Mr Tony Lucas – Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor
Mr Lucas is a Foundation Governor appointed by The Bishop of Arundel & Brighton; He was elected as chair of governors in 2022. His term of office ends on the 15/01/24. Mr Lucas is a member of the Finance Committee.
Mr Lucas's statement
Having had a long association with St Mary’s in the past (I was a Foundation Governor for 22 years until 2013), it has been a privilege to be invited to return and to journey in the footsteps of Jesus with the school community.
I have been associated with all the building works that have been undertaken over the years at St Mary’s and I look forward to assisting in any way I can as the school looks to the future.
In my day job I work in horticultural therapy in local residential care settings and, together with my wife, run a small nursery unit that supports this work. Outside of work I am involved in working with our amazing young people at Our Lady of Sorrows.
Mrs Sheila Higgins – Foundation Governor
Mrs Higgins is a Foundation Governor appointed by The Bishop of Arundel & Brighton; She served as char of governors until 2022 when she took the role of Vice Chair until September 2022, when she reverted back to a foundation governor. Her term of office ends on the 01/11/26. Mrs Higgins is one of our SEN Governors as well as our Mental Health and Wellbeing Governor. Mrs Higgins is a member of the Behaviour, Curriculum, Achievement & Teaching, Catholic Ethos & R.E. and Admissions Committees.
Mrs Higgins' statement
My name is Sheila Higgins and I’m a very new Foundation Governor. I have lived in Bognor for 15yrs, although my husband is Bognor born. I am a committed Roman Catholic and involved in the life of the Church. My background centres around Special Educational Needs and for the last 21yrs I have been a Specialist Member of SEND Tribunal Service plus SSCS hearing appeals for Statements, EHCP’s, Disability Discrimination and Disability Benefits. I hope I can offer some support to St. Mary’s with their increasing population of children with Special Educational Needs .
Mr Peter Loose – Vice Chair of Governors
Mr Loose is a Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton;
Mr Loose's statement
I am a former special education teacher and social care manager who worked in the public sector for most of my career before becoming self employed and semi-retired in 2019. I enjoyed the privileges of a catholic education and of teaching in a Catholic Sixth Form college and later worked in adult learning disability services for most of my career.
I moved to Bognor Regis in 2021 where I have been welcomed into the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, initially learning about the parish and St Mary’s primary school through the lens of performing in the parish pantomime. I am looking forward to using my experience of managing public sector services – or more precisely the challenges of running first class provision within the limitations of public sector funding – to benefit the pupils, staff and community of St Marys.
Mr Peter Edgington, Headteacher
Headteacher Governor.
Mr Edgington's statement
I have been the Headteacher at St Mary’s since September 2015 and have lived in Bognor Regis since 2004. I have three children who all attended St Mary’s before moving onto SPH. I am an active member of our parish and can be seen playing a pivotal role in the annual panto.
I never forget that it is a privilege to be a Headteacher. At St Mary’s I will ensure every pupil has access to the best teaching, every parent feels valued in our community and that every member of staff feels supported. It is my job to ensure high academic standards whilst safeguarding the precious Catholic Ethos and nurturing atmosphere built up at St Mary’s over the years by my predecessors.
Mr John Lawson – Foundation Governor
Mr Lawson is a Foundation Governor appointed by The Bishop of Arundel & Brighton; his term of office ends on the 07/01/24. Mr Lawson is a member of the Catholic Ethos & RE Committee.
Mr Lawson's statement
I am a Cradle Catholic from South London where my family attended St. Boniface Primary School and parish. My teachers were surprised when this ‘daydreamer believer’ passed the 11+, perhaps being a voracious reader of comics and cowboy novels helped after all. From there I attended Grammar school, where I learned to enjoy cricket and rugby and to do as little school work as possible. I was smart enough, but never applied myself as much I should have to my studies. In 1982, I dramatically changed and tried my vocation to the priesthood. Four years of life-changing formation followed and I eventually discerned my calling to be a teacher rather than a preacher.
For twenty-seven years I taught theology in Catholic high schools. The last eighteen years of my career were happily spent in South Florida, USA. I took early retirement to spend more time with my family in Sussex. Most of my time is spent writing about my twin passions – religion and education. I am looking forward to serving in whatever capacity God may see fit for the future. The one thing I am certain of is that a Catholic education can make a significant difference in a child’s life. When we put God first in our lives everything else falls into the right place eventually. Jesus said that faith will move mountains, but I don’t recall him saying that it would do so immediately and we shouldn’t be shocked when God provides us with a shovel. St. Mary’s faculty and staff make the presence of God alive in all that they do, and I hope that I may be of some assistance to them in their daily endeavours.
Fr Chris Bergin – Foundation Governor
Fr Chris is a Foundation Governor appointed by The Bishop of Arundel & Brighton; his term of office ends on the 19/01/24. Fr Chris is the EPR/RE Policy Link Governor and is currently a member of the Catholic Ethos & R.E. Committee.
Fr Chris' statement
As the Parish Priest, I’m delighted to serve as a Foundation Governor of St Mary’s, which I’ve been doing since January 2016. Being a Governor, and in particular, being part of the RE and Catholic Ethos committee, means I can help to maintain and develop the strong links that have existed for many years between the school and the rest of the parish community. Seeing how the school operates also helps me in my pastoral role with staff, children, and their families.
Catholic education is a vital part of the Church’s life and mission. We are all learners, no matter what our stage in life. We all need to be taught by, and come closer to, Jesus, the Word of God. I hope that serving as a Governor I can learn from those around me, and in turn help them to grow in knowledge and love of God and neighbour.
Mrs Kathryn Cole – Staff Governor
Mrs Kathryn Beaven – Staff Governor
Mrs Ilona Banach – Parent Governor
Mrs Banach is a Parent Governor and her term of office ends on the 12/11/2024. Mrs Banach is a member of the Catholic Ethos & RE and Finance Committees.
Mrs Banach's statement
Being a parent of a child in St Mary’s, I feel privileged and overwhelmed by the hospitality, values, inclusion and welcome this school provides for parents, carers and pupils and I am delighted to be a part of its Governing Body.
I aim to offer my enthusiasm, knowledge, skills and abilities to support this wonderful school and its community in fulfilling its mission to journey and grow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and ensuring that all children secure the best start in life.
I am driven to use and develop existing knowledge and skills to make a positive impact and help others. I am a member of the FSA and the Polish Catholic Mission in Bognor Regis. I have also successfully aided and managed to open and run a Polish Saturday School in Bognor Regis.
I am a proud graduate of the University of Science and Technology in Krakow and the University of Chichester. I enjoy taking part in various training and courses to enhance my personal and professional development including Sage Accounting, CIPD Level 5 HR Management and Managing Mental Health and Wellbeing in the workplace.
My working career mirrors my passion, personality and ambitions. I have always worked in areas of people support and various advisory roles such as Guest Services Allocation Advisor, HR Coordinator, HR Business Partner and Work Coach Executive Officer.
I moved to Bognor Regis in 2007 from Krakow, Poland, and I love being part of this welcoming and diverse community.
Mrs Ivana McCafferty – Parent