Governors

Our Governors

The school has a very supportive Governing Body with 12 members. The Chair of the Governing Body is currently Mr Gus Van Cauwelaert; he can be contacted via Sue Davies, Clerk to Governors, at the school on 0151 924 6451.

The Governors and staff work hard to produce appropriate policies for the school which are available on either our website or through the school office.

Foundation Governors

Mr Gus Van Cauwelaert (Chair)

I feel honoured to be the Chair of Governors at Holy Family. I am extremely proud of the achievements of our school in recent years, in particular the great faith placed in us by our community which has led us to be repeatedly oversubscribed.

I retired as Headteacher of the largest Catholic secondary school in the Archdiocese in July 2012 and hope I bring useful insights and experience to my role as Chair.

I live in Waterloo and am active in St Edmund's parish.

Educationally I feel very strongly that young people are entitled to great teaching and a wide variety of opportunities. I strongly believe that governors have a crucial role in ensuring that this happens through our roles in scrutiny and accountability.

Mr Paul Stam

I first became a Parent Governor at Holy Family in 2006 and then in 2008 I became a Foundation Governor. I am currently a member of the Finance Committee, Staffing Committee and I am Chair of the Learning Environment Committee.

I am a Senior Software Engineer working for Lloyds Bank in Chester. I have been married to Julie for 27 years and we have two grown up children, Michael is a Data Scientist and works for Tesco Bank in Edinburgh and Emma is studying for her MSc in Medical Physics at Aberdeen University.

Mrs Margaret Evans (Vice Chair)

I worked as a teacher at Holy Family for 14 years, both as a teacher of Science and as an Assistant Headteacher. In 2002, I left to work with the local authority managing the Aimhigher programme which involved helping young people to aspire to higher education. In this role I worked with all the schools across the borough, as well as the local and national universities. I have always been passionate about education and helping young people to reach their potential.

I recently retired from full time work so I hope to bring my experience in education to my role on the Governing body. It is a privilege to be a Governor at Holy Family and to see the school grow from strength to strength.

Mrs Mary Doolin (Safeguarding Governor)

I have been a Governor at Holy Family since 2007, I am currently a member of the Staffing Committee and I am Chair of the Wellbeing, Behaviour, Safety & Safeguarding Committee.

I am a Full Time Officer for a Trade Union - Public Commercial Services Union; I have negotiations responsibility for public & private sector employees. I am based in Liverpool.

My three sons attended Holy Family, two of whom are now in University and one is in Year 12. I am a catechist in my local church and a committed socialist.

Mrs Linda Byrne

I have lived in the parish of Thornton for 60 years and been an active member of St William of York church for nearly as long. I was a youth group leader in the parish for many years, a member of the choir, still a Eucharistic minister and help with flowers and decorations in the church.

I am married and I have a son who attended Holy Family High School, I also have nieces and a nephew who also attended the school.

My background in education is as a Bursar then School Business Manager for 20 years and a tutor for the National College of School Leadership for Bursar Development.

I have served as a governor at the school for over 11 years and I am currently the Chair of Finance and Innovation Committee.   

Fr Dunstan Harrington

Fr. Dunstan Harrington, Priest – St William of York, Thornton & St Mary's, Little Crosby.

Dennis Jones

It’s been my pleasure to be on the governing body here at Holy Family since 2017 and a great privilege to be involved in the great work that goes on behind the scenes by the staff at the school.  I have been involved in Catholic education for 17 years and have worked as a Lay Chaplain at schools in Liverpool and Preston.

I am passionate about Catholic education and the opportunities it gives to young people to achieve academically but also their formation as children of God and the potential that offers. I am involved in the local parishes, reading and as a Eucharistic Minister in my local church and I also lead the local youth group from Sefton on the Lourdes Pilgrimage each summer.

Parent Governors

Mr Paul Loughran

As a parent of a Year 8 pupil, I was very happy with how my daughter has settled in to life at Holy Family. I believe that, it is important to support the school and give something back to the local community.

 As I am an existing headteacher of a successful primary school and have experience working in other schools, I believe I have the necessary skills and attributes required to do this role and be a successful school governor at Holy Family.

As a parent, I want the very best for education for my daughter and can commit to this role over the next few years. I am fully prepared to be as proactive and supportive as possible to the school in the coming years and will be very willing to represent the views of the parents at school.

I have a wide range of skills and experience, not only in education that I can contribute and provide support to the school. These range from working abroad, coaching at a professional football club and organising a number of community events.

Through personal experience, I am fully aware of the commitment needed to be a school governor and I would have no hesitation in putting myself forward to help the school in whatever capacity was needed.

I understand that my role is to represent the parents, support the school and help it deliver the best possible education to all of the young people in its care and I relish the opportunity to fulfil this role.

Mrs Maxine Ennis

As well as being a mum who cares deeply about her daughter’s wellbeing and education at Holy Family, I am also the Chief Executive Officer of Rotunda Community College, a North Liverpool based educational charity supporting over 2000 people per year with education, training and skills, counselling & mental health support, welfare advice, nursery, homework club and business support. Over the last 10 years I have helped Rotunda grow, from having only 2 members of staff to 29 members of staff, a volunteering team of 30 people, and invested £3.5 million in its buildings and facilities.

I am passionate about equality of education, health and wealth, social justice and social mobility. I believe our children are more than they think they can be and it’s our job as parents and as educators to help them achieve their true potential. I do this daily at home and in work and would welcome the opportunity to do this as a Parent Governor at Holy Family Catholic High School.

I am currently serving on several boards which hopefully demonstrates my ability, skills and aspirations for those organisations and the communities they work with. I am a Governing Body member of Nugent House School, Independent member of Capacity Public Service Lab, supporting third sector organisations to grow. Locality, a national membership organisation for the community and Voluntary Sector and the Liverpool City Regions Social and Solidarity Economy Panel with Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham. I hope this gives you a flavour of who I am what I can bring to the board.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Staff Governor

Mrs Cathy McCarthy

 

LA Representative Governor

Mrs Frances Diamond

I have been a Secondary School Teacher of Science and ICT for 12 years and for 6 of these I was a member of school senior leadership developing subject teams to improve teaching and learning and results for students.  I have significant experience of leading the development of ICT in schools for learning and management.  I bring this expertise to the Governing Body of Holy Family Catholic High School.  I am currently raising a family and training in accountancy and finance.

Headteacher

Mr Matthew Symes

Clerk to the Governors

Mrs Sara Bailey

Declared Business Interests

It is a requirement of the Academies Financial Handbook that the academy trusts publish, on their website, relevant business and pecuniary interests of trustees, members and senior employees.  A declaration must also be made if any of the above persons hold a position on a Governing Body of another education institution.

Below are the interests declared by individuals at the start of this academic year.

School Governor	Category of Governor	Declared Business Interest
Mr G Van Cauwelaert	Chair of Governors	Nil
Mrs M Evans	Vice Chair of Governors	Nil
Mr P Stam	Foundation Governor	Nil
Mrs M Doolin	Foundation Governor	Nil
Mrs L Byrne	Foundation Governor	Nil
Fr D Harrington	Foundation Governor	Nil
Mr D Jones	Foundation Governor	Nil
Mrs F Diamond	LA Representative	Nil
Senior Employee	Position	Declared Business Interest
Mr M Symes	Headteacher	Nil
Mrs S Thomas	Business Manager	Securit UK
Mrs S Bailey	Curriculum Cover Supervisor/Finance Officer / Clerk to Governors