Welcome to our Governors’ section

St Gildas Catholic Primary School

Our school is part of the Catholic Church and is conducted as a Catholic Academy in accordance with Canon Law and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and in accordance with the Trust Deed of the Diocese of Clifton and in particular: 

1. Religious education is to be in accordance with the teachings, doctrines, disciplines and general and particular norms of the Catholic Church 
2. Religious worship is to be in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church; and 
3. At all times the academy is to serve as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ 

The academy is a member of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust 

The Local Governing Committee has up to 10 Governors recruited for their skills, knowledge, and experience in the following categories: 

• 6 x Foundation
• 2 x Staff (including Headteacher ex officio)
• 2 x Parent

The Governors are responsible for fulfilling the three core functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

As a Catholic School, we have Foundation Governors on the Board. Foundation Governors are personally appointed by the Bishop to represent his interests and those of the Catholic community as a whole. As we as sharing the responsibility of the three core functions, Foundation Governors are appointed specifically to ensure:

• that the religious character of the school is preserved
• that the school is conducted in accordance with its trust deed
• that the religious education curriculum is in accordance with the Bishop’s policy for the Diocese.

Currently, our Governors are:

Mr Martin Twist

Chair Of Governors

Responsibilities: Chair of the Local Governing Committee & SEND

Date Appointed: 01 March 2022

Appointing Body: Diocese of Clifton

Term of Office: 28 Feb 2026

Business Interests: None

Governance Roles in other educational institutions: None

Mrs Andie Bartley

Headteacher - Ex-officio 

Responsibilities: Headteacher

Date Appointed: 01 September 2025

Appointing Body: Governing Board

Term of Office: N/A

Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Employed by the Trust

Governance Roles in other educational institutions: None

Mrs Maria Gibbins

Foundation Governor  

Responsibilities: Religious Education

Date Appointed: 18 November 2024

Appointing Body: Diocese of Clifton

Term of Office: 17 November 2028

Business Interests: None

Governance Roles in other educational institutions: None

Mrs Olga Bondzelewska

Foundation Governor  

Responsibilities: 

Date Appointed: 04 October 2024

Appointing Body: Diocese of Clifton

Term of Office: 03 October 2028

Business Interests: None

Governance Roles in other educational institutions: None

The Governing Body is currently seeking to recruit 3 Foundation Governors, 2 Parent Governors and a Staff Governor. Please contact the school office to find out more. 

For information on the Trust Board, please visit the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust's website: https://www.thedcet.com/key-information/governance/