Following the formal dissolution of the federation between St Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School, St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School and Field of Dreams Nursery, St Sebastian’s began operating with its own independent Governing Body from 1st May 2026.

This marked an important new chapter for our school community, enabling our Governing Body to focus specifically on the strategic direction, priorities and continued development of St Sebastian’s.

Following the closure of Field of Dreams Nursery in August 2026, St Sebastian’s Daycare was established as a term-time early years provision operating as part of St Sebastian’s and under the governance of our Governing Body.

Today, our Governing Body provides strategic leadership and oversight across St Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery and St Sebastian’s Daycare.

Governors work in partnership with the Headteacher and senior leaders and maintain strong relationships with the Archdiocese of Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, St Sebastian’s Parish and our wider community, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of our children and families remain at the heart of our strategic development.

St Sebastian’s operates a Circle Model of Governance, with the full Governing Body working collectively to fulfil its strategic responsibilities.

Under this model, governance is centred around the Governing Body as a whole, rather than operating through a number of separate standing committees. This enables all governors to contribute to key discussions and decisions and to maintain a shared understanding of the school’s priorities, performance and development.

Governors take on specific link roles and areas of responsibility, enabling them to develop a deeper understanding of particular aspects of school life. Through governor visits, discussions with leaders and consideration of appropriate evidence, link governors support the Governing Body in providing effective strategic oversight, support and challenge.

Our Circle Model supports a collaborative and transparent approach to governance while maintaining a clear focus on the Governing Body’s core responsibilities of strategic leadership, accountability and financial oversight, alongside its responsibility for safeguarding and developing the Catholic character and mission of St Sebastian’s.

Where required, the Governing Body may establish committees or panels for specific matters in accordance with its statutory responsibilities, policies and agreed governance arrangements.

Our Governing Body is made up of dedicated volunteers who bring a range of skills, knowledge and experience to the strategic leadership of St Sebastian’s and share a commitment to our Catholic mission and school community.

Further information about our governors, including their category of governorship, appointment, term of office and declared business and pecuniary interests, is available in the document below.

Our Governing Body is made up of different categories of governor. Governors may be appointed or elected in different ways, but all governors share collective responsibility for the decisions of the Governing Body and act in the best interests of St Sebastian’s as a whole.

Foundation Governors

Foundation Governors are appointed on behalf of the Archdiocese of Liverpool and form the majority of the Governing Body of our Catholic school.

They have a particular responsibility for preserving and developing the Catholic character, mission and ethos of St Sebastian’s and ensuring that the school is conducted in accordance with its Catholic foundation.

Parent Governors

Parent Governors are elected by the parents and carers of registered pupils at the school. Where there are insufficient candidates for election, an eligible parent may be appointed in accordance with the relevant governance arrangements.

Parent Governors bring an important parental perspective to governance but do not represent individual parents or families.

Staff Governor

The Staff Governor is elected by members of staff employed to work at the school. Both teaching and support staff may be eligible to stand for election.

The Staff Governor brings valuable knowledge and experience of school life to Governing Body discussions but does not act as a representative of individual members of staff.

Local Authority Governor

The Local Authority Governor is nominated by Liverpool City Council and appointed by the Governing Body.

They contribute their skills, knowledge and experience to the strategic leadership and development of St Sebastian’s.

Headteacher

The Headteacher is a member of the Governing Body by virtue of their position.

The Headteacher provides governors with professional advice and information about the school’s performance, priorities and development while remaining responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of St Sebastian’s.

As part of our Circle Model of Governance, governors are allocated specific link roles and areas of responsibility to support the Governing Body in maintaining effective strategic oversight of St Sebastian’s.

Link governors work with relevant school leaders to develop their understanding of their allocated area through focused visits, discussions, monitoring and review of appropriate evidence. This enables governors to provide informed support and constructive challenge and to report their findings back to the full Governing Body.

Link roles do not remove the collective responsibility of the Governing Body; all strategic decisions remain the responsibility of governors working together as a whole.

Throughout the academic year, school leaders and subject coordinators also provide scheduled presentations and updates to the Governing Body. These provide governors with opportunities to explore key areas of school improvement, evaluate progress, ask questions and strengthen their understanding of the work of the school.

Our current Governor Link Roles, Responsibilities & Presentation Schedule can be viewed below.

Governor Training

Becoming a school governor is a rewarding opportunity to contribute your skills, knowledge and experience to the life and strategic development of St Sebastian’s.

Our governors come from a range of backgrounds and bring different experiences and perspectives to the Governing Body. You do not need to work in education to become a governor; what is important is a commitment to the role, a willingness to learn and a desire to support the continued success of our school community.

The route to becoming a governor depends on the category of governorship:

Foundation Governor

Foundation Governors are appointed on behalf of the Archdiocese of Liverpool and have a particular responsibility for preserving and developing the Catholic character, mission and ethos of St Sebastian’s.

If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Governor, please contact the Headteacher or Chair of Governors through the school office. We can provide further information about the role and the Archdiocesan appointment process.

Parent Governor

When a Parent Governor vacancy arises, all eligible parents and carers are invited to put themselves forward for the role.

Where there are more candidates than vacancies, an election is held in which eligible parents and carers are invited to vote. Where there are insufficient candidates, the Governing Body may appoint an eligible parent in accordance with the relevant governance arrangements.

Details of Parent Governor vacancies and elections are communicated directly to our families.

Staff Governor

When a Staff Governor vacancy arises, eligible members of staff are invited to nominate themselves. Where there is more than one candidate, an election is held amongst eligible members of the school staff.

Local Authority Governor

The Local Authority Governor is nominated by Liverpool City Council and appointed by the Governing Body in accordance with the school’s governance arrangements.

Interested in Finding Out More?

If you are interested in school governance or would like to find out more about opportunities to join our Governing Body, please contact the school office, who will be happy to put you in touch with the Headteacher or Chair of Governors.

We particularly welcome expressions of interest when vacancies are advertised and value the contribution that governors make in service of our children, families and wider St Sebastian’s community.

If you would like to contact the Chair of Governors or another member of our Governing Body, correspondence can be sent via the school office.

Written correspondence should be placed in a sealed envelope, clearly marked for the attention of the relevant governor. Our school office staff will ensure that it is passed on securely and confidentially.

Alternatively, correspondence may be sent to the school by post, clearly marked Private & Confidential – For the Attention of the Chair of Governors (or the name of the governor you wish to contact).