What do Governors Do?

The Governing Body has a range of duties and powers and a general responsibility to oversee the strategic direction of the school and maintain its ethos.

St Francis of Assisi Governor Committee Membership 2024-25

 Chair: Angela Wilding

 

 

 Vice Chair: Mr Peter Wenner

 

 

Foundation : Mrs Ana Andrade

 

Staff Governor: Mrs Vicki Flack

 

 Foundation Governor: Father Peter Ojiaku

 

 

Foundation Governor: Mr Sam Kirwan

 

Parent Governor: Danielle Johnson

The types of governors are defined as below:

• Parent Governor. Parents, including carers, of pupils at the school are eligible to stand for election as governors, and are elected by other parents at the school.
• Foundation Governor. Foundation Governors are appointed by the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and have a particular duty of care to preserve the Catholic ethos of the school.
• Local Authority Governors. The constitution of the governing body at St. Francis requires one governor to be appointed by the Local Authority.
• Staff Governors. Staff Governors may come from the ranks of both teaching and support staff, and are elected by the staff.

 

If you would like to contact the governors please email the Clerk:  clerk@stfrancisassisi.org.uk

The Full Governing Body meets half termly .  The committee members are as follows:

 

Full Governing Body – incorporates Curriculum and Catholic Ethos and Spirituality

Committee Membership: Vicki Flack, Father Peter Ojiaku, Ana Andrade, Samantha Winton, Danielle Johnson

 

Governors’ Background

 Angela Wilding

I joined the Governing Board of St Francis of Assisi in September 2024, taking the role of Chair.

I have previously been co-chair of governors at a Catholic primary school in Lewes, and have also enjoyed being parent governor and staff governor in my children’s Catholic primary school in Uckfield.

Catholic education is close to my heart. My four children all attended Catholic primary and secondary schools and I have witnessed the strong foundations for global citizenship, based on Gospel values and a love of Jesus Christ, this education gave them.

I am excited to be part of the governing board of St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School and to share in the journey of such a vibrant and happy community.

 

 

Mrs Vicki Flack

 I am the staff representative on the board of governors.  I have worked as a primary school teacher for six years, all of which have been at St Francis as a class teacher in Key Stage 2.  I am currently in Year 5.  I am the Computing Subject Leader and also the Online Safety Coordinator. Prior to becoming a teacher,  I worked in the Information Technology field as a Project Manager for a number of years.I have two children, one in primary school and one in Year 9, and therefore have a good understanding of primary school education from both a teacher’s and parent’s view point.

My main areas of responsibility as a governor are to represent the staff and also the Curriculum.

 

Mrs Ana Andrade

I have been appointed Foundation Governor and have lived in Crawley for the past 16 years. I am a member of the Friary Church and am originally from South Africa with Portuguese descent.

My daughter is currently in year 9 at St Wilfrid’s she started her academic journey at St Francis and whilst she was at the school, I was an active member of the PFA and towards her last years I was Co-chair of the PFA. As a family, we thoroughly enjoyed helping and organising the school events.

I have a background in Information Technology. Currently, I work as a Database and European Website’s manager for a Global corporate company.

I feel privileged and honoured to be a Governor and give back to the community and support such a fantastic school.

I was elected as parent governor in March 2021. Since moving to Crawley 15 years ago, as practicing Catholics, we have mainly attended service at The Friary, where all my children were baptised and 2 have received their sacrament of Communion. More recently, we attend service at St Bernadette’s and St Theodores.

 

Mr Peter Wenner

I was elected as a Parent Governor in October 2023.

With a strong family connection to the school, my journey with St. Francis of Assisi began many years ago when my younger brother, now a proud British Army member, was a student here in 2003. Continuously committed to fostering a quality educational environment, I sent my own children to this school. My son, now 12, benefited from this nurturing community, and my daughter, currently in Year 3, continues to flourish here.

I hope to play a role in helping to shape the future of the school, working collaboratively with staff, parents, and the wider community. I am committed to ensuring that every child at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School receives the best possible education.

 

Mr Sam Kirwan

I was appointed as a foundation governor in November 2023. I have lived in Crawley with my wife and three children for 7 years. Two of my children attend St Francis with my youngest due to join in a few years time. As a family, we go to mass at St Edward’s in Pound Hill, where I also assist with the running of children's liturgy. I am also involved with the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes where I have assisted in many different roles for the last 16 years.

In my day job, I am an R.E. teacher at St Wilfrid’s Catholic School where I have worked for the past five years, previously working at St Paul’s in Burgess Hill (where I was also a student). Before this, I spent three years working in an Alternative Provision College.

I hope to bring my experience in education into this new role as school governor, a role for which I am very excited and proud to hold. We are very blessed to have such a caring and inclusive environment for our young people to learn and I wish to continue to support and grow both the Catholic ethos and academic success of St Francis.

 

Danielle Johnson

I was elected as parent governor in June 2024.

I currently have four children at St Francis (with my eldest shortly due to move up to St Wilfrid’s). I feel a strong connection to the school, with my children being the third generation of our family to attend!

As practising Catholics, we attend Mass at the Friary, and over the years I have volunteered within the parish. I was also on the committee for St Francis PFA for five years, including three years as the treasurer and a trustee of the charity entity.

I work as an associate equity research analyst in the City. I am fortunate to work for a great company who offer a flexible working approach, which allows me time to take on the governor role and also play an active part in our school community.

My children are thriving and very happy at St Francis. They have had a wonderful start to their education! My aim is to support the school going forwards, working with staff, parents and the wider community in the hope every child at the school receives the best possible education, feels part of a supportive Catholic community, and is given every opportunity to flourish.