St. Joseph's Governors

Hello and a warm welcome to St Joseph’s from your school governors. As a collective we are referred to as a Local CAST Board or LCB for short.

Our LCB consists of Foundation Governors who are appointed by the Bishop, Parent Governors, who are elected by parents and carers of St. Joseph’s. We are also very fortunate to have a Community Governor. The Headteacher is also a member of the LCB and we are supported by our Clerk to Governors. We are group of people with varying skills, knowledge and experiences. However, our aim is the same – to support our school community in the very best way we can. Please have a look at our governor profiles to learn more about the current members of St Joseph’s LCB.

Our whole school focus is about putting the children at the centre of everything we do. Helping them to be the best that they can be. Their needs and wellbeing are paramount. As governors we do this by promoting Plymouth CAST’s Vision and Values. Acting as a ‘wisdom group’ for our school, providing support and challenge as necessary. Although governors within Plymouth CAST do not have any statutory powers, we do have specific responsibilities which are delegated to us by the Trust. These are outlined in the Plymouth CAST Scheme of Delegation. A Schedule of Accountability provides the framework for our governance activities.

Each governor has a lead role for a specific aspect of school life.  These are Religious Education and Catholic Life; Curriculum and Standards; Special Educational Needs and Disability, Inclusion and Equality; Safeguarding and Child Protection; Health and Safety; The Impact of Statutory Grants and Parents and the Community. We also each have individual classes and subjects to which we are linked. All governors undertake annual training in Safeguarding and attend training and briefing events offered by Plymouth CAST and the Diocesan Education Service. We meet as a full LCB twice per term. The summaries of LCB meeting minutes can be found on the Governor page of the school website.

As well as carrying out our governance activities we like to take an active part in school life. We visit school regularly to meet with the children and staff and attend school worship, assemblies and activities and events organised by the PTA. Governors also seek to champion our school in the local community and reinforce the relationship between our school and our parish church.

If you have any questions about any aspects of the governor role, please address these in the first instance to Mrs Iris Reiss-Golumbeck, Clerk to the Governors at clerk@stjo.uk.

Lynn Cook, Chair of Governors

(Academic year 2022-23)

  • Mrs Lynn Cook

    Foundation Governor / Chair of Governors / Safeguarding & Child Protection Deputy / Impact of Statutory Grants Lead

    I joined the LCB as a Foundation Governor in March 2018. I was delighted to be asked to join the team of existing governors, especially as my two grown up children had been pupils at St. Joseph's. I was elected Chair of Governors in September 2021 and re-elected chair for the year 2022-23. I was re-appointed for a 2nd term on the LCB in March 2022. I am Deputy Safeguarding Governor and my link subject is Art, my link class is FSU. I am a retired Civil Servant. I have coached children in sports as a volunteer and have organised and facilitated wellbeing events for former colleagues. I enjoy coming into school to meet with the children and see their work. Since retiring I have completed a Level 3 Award in Education and Training to help me with my role in school. I am proud of our school and to be a governor and will always act in the best interest of all the children and staff at St. Joseph's.

  • Mrs Nicola Dustan

    Foundation Governor / Vice-Chair of Governors / Safeguarding & Child Protection Lead / Admissions Committee Member

    I joined the local governing body in January 2017 as Foundation Governor. I was a civil servant for 37 years and now have retired. I am Vice Chair of the local governing body and Safeguarding Governor Lead. My two children went to the school many years ago.

  • Mrs Saskia Hallett

    Parent Governor / Curriculum & Standards Lead

    I joined as a Parent Governor in the Summer Term 2019. Following my degree in South East Asian Studies with Indonesian language at Hull University I qualified as an Early Years Teacher at Exeter University in 2005 and I have primarily taught in Foundation, Year 1 and 2 as well as leadership and management in a large International school in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Apart from being a governor I also work in St. Joseph's school as Learning Support Assistant. I have spent a large part of my life in South East Asia, as have my two boys, and I have a passion for learning about world cultures, religions, diversity and nature. I’m in my element at the forest school sessions! I aim to be a bridge between the playground and the classroom, and to help you and your children feel happy and succeed in the school environment.

  • Mrs Rebecca Lloyd

    Foundation Governor / Special Educational Needs, Inclusion & Equality Lead

    I joined the local governing body as Foundation Governor in April 2019. I teach Spanish and French at Exmouth Community College and coordinate the KS4 and KS5 Modern Languages curriculum. I have two sons at St. Joseph’s. We have a strong family connection with the school and our family have been attending the school for the past 55 years. I enjoy keeping fit and spending time with my family exploring the outdoors.

  • Mr William (Bill) Morrell

    Foundation Governor / Parents & Community Lead/ Pupil Chaplaincy Support / Admissions Committee Member

    My wife Mary and I have two children and five grandchildren. We settled in Exmouth in 2019 and I became a Foundation Governor in March 2022. My professional career was in policing in London and Manchester, as well as the Solomon Islands and several other conflict and post conflict countries. As a Governor I am interested in building community between the School and Christian Churches in Exmouth and helping the children, staff and parents know the joy and love of Walking with Jesus.

  • Mr Clive Pearcey

    Community Governor / Health & Safety Lead / School Council

    I was appointed to the Local Governing Body in February 2010 as a Local Education Authority Governor, now as a Community Governor. I find it highly rewarding seeing the school going from strength to strength. I am lead governor for Health & Safety and Premises. My main duties also include liaising with year 6 and the School Council. I started my working life in the Army, twelve years before going into Electrical contracting and then working for one of the large Utility companies for twenty years. My interests are varied, an allotment, ballroom dancing and stained glass to name a few.
    By far the greatest enjoyment I have as a Governor is going into school and working with the children and seeing how they develop as young people especially academically and spiritually.

  • Mrs Kate Sillars

    Foundation Governor / RE & Catholic Life Lead

    I joined the Governing Body in November 2020. I am a retired teacher and spent the whole of my teaching career in Catholic Primary Schools. I am Lead Governor for Religious Education and Catholic Life of the School. My link class is year 3. I have four children and three grandchildren who live all over the world and we enjoy visiting them. I enjoy walking, cooking, sewing and Pilates classes. I love working with children and helping them grow into responsible and spiritual young adults.

  • Mrs Iris Reiss-Golumbeck

    Clerk to Governors

    clerk@stjo.uk

    I was employed by Plymouth CAST as clerk of governors in July 2015. My role includes providing professional advice to the Local CAST Board (LCB) on governance, constitutional and procedural matters and effective administrative support to the LCB and its committees including minute taking and convening meetings. Also, it includes ensuring the LCB is properly constituted and managing all governing body information effectively in accordance with legal requirements as well as supporting the LCB in order to meet all of its statutory duties.

Headteacher: Mrs Jacqi Stephens

Elected Parent Governors: Saskia Hallett 

Staff Governor: vacant  

Associate Members: Rosie Lapwood (senior administrator)


Admissions Committee - Nicola Dustan, William Morrell, Rosie Lapwood