The purpose of the Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.  Its three core strategic functions are:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The DfE publishes financial benchmarking information about schools. To view the financial information for our school, please follow the link below. 

The following are Governors at our school:-

• Councillor Christine Bell - Authority Governor
• Mr Neil Bell - Staff Governor and Deputy Head Teacher
• Mrs Katherine Hardy - Parent Governor
• Mrs Lindsay Hocking - Parent Governor
• Mrs Laura Laws - Associate Governor and Middle Leader
• Rev. Stephen Martin - Co-opted Governor
• Mrs Julie McDonald - Co-opted Governor and Middle Leader
• Mrs Maureen Nair - Co-opted Governor
• Mrs Christine Oliver - Parent Governor and Vice-Chair of the Governing Body
• Mrs Joanne Shaw - Head Teacher
• Mrs Angela Sterling – Co-opted Governor
• Mr Andrew Whitehead - Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Governing Body

Historical Members:

• Mrs Gill Davidson - 20th January 2022
• Mr Mark Eltringham - 22nd January 2022
• Mr Tatenda Munodawafa - 6th Janaury 2023

Andrew Whitehead - Chair of the Governing Body

• A Co-opted Governor
• Date of Appointment: 23rd January 2021
• Term of office end date - 22nd January 2024
• A member of the following committees - Staffing, Curriculum and Standards and Chair of the Finance Committee
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - Married to Lynn Whitehead-Lewis, School Counsellor 

Christine Oliver - Vice-Chair of the Governing Body

• A parent Governor
• Date of Appointment: 23rd January 2021
• Term of office end date - 22nd January 2024
• A member of the following committees - Finance and Chair of Staffing
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None

I have two children attending Catchgate Primary School.  I am keen to be involved in the role of Governor and support the school in ensuring our children receive the best education possible.  I believe every child matters, every child deserves the opportunity to receive a high quality education and every child should be inspired to be the best possible version of themselves.

Joanne E. Shaw - Head Teacher

• Staff Governor and Head Teacher
• Date of Appointment: 1st September 2007
• Term of office end date - 31st August 2023
• A member of the following committees - Curriculum and Standards, Staffing and Finance and Premises
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - Wife of Steve Shaw, Teaching Assistant and sister of Lynn Whitehead-Lewis, School Counsellor

I have worked at Catchgate Primary School since September 2007 and have been a Governor for many years both at Catchgate and at a previous school in East Durham.  I have been a teacher for 26 years and have worked in 3 other schools across the county.  I love my job and adore working with the children and pupils as well as the staff and parents.  It is my role to prepare reports and information to present to Governors at meetings as well as keeping them informed of events and activities when they call into school to carry out their duties.  The Governors at our school are very pro-active - they know what is expected and required of them and they hold myself and senior leaders very accountable for the progress of each and every child.

Neil Bell - Deputy Head Teacher

• A Staff Governor who was elected by staff in school.
• Deputy Head Teacher
• Date of Appointment: 1st September 2012
• Term of office end date - 12th January 2025
• A member of the following committee - Curriculum and Standards
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None declared

I have been a staff governor since 2012 when I joined the school as Deputy Head.  During this time I have led on Mathematics, ICT/Computing and Assessment. Prior to my governor role here at Catchgate, I held a post of staff governor for 8 years in my previous school. I enjoy my role in school as I get to see the progress made not just for my class but for the whole school. I see it as my job to ensure that staff are challenging our children enough to meet their potential and that we have enough information about the children to enable us as educators to do that. I enjoy the challenge that being a staff governor can bring as we give updates on progress and are questioned about the information we present.

Julie McDonald - Staff Governor

• A Staff Governor who was elected by staff in school.
• Key Stage 1 Leader
• Date of Appointment: 31st August 2019
• Term of office end date - 31st August 2023
• A member of the following committees -  Finance and Premises and Staffing.
• GDPR Data Protection Officer
• Voting rights on the committee named above
• Register of interests - None declared

I have worked at Catchgate Primary School for over 30 years and I am still passionate about my job and keen for all the children in my care, to meet their potential in all areas of school life. I have taught in all year groups across the school and have been co-ordinator for RE, History, Geography, Maths and English throughout the years. I am now Curriculum Lead for the foundation subjects and SENCO. I am Staff Governor and as such represent the views of all members of our increasing staff.

Laura Laws - Early Years Lead

• An Associate Governor 
• Early Years Leader
• Date of Appointment: 23rd January 2020
• Term of office end date - 22nd January 2024
• A member of the following committee - Curriculum and Standards - Chair of the Committee
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None declared

Maureen Nair

• A co-opted Governor 
• Date of Appointment: 1st September 2019
• Term of office end date - 31st August 2023
• Chair of the Hearings/First Committee
• Also a member of the following committees - Curriculum and Standards, Finance and Premises and Staffing
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None declared

I was Chair of the Governing Body of Catchgate Primary School for over 15 years but have been on the Governing Body for over 25 years most of the time as an Authority elected representative.  I find that my experience in business, specialising in Human Resource Management, transfers very readily into the school.  I have always been proud to be associated with Catchgate Primary School - my son attended and it gave him a great start in his education.  We have a great school in Catchgate, which over the last 12 years has gone from strength to strength; it is a credit to the staff and the pupils.

Katherine Hardy

• A Parent elected Governor
• Date of Appointment: 4th May 2017
• Term of office end date - 5th April 2025
• A member of the following committee - Curriculum and Standards
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None

I have one child currently at Catchgate Primary School and had another who left in July 2021. I became a parent governor about 4 years ago. I took on this role to understand more about how the school is managed and what is involved in the running of a good school. I also wanted to become involved in supporting the school in providing good quality education and to help ensure that all children reach their full potential while they are at this school. Since taking up the role of governor I have also become a parent SEN governor, this has involved working the SENCO at the school by encouraging good relationships and the involvement of parents with SEN children.

Lyndsey Hocking

• A Parent Governor who was elected by parents in school
• Date of Appointment: 24th February 2021
• Term of office end date - 23rd February 2025
• A member of the following committee - 
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None declared

Councillor Christine Bell

• An Authority Governor
• Date of Appointment: 2nd July 2021
• Term of office end date - 1st May 2022
• A member of the following committee -
• Voting rights on all committees named above
• Register of interests - None

Meeting Dates 2022-2023

Please read the document below to see the planned dates of all Governing Body meetings throughout this school year. 

Attendance at Meetings 2022-2023

Record of Governor Attendance 2021-2022

Governors have excellent attendance at meetings and we have never cancelled a meeting because it was not “quorate” (the number of governors needed to ensure the legal decisions can be made).

Attendance at Meetings: Autumn Term 2021

Attendance at Meetings: Spring Term 2022

Attendance at Meetings: Summer Term 2022

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.

Or, you can contact school on 01207 234252 or fill in the form below and a member of the school's Leadership Team will get back to you.