St Michael's
Church of England Primary School

The Leadership & Staff

At St. Michael’s we are delighted to have such a competent and loyal team of staff. Those who work at St. Michael’s are dedicated to help the children in terms of social, pastoral and educational support and they are committed to help the children to flourish and be the best they can be. The teaching staff are the main point of contact for parents and below is an overview of the staff.

The Office:

• David Howland (Business Manager)
• Louisa Miller (Admin Manager)
• Claire Gayle (Pupil Manager)
• Paul Moger (Premises Manager)

The Senior Leadership Team:

• 
  
• Jacqui Gillespie (Headteacher)
• Eunice Asante (Deputy Headteacher & Inclusion Leader /SENCO) - email: easante4.209@lgflmail.org
• Dionne Paul (Infant Leader)
• David Howland (Business Manager)
  

The Teaching Staff:

• Nursery: Dena Knight
• Reception: Amanda Matthews
• Year 1: Dionne Paul (Infant Leader)
• Year 2: Ashley Aldridge
• Year 3: Clare Smith and Karen Lewis
• Year 4: Colleen Leo-Kelly
• Year 5: Jocelyn Kajubi
• Year 6: Paulette Johnson
• 
  
• 
  

Teaching and Class Assistants:

• Angie Brailey, Carina Donaldson (Nursery)
• Kay Burrows, Carol Colling, Stuart Williams, Darren Thomas
• Tiffany Dennison, Lema Rifat

After-School Club Assistants

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Risk Assessment

Our Coronavirus risk assessment is under frequent review and is shared with all the staff when updated. The school has fewer than 50 staff in total and therefore this information does not need to be published here.

Governors - what do they do and who are they?

Our mission statement of ‘enabling children to flourish in their potential as a child of God’ is central in all that we do as a school and this includes ensuring our Board of Governors are proactively involved with the embedding of our vision through the work that they do, working in partnership with the school as outlined below. As a school our Board of Governors will, in partnership with the school:
•    Create a secure and nurturing Christian environment which values and respects every individual and their beliefs;
•    Equip children, through an innovative and broad curriculum, with confidence, life skills to flourish in their God-given potential;
•    Partner with home, church and the local community to help children make a positive contribution to God’s world.

Role of Governors

The Board of Governors provides strategic leadership and accountability for the school.  

Its main functions are to;

• Play an important strategic role in our school. They are not expected to take detailed decisions about the day-to-day management of the school, but to support the staff in embedding the vision and ethos and help decide the strategic direction.
• Act as a “critical friend” of the school by providing the Headteacher and staff with support, advice and information and monitor and evaluate to school’s effectiveness.
• Ensure pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards.
• Ensure accountability. The Board of Governors also hold the school to account with regards to pupil and staff performance and the school is accountable to parents, pupils, the community, the Diocese, Local Authority and Ofsted.

It is also responsible for many important decisions in the running of the school. These include:

• Appointing the Headteacher and Senior Leaders. Governors are also involved in the appointment of teaching staff as appropriate.

• Agreeing the aims of the school curriculum and ensuring the national curriculum is implemented.

• Oversee the financial performance of the school and determine how the school’s budget is to be used each year.

• Dealing with official complaints and exclusions.

• Additional responsibilities due to its status as a voluntary aided church school, including admissions process, school’s Christian ethos, religious education, development and maintenance of the school buildings.

Organisation of Governing Body

The Governing Body meets as a full body at least once each term. There are two permanent sub-committees; the Resources Committee (dealing with finance, personnel, premises, health and safety and similar matters) and the Strategy and Standards Committee (dealing with curriculum, pupil progress and achievement, pupil premium, pupil welfare and safeguarding, marketing and the overall strategy of the school. The committees are currently chaired by: Resources - Ben Leslie; Strategy & Standards - Ben Leslie.

Other committees and/or working parties are formed as the need arises, e.g. for admissions, staff pay, grievances, disciplinary matters and the relevant appeals committees.

Membership of Governing Body

Our school has a total of fourteen governors all of whom act in a voluntary capacity:

Chair of Governors

• Beryl Fielder (Correspondence to the Chair of Governors should be sent c/o the school. Emails to: bfielder3.209@lgflmail.org)

8 ‘Foundation’ governors

• The Incumbent (Vicar) of St Michael’s Church (ex-officio):
• Revd Ifeanyi Chukuka
• 2 appointed by the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education:
• Tilie Bentil-Mensah
• Beryl Fielder (Chair)
• 5 appointed by the PCC of St Michael’s Church:
• Anita Grande
• Currently vacant
• Kate McGregor
• Pippa Moss
• Dare Faleye
• 2 Staff governors:
• Headteacher (ex-officio) - Jacqui Gillespie
• Jocelyn Kajubi
• 1 Co-opted Governor: (Maybe drawn from the staff )
• Ben Leslie (Vice Chair of Governors, Chair of Resources Committee, Chair of Strategy & Standards Committee)
• 2 Parent elected Governors:
• Aminata Swaray
• Utami Giles
• 1 Local Authority nominated Governor:,
• Aurora Bryan
• Clerk:
• Victoria Freeman

Click here to download a copy of the Instrument of Government (pdf)

Click here to see full details of Governors, business interests, committee membership, roles and attendance at meetings in the last academic year.

    Minutes from meetings of the Governing Body are a public record and can obtained from the Clerk or may be viewed in school - please ask the Business Manager.

Governors Fund

As a Church (aided) School, we have a responsibility for maintaining and improving our school buildings and we are helped with a grant from the Government for 90% of the costs. This means that we have to contribute 10% ourselves. We do this by asking all parents to contribute to the "Governors' Fund" each year. A leaflet about the Fund can be seen here.

The current contribution is £30 per child per year which works out at just £2.50 per month

We ask that payment are made via ParentPay but we can still accept cash or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to ‘St Michael’s Governors’ Fund’ and placed in clearly labelled envelopes with the payment slip / Gift aid declaration from the leaflet.

Staffing Opportunities

We are currently looking for dedicated and committed people to fill the following job opportunities starting in (month/year):

School Business Manager (to start in June/July 2022 and assume full responsibility after handover/transition period from 1st September - details below - if you are interested in an informal discussion to find out about the role or visit please telephone 020 8768 9922 or email: david.howland@stmichaels.lewisham.sch.uk

School Business Manager - advert

School Business Manager - job description

School Business Manager - person specification

School Business Manager - application form

Class Teacher (Main Pay Scale) to start September 2022. Early Careers Teachers are invited/welcome to apply for this role - see more details below:

Class Teacher - advert

Class Teacher - job description and person specification

Class Teacher - application form

St Michael's CE Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check as well as references and other pre-employment checks.