We want to introduce ourselves and tell you some more about the role of the Governing Body at St Francis of Assisi.
Our main role is to support Mrs Hope and the staff in the running of the school – we ensure that the school has a strong and clear vision and ethos, that standards are high, that all children at St Francis have access to the best possible education and that the resources of the school – the budgets, staff and buildings – are well and appropriately used. We have a particular interest in the safety and wellbeing of children and staff. Foundation Governors, appointed by the Diocese of East Anglia, have a special responsibility to maintain the Catholic ethos of the school.
We meet termly as a Full Governing Body (6 times per year). All Governors have additional responsibilities and are linked to lead on a specific area of work, providing support and challenge and reporting back to the governing board. We publish an Annual Governance Statement on the School website. You can request minutes of the Full Governing Body meetings at the office.
Governors are in school on a regular basis visiting classes, attending events such as assemblies and masses and helping with projects. Some governors are current parents and are in the playground on a regular basis – please do come and talk to us if you have any queries or email us at office@st-francisofassisi.norfolk.sch.uk
Governors’ Info
I’m delighted to be both a Foundation Governor and Chair of Governors at St Francis of Assisi. I started my role as a Parent Governor in May 2018. At the end of my term, I then moved to be a Foundation Governor in March 2022. I was delighted to be voted in September 2022 to become Chair of Governors.
I’m excited and passionate about my role as a chair and keen to play an active part of the continued success at St Francis’s. I enjoy the warm and caring approach the school has towards the children and feel the catholic ethos has a vital contribution too in the positive educational journey all the children are on.
I originally hail from Liverpool and moved to Norwich in 2014. My wife and I were delighted that our son could attend St Francis’s. He spent many happy years at St Francis and has now started his journey in high School at Notre Dame. We hope for our youngest daughter in a few years’ time, to also be able to experience the loving and naturing education also in St Francis.
I have worked in retail industry for 25 years in a variety of roles including solutions manager, project manager, account manager, store manager to name but a few. The skills I have learnt in my work life, I hope to bring to the benefit of the wider school and community.
In my spare time I’m a Scout leader locally, keen gardener, I enjoy canoeing and dabble with DIY.
I am a co-opted Governor and joined the governing body in December 2014. All my children went to St Francis and then onto Notre Dame. I work at Norwich School where I have been for almost 25 years, where alongside teaching Modern Languages, I look after the international pupils, run the exams office and advise on universities. I also mentor trainee teachers from UEA and help interview prospective doctors at University College London.
One of the most enjoyable parts of the year is organising the Norfolk Summer School which is attended by Year 12 students from around Norfolk offering a tailored programme of academic and practical seminars and lectures to encourage Norfolk children to aim high in Year 13 and beyond. I applied to become a Governor because I believe in the ethos which has been created by all at St Francis and want to understand more about how the school is run. I enjoy travel, reading, gardening and sport.
Having recently retired from the teaching staff at St Francis of Assisi I decided to volunteer as a governor at the school where I have had the privilege to teach for many years. I worked part time at SJB and STM from 2002 – 2006, and then worked full time from 2006 until my retirement in 2018. I have always been impressed by the caring ethos of all staff at the school, the high standard of teaching and learning and the wonderful relationship with parents and the community at large.
I began my teaching career in 1979 in Colchester where I taught full time until I had my daughter in 1988. In 1991 my family moved to Norwich. My second child William was born in 1990 and my youngest son Andrew born in 1995. When my son William became terminally ill in 1998 I was grateful for the support my family received from the parish community and particularly for the outstanding loving support they received from the staff at St. John the Baptist and St Thomas More, which of course have now amalgamated and become our new school, St. Francis of Assisi.
I look forward to supporting the school for the next four years in my new role as governor.
I originally came to England from the U.S. to complete a doctorate at Oxford University and have lived here since 1996 with my wife of 40 years and my son and daughter. Judy my wife is a retired teacher who now works part time in a nursery school and enjoys pilates and her book club. Kate my daughter is married to Ben, lives in London and works for Save the Children. Chris my son is a graduate of the Leeds College of Art and Design and works as a freelance gallery technician and lives in Bourneville near Birmingham. Prior to moving to the U.K. I taught law at a law school in Columbus, Ohio and practiced there as well.
