Local Governance Committee
Do you want to become a School Committee Member or a Foundation Committee Member?
We are currently looking for School Committee Members and a Foundation Committee Members to join our existing members to support the school. If you are interested in this role please see the two documents below. Further information can be obtained from either contact KCSP directly (as per the document) or the School Office.
KCSP
Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership is a charitable trust and a company limited by guarantee. The Trust was established in August 2012 by the Archbishop of Southwark.
The Trust Board of Directors ('Trustees') are responsible for overseeing the management and administration of the Trust and they fulfil this role by delegating functions to committees.
The Trust understands the importance of the role of governance committees and the Trust has set out guidance and support in its Governance Handbook and Scheme of Delegation.
St. Richard's Governance Committees is made up of volunteers who work together to support our school across all aspects of daily school life, including strategic, financial and the curriculum.
Setting the school's vision and strategic aims, agreeing plans and policies and making creative use of resources.
Monitoring and evaluating performance, supporting and challenging the Head teacher in the management of the school.
Ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as the staff it employs.
The Governance Committee is a ‘critical friend’ of the school. It provides Strategic Leadership in school improvement. It does this by being appropriately involved in the school improvement cycle as follows:
- Developing and sharing the values and vision
- Setting out the aims and objectives of the school
- Setting out the policies and procedures by which the aims and objectives will be achieved.
- Establishing the criteria by which the aims and achievements will be seen to be achieved.
- Taking the views of stakeholders into account
- Evaluating evidence on how well the school is doing.
- Finding out how well the school is doing in comparison with similar schools.
- Agreeing targets for improvement
- Planning to achieve improvement.
- Ensuring that deployment of staffing and resources match the school’s priorities.
Key Issues
The governance committee will consider and keep under review: the progress and attainment of all groups of pupils, evidence of narrowing gaps between under achieving groups and other pupils, improvements in the quality of teaching, the school’s improvement since the last inspection, and the school’s self-evaluation of how well it is doing currently. Governance committee members are not expected to be involved in the day-to-day running of the school.
Who can be a governance committee member?
- Almost everyone over 18 can become a member. Governance committee members are volunteers from all walks of life – everyone has experience and skills to offer.
- An effective governance committee has people from different backgrounds and with a mix of skills. No formal qualifications are needed to be a member.
- Governance committee members are not education experts – they are there to offer a fresh perspective.
What makes a good governance committee member?
- The ability to work in a team.
- An interest in education and a commitment to the school
- Patience, energy and enthusiasm
- A willingness to listen, learn and to spend time in school
- A willingness to undertake training.
Our Chair of Governors, Elizabeth can be contacted by email: elizabeth.boxall@kcsp.org.uk
The Clerk to the committee Samantha Paterson can be contacted by email: spaterson@kcsp.org.uk
St Richard's Local Governance Committee
Declaration of Interests 24/25 and Historical Committee Members
The St. Richard's Local Governance Committee
Foundation committee members are selected by the appointing body to which the school is attached. They are appointed to preserve and develop the religious character of the school and to secure compliance with the trust deed.
Staff committee members are elected by the school staff. Both teaching and support staff paid to work at the school are eligible to be staff committee. The Head teacher is automatically a member of the governing body.
Parent committee members are elected by parents of pupils on the school roll at the time of election. They must be parents of pupils on the school roll themselves to stand for election.
Meet The Committee Members
Beth Boxall
Parent Member | Chair Curriculum Lead
| Hello, I am Beth Boxall and, apart from my years at Exeter University, I have lived in Dover all my life. I am always keen to be a part of the community that I live in and in whatever way I can try to support it. Hence, I am really excited to be a Parent Governor from 2021 at St Richard's. I live with my husband, son and daughter who both attend St Richard's. We have been really impressed by the school, particularly during lockdown, and so I am keen to be involved in its further progression and on-going development.
Additionally, I have taught in a few local schools and held a number of various roles ranging from Head of a Preschool to Assistant Headteacher. My husband is also a teacher and so, together, we are enthusiastic to bring our experience and knowledge to forward and support the education of Dover pupils in whatever way we can. We also attend church and have a strong faith. Therefore, I love the compassionate and faith-based ethos at St Richard's and am excited to see young children fulfil their potential both academically and spiritually. |
Christina Empson
Foundation Member
| Vice Chair Curriculum Lead | My name is Christina Empson and I am an experienced teacher and Chemistry graduate. I have taught in a number of Primary Schools in the Dover area for several years and have also held other roles including Careers Adviser for the National Careers Service, Executive Officer at H M Revenue and Customs and Industrial Liaison Officer, Dover Technical College. Currently, I work at Rethink Mental Illness.
I was born and raised in London to a Catholic family of six and I am a practicing Catholic. I have been a member of St Paul’s Parish, since I moved to Dover from London in 1985 and am currently involved in activities with St Paul’s Parish Youth Group. I live with my husband Mark in River, who has retired from Eurotunnel and we have three grown up children, who work locally. I enjoy many interests including travelling, playing the guitar, needlework, yoga and tennis. I am delighted to have been elected as Foundation Governor and am keen to bring my teaching, personal and professional experience to further improve and develop the opportunities for the children at St Richard’s. I look forward to working with and getting to know the SLT, other Governors and the wider school community to proudly support St Richard’s in the years to come. |
Alouisa Quansah-Brown
Staff Member | Staff Committee Member | As a member of the Teaching staff at St Richard’s since January 2020, and Staff Governor I am looking forward to representing the wonderful, hardworking staff at St Richard’s and getting to know the wider school community. I am an experienced class teacher having taught in primary schools for the past 16 years, from volunteering through to becoming a qualified teacher for the last 11 years.
