bodies to safeguard the Catholic character of our schools. They work with headteachers, staff, parents, clergy, and the wider Church to support the school’s mission.
But beyond structure, this role is about encounter — with children, staff, and the lived reality of Catholic education, and for many governors it is this sense of purpose and connection that first draws them in.
For Stephen Byrne, Chair of the Governing Body, the appeal of the role was rooted in a desire to support Catholic education and help children grow in the faith, reflecting the central mission shared by Foundation Governors across our schools.
As Liz Oram explains, she “wanted to become a governor so that I could have an input into the Catholic education of our young children,” a motivation echoed by others who recognise the importance of shaping faith-filled education for the next generation.
For Chiara Potenza, the role also responds to wider concerns about the world children are growing up in, describing how it is “a great thing to have a positive impact on my own community” at a time when life can feel “cynical... fraught with trouble and complications.”
What would I be committed to do?
At St Thomas a Becket, we hold six or seven governors’ meetings per year lasting around 90 minutes, on Monday evenings. Preparation for meetings includes reading papers and preparing questions for senior leaders. Each governor takes on a lead role in a specific area of work and visits the school two or three times a year to monitor and support.
You don’t need previous experience as we provide plenty of training and support.
Those who take part often speak of the warm welcome they receive in school. As Geraldine Briggs recalls, she was “pleasantly surprised” by the openness of school visits, which offer “a valuable insight into the significant demands placed on the staff and in turn the dedication of the staff to their pupils.”
Others describe the joy of seeing pupils engaged in their learning. Liz Oram recalls how, on one English link visit, “children were so proud of their work they wanted to show off what they had done,” describing this as a clear reflection of “the product of our efforts and the amazing outcomes that come with them.”
Governors also reflect on the deeper impact of their work. Chiara Potenza describes how “Like many parents, I felt very concerned about the impact that being on screens would have on our children and my role as a Safeguarding Governor has allowed me to learn more about the vital role that schools can have in navigating through these challenges. In supporting and challenging the school as a governor, I have been able to witness it grow and progress. It has been so rewarding seeing the
school becoming ‘Smartphone Free’ and knowing the implications that this will have for families in my community.”
For many, the role deepens both faith and understanding. Liz Oram speaks of “developing my understanding of how a Catholic primary school works and the Catholic values that underpin such a valuable part of our Church.”
Others emphasise the sense of collaboration and personal growth that comes with the role. Fissy Oluwole describes serving as a governor as “a genuinely rewarding experience,” valuing the opportunity to “contribute to the school community in a meaningful way” while working alongside “amazing and dedicated staff, governors, and parents who all share the same goal of helping pupils
thrive.”
Stephen Byrne also highlights the value of working closely with school leaders, describing the most rewarding aspect of governance as “working with the school leadership to achieve positive outcomes for the pupils.”
Fissy also reflects on the deeper insight the role provides into school leadership and strategy, explaining feeling “felt listened to and encouraged to contribute ideas and perspectives,” while gaining “a much deeper understanding of how the school operates strategically,” highlighting the school’s strong commitment to “pupils’ wellbeing, inclusion, and academic development,” and noting that the role has helped develop “new skills in communication, decision-making, and governance.”
Ultimately, describing the experience as “both insightful and fulfilling,” adding that “I would strongly encourage anyone considering this opportunity to do so.”
The sense of fulfilment is echoed by others who see the role as both strategic and personal. Liz notes that “the best bit about being a governor is going in for visits and seeing the children thriving and growing in their education and their faith,” and that it is especially rewarding to know that “decisions we make at strategic level are all about making our community stronger.”
Staff governors also speak powerfully about the experience. Dominique Barrow describes it as “a true privilege” that allows collaboration with a committed governing board to secure the best outcomes for children, while also enriching their “daily prayer and faith life.” She reflects that working together in this way ensures that every child has both “opportunities and the spiritual foundation to thrive.”
In the end, as Stephen Byrne summarises, it is “an interesting role and very rewarding to ensure the continuation of Catholic education for the next generation.”
A shared call to serve
Being a Foundation Governor is part of the Church’s mission in education — helping our schools remain places where children encounter Christ and flourish.
Across our deanery, vacancies exist and governors are needed in all schools. At St Thomas a Becket, we currently have three Foundation Governor vacancies and warmly welcome enquiries from anyone who feels called to this role.
We are ordinary people who have said yes to an extraordinary mission — and we invite others to consider doing the same.
Interested?
St Thomas a Becket Catholic Primary School (Eastbourne)
01323 737221
clerk@stthomasbecket.e-sussex.sch.uk
Diocesan Education Service—Catholic Diocese of Arundel & Brighton
https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/education/governance
The diocese has produced a leaflet with more information.
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