The Governing Body

The Governors at Loreto College have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the work of the Governing Body and the College’s role in the community.

Each member of the Governing Body brings their own specific expertise and experience. All Governors give their time voluntarily and have always shown a high level of commitment to their colleagues and to the College.

Become a Foundation Governor

Could you help shape the future of young people through Catholic education?

Loreto College is seeking practising Catholics who may be interested in serving as Foundation Governors.

Our governors help guide the strategic direction of the College, support its Catholic mission and values, and ensure the best possible outcomes for students.

You do not need previous governance or education experience. We are looking for people with a commitment to Catholic education, a willingness to contribute, and an interest in helping young people thrive.

Training, induction and ongoing support are provided.

Why become a Foundation Governor?

Support Catholic education and the mission of the Church
Help shape the future of young people
Use your skills and experience in a meaningful way
Develop new knowledge and leadership skills
Give back to your community

No previous governor experience is required. Full training and support are provided.

Interested in finding out more?

Become a Governor

Loreto College welcomes expressions of interest from individuals who are passionate about education and supporting young people to achieve their potential.

Governors provide strategic leadership and oversight, helping to ensure that the College remains financially sustainable, educationally successful and responsive to the needs of its students and community.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people with experience in areas such as:

Education
Finance and audit
Human resources
Law and compliance
Safeguarding
Estates and facilities
Digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Marketing and communications
Community and voluntary engagement

No previous governance experience is required, and full training and support are provided.

If you would like to find out more about the role, we would be delighted to hear from you for an informal conversation.

Jennifer Iddon
Clerk to the Corporation
[email protected]

The Composition of the Governing Body

The composition of the Governing Body is laid down by the College’s Instrument & Articles of Government. This is a legal document under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 which incorporated the College and establishes the Governing Body as a legal entity and defines what the Governing Body and the College may do. The Governing Body comprises:

At least 8 Foundation Governors, who are appointed by its Trustees
Up to 6 co-opted Governors
1 elected Staff Governor
1 elected Parent Governor
2 elected Student Governors
The Principal

The Chair is Ann Wilkinson, who is contactable through the Clerk ([email protected]).

The Governing Body employs a Clerk to facilitate all aspects of its work.

The Responsibilities of the Governing Body

The full Governing Body meets four times per year. It receives reports from the Principal or the Clerk and its own committees.

The key responsibilities of the Governing Body are:

to determine the educational character and Mission of the College and to ensure the College management is fulfilling the mission

to ensure the solvency of the College and the safeguarding of its assets
to approve the annual estimates of income and expenditure
to oversee the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and the determination of the pay and conditions of the Principal and Clerk
to set a framework for the pay and conditions of service for all staff
to contribute to the leadership of the College in ways which promote the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and raise student achievement

Roles and Responsibilities: Governors & Committees

In legal terms, the Governing Body has a corporate identity separate from its members. This means that responsibility for actions and decisions rests with the Governing Body as a whole and not with individual governors. Governors are expected to show the highest loyalty and to act collectively in the best interest of the College.

Most of the detailed work is undertaken by the committees when they meet. The committees are:

Audit: has legal powers to investigate all aspects of the internal control and financial systems of the College and employs two firms of auditors.
Finance & General Purposes: oversees the budget, monitors the duties of the Governing Body as the employer and manages the resources and the estate.
Quality & Standards: monitors and develops all aspects of student achievement, the quality of teaching and support and students’ experiences.
Remuneration: reviews salary structures of the Principal, the Deputy Principal and the Clerk.
Search & Governance: recruits and develops Governors, oversees succession planning and promotes effective governance across the Governing Body.

Governors and Committees Register of Interests Instruments and Articles of Governance

The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 requires minutes of meetings of the Governing Body to be published and accessible to the public. Below are the minutes of the meetings of the Governing Body for the preceding year in accordance with the College’s access to information policy.