Before teaching I studied for an Art degree and then finally a teaching degree when realising teaching is my passion! I live with my husband and son in Deal having moved from London 21 years ago. I am a keen artist and devote every spare moment to creating mosaics and walking our lively cocker spaniel! |
Laura Briant
Foundation Member | Hi my name is Laura Briant. I live in Dover with my husband and my daughter who attends St Richard’s School. I work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care for a Surrey Hospice in telephone assessment. I thoroughly love my job and find it incredibly rewarding. Outside of work I help run the children’s liturgy group at St Paul’s Catholic Church, Dover. My catholic faith is an important part of my life. I enjoy teaching the children of the parish in way that is understandable, engaging and fun for them. I was born and grew up in Dover. Upon qualifying as a registered nurse in 2009, I moved away and worked in various roles in Cambridge, London and Surrey. During lockdown, we decided to return to Dover as we missed our family and wanted our daughter to go to a local school that had a good catholic ethos and a sense of community. We have found this at St Richard’s school and both my husband and I have been so impressed with the school and the kindness that shines throughout it. Having been made to feel so welcome, I volunteered to be a Foundation Governor as a way to give back to the school and contribute to its future. | |
Nicholas Smyth
Co-Opt Member
| Hello my name is Nicholas Smyth. Having attended St Richard's in the 90s along with my four brothers and sister; all three of my children have followed in our footsteps.
When an opportunity to support the school which has given so much to my family arose, I jumped at the opportunity.
In addition to this role, I manage the Internal Sales Department for VJ Technology, a UK industry leading Technical Fixings supplier and coach the Dover Ranger's Colts U10s football team.
I plan to utilise my leadership, business and IT technical skills to support the school, faculty and students throughout my tenure giving back to a school and community which given so much to my family. | |
 Yasmin Howarth | My name is Yasmin, and I live in Dover with my Fiancé, our 6-year-old who attends St Richard's and our two toddlers, who will eventually attend St Richard's too!
I couldn't be more impressed with the school and all the teachers. They do so much for each child, it really is such a wonderful little school! I was impressed from the moment I looked round on the open days 3 years ago! The one thing that really stood out for me was the school values and how every child really embraces them.
So, when I noticed there was an opportunity to be a Governor, I knew I had to apply, to have the chance to give something back to the school. It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to support the school and the community. I look forward to working with the school and the other Governors to make a great school, even better! | |
 Tamara Pickett | Hi I'm Tamara, I live in Dover with my husband and 3 children, and currently work for the Civil Service. I grew up in Thanet and as the eldest of four I helped raise my siblings before leaving to study Social Work at Lancaster University. I am a practising Catholic and my daughter is an altar server at St. Paul's, where hopefully my sons will take their First Holy Communion in 2025; my eldest attends St. Edmund's Catholic Secondary School. Prior to my current job I worked as a Social Worker with adolescents for 12 years, in both the Youth Offending Service and the Adolescent Crisis Team. Having worked with families experiencing a variety of hardships as well as those that are reluctant to engage I understand how important it is to provide support early to reduce and remove barriers. Primary school creates building blocks needed for life and it is important to ensure these are as strong and positive as they can be. St. Richard's impressed, and continues to impress, with their approach demonstrating that Every Child truly does Matter and wellbeing is paramount. A happy and healthy child learns and thrives best, I am pleased to be a part of this community and contribute to its continued success. |
The Chair of The Governance Committee may be contacted via the school office (see the home page for details) – any correspondence marked ‘Private and Confidential’ will be passed to them without opening in school.
Meeting attendance 23/24
Here is a link to the current memorandum of association. This link will take you to the KCSP webpage where you can find this information.
Here is a link to the current Scheme of Delegation for the Trust. This link will take you to the KCSP webpage where you can find this information.
Here is the link for the Register of Interests for the accounting officer. This link will take you to the correct webpage of the KCSP website for this information.
Committee Member Recruitment
Are you enthusiastic about education?
Do you have some spare time?
If so, then you may be just the person we need!
The following link provides more information about the Role of a Committee Member, as well as the Appointment Process: https://www.rcaoseducation.org.uk/could-you-become-a-governor/
Further information about our school can be found using the following links:
https://www.kcsp.org.uk/governing-bodies-and-academy-committees/
https://www.kcsp.org.uk/st-richards-catholic-primary-dover/
https://www.kcsp.org.uk/what-our-pupils-and-parents-say-about-our-academie/
If you would like to enquire about becoming a Committee Member at St. Richard's, please contact our LGC Chair using the details below.
Contact Details
The St. Richard's Local Governance Chair of the committee:
Local Governance Committee Chair - Elizabeth Boxall
Address: St. Richard's Catholic Primary School, Castle Avenue, Dover, Kent. CT16 1EZ
Telephone: 01304 201118
Email: bethaboxall@outlook.com
Kent Catholic Schools Partnership
Chief Executive: Mrs Annemarie Whittle
Address: Barham Court, Teston, Maidstone, Kent. ME18 5BZ
Telephone: 01622 232665