Governors
Meet the Governors
St Augustine’s is a stand-alone Academy, which means that it is not part of a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). It is a company limited by guarantee and also a charity. The directors of the company and the trustees of the charity are the Governors of the College. The Governors of the College are volunteers and do not receive payment for their work. Governors in Catholic Schools have additional responsibilities and information on Governance in a Catholic School can be found at: schools.cliftondiocese.com
There are four types of Governors:
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Foundation Governors are appointed by the Bishop. Their appointment is usually recommended by their Parish Priest
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Parent Governors are elected by parents
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Staff Governors are elected by staff
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Co-opted Governors are appointed by the board because of their particular skills and experience
The Governing Board generally meets between 5 and 7 times per year
The core functions of the Governing Board are:
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to ensure that the College has a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction
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to hold the executive leaders of the College to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
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to oversee the financial performance of the organisation and make sure it's money is well spent
All communications to the Governors should be directed in the first instance to the Clerk to Governors at clerk@st-augustines.wilts.sch.uk, or by post to Chair of Governors c/o St Augustine’s Catholic College, Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 9EN
Aidan Dowle
Start date 24/06/22
Aidan has been teaching for over 31 years and has recently completed his Masters degree in Educational leadership at the University of Gloucestershire. He is widely travelled having grown up in New Zealand and worked with the De La Salle Brothers in Chicago, USA as a volunteer when he left school. In 2013, he was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship and undertook research into impoverished schools in high areas of deprivation in Chicago which are producing outstanding educational provision. In his previous school, he led an international link with three schools in north western Kenya where he has taken four groups of year 10 students. Aidan has been a senior leader for over 10 years now and was a registered Section 48 inspector for the Diocese of Clifton.
Chidubem Obiodu
Foundation Governor
Start date 09/03/21, End date 08/03/29 (renewed 09.03.25)
Chi Obiodu is a Foundation Governor and a health and safety professional. He is a member of the Finance Committee, and the health and safety link governor for St Augustine’s Catholic College. He is married to a banker, and they have four children of which the eldest is a sixth form student at St Augustine’s Catholic College. He loves walking and travelling.
Clare Morris
Foundation Governor
Start date 10/11/22, End date 09/11/26
Clare Morris is a Foundation Governor. She works in a local authority managing customer services. Zoe Malfre (Co Vice-Chair)
Karen Yates (Chair)
Foundation Governor
Start date 09/10/2023, End date 08/10/2027
Karen is a Foundation Governor, a member of the Finance and Audit & Risk Committees and link governor for Careers. She is a Chartered Management Accountant and has held Finance Director and senior finance roles at several local companies. Now working part-time she was keen to volunteer as a governor as she has had a long association with the College. She attended the College herself, as did her three sons.
Susan Pearson
Foundation Governor
Start date 01/09/2025, End date 31/08/2029
(Bio to follow)
Michael Dooley
Foundation Governor
Start date 01/09/2025, End date 31/08/2029
(Bio to follow)
Lindsey Wallace
LA Governor
Start date 19/03/2024, End date 18/03/2028
Lindsey is a co-opted governor, chair of Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the Finance Committee.
She currently works as a Business Manager at a secondary school in Somerset and has extensive experience in both primary and secondary maintained schools and academies within Wiltshire.
Clare Powell
Staff Governor
Start date 05/11/2025, End date 04/11/2029
(Bio to follow)
Zoe Balfre
Staff Governor
Start date: 22/06/2026 End date: 21/06/2030
(Bio to follow)
Stephen Long
Staff Governor
Start date: 14/07/2026 End date: 13/07/2030
(Bio to follow)
Members
The Bishop of Clifton
Clifton Catholic Diocesan Education Foundation
Chair of Governors for St Augustine’s Catholic College
These post-holders listed above are automatically Members of St Augustine’s Catholic College, although the actual individuals in the role will change from time to time.
Trustees who have served on the Governing Body within the last 12 months
Clare Farrow
Eileen Farrell (22/09/2021 - 21/09/2025)
Mark Keirle
Michelle Miller (01/09/2025 - 13/05/2026)
Mark Kierle (20/03/2023 - 06/07/2026)
Jo Birkett-Wendes (06/07/2022 - 22/07/2026)
Richard Woods
Governance documents
Scheme of Delegation 2025 26Terms of reference 2025 26Code of Conduct 2025 26Pecuniary Interests 2025 26
Attendance
Committees
Some of the business of the Governing Board is conducted in committees which meet regularly throughout the year
Admissions Committee
Aidan Dowle
Clare Morris
Michelle Miller
Susan Pearson
Finance Committee
Clare Morris
Chidubem Obiodu
Lindsey Wallace
Jo Birkett-Wendes
Karen Yates
Audit & Risk Committee
Lindsey Wallace (Chair)
Karen Yates
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