I am honoured to be a new part of the governing body at St Francis of Assisi, and as a new governor, I have enjoyed getting to know the school, its students and staff. I have been a governor at Rye St. Antony School in Oxford, where my daughter attended, and look forward to this new challenge at St Francis. I enjoy students and working in school settings and I have recently retired from Tudor Hall School after 15 years of service. Tudor Hall is a girl’s boarding school in Oxfordshire and I served there as part of pastoral team and, together with my wife, as a house parent. I look forward now to serving the students and staff here at St. Francis.
I’m a reception teacher and the speech and language lead at SFA. I finally qualified as a teacher in the summer of 2020, at the height of the first lockdown, after many years of working in schools.
I have three children; one son who is 15 and two daughters aged 14 and 9.
In my spare time I love gardening, growing my own veg at my allotment and listening to music.
I am very excited to join the governing body as a parent governor (November 2022). My two children are very happy in St Francis. I love the ethos, the nurturing environment and the family feel that St Francis cultivates and I’d like to help it succeed for years to come.
Originally from Slovakia, I spent a few years living in London but eventually settled in the fantabulous city of Norwich some years ago.
After studying languages at university in Slovakia, I started my working life in the UK in customer service and retail. I’ve had the privilege to work in the public sector too, the Cabinet Office and later the Ministry of Justice were my highlights.
Alongside that, I collaborated with local and London based agencies and photographers as an actor/model/presenter. My creative side then led me to Norwich University of the Arts, working in Deputy Vice Chancellor’s office.
Currently, I have committed my time to a local housing association, combined with running a small business and volunteering for a local homeless charity – Hopestead.
I am passionate about human rights; I love interior design and a good coffee!
My friends say I am a good cook, which is entirely my nan’s influence and one that I am intently trying to pass onto my children.
If I am not “working”, you’ll find me travelling, at the allotment, or enjoying a bit of peace in the garden.
I moved to Norwich from London in 2021 with my husband and three children. Prior to that, I’d spent my whole life within the M25 but then fell in love with Norwich and Norfolk life!
After watching how our daughter was welcomed into St Francis and how she has subsequently thrived, I decided I wanted to be part of the community and support the team providing such a wonderful school environment. I was honoured to become a Parent Governor in November 2022.
My passions are education, wellbeing, purpose and equality, and I just love young people and supporting them to become their best selves. I’ve previously served on the board for a youth charity, and developed and run programmes for young people in the community and the church.
Career-wise, I studied Biochemistry and Psychology at university, then worked as a project manager for a few years before eventually going to medical school.
I now work as a doctor serving communities in Norfolk and Suffolk. When I’m not working, I enjoy hosting dinner parties, doing DIY, and going on walks in one of the many Norfolk nature beauty spots.
I am from Tuscany, Italy. I moved to Norwich in 2007 and I am now proud to be a British citizen.
I have a family with five girls including my wife. My daughters, 5yo, 9yo, 12yo and 17yo, attend Notre Dame Preparatory School and Notre Dame High School in Norwich. My wife is an Environmental Scientist at the UEA.
I work in the Emergency Department of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
I am Chair of the Finance Committee at the Church of Holy Apostles in West Earlham and, with my wife, members of the Family and Marriage Commission of the Diocese. My whole family is involved in the Community life of our Church with preparation for the First Communion, Parishioners lunches and other activities all year round.I hope to give the support the Governing Body needs to face these challenging times.
Originally from the Manchester area, my husband and I moved to Wymondham in 2006 with our three children. I am a strong believer in Catholic Education and the values it teaches. My three children went to Catholic schools and my two grandchildren attend St Francis. I currently work as a PA to a Head of School at the UEA and prior to that I was a business manager for an educational trust responsible for a middle and high school. I am a member of the congregation of Our Lady and Thomas Moore RC Church in Wymondham and have been on the parish social committee and a member of the Catholics Women’s league. In my spare time I enjoy the theatre, reading and am a member of the National Trust.
Get in Touch
If you want to get in touch with the Governing Body please hand a letter into the school office or email the Chair of Governors at office@st-francisofassisi.norfolk.sch.uk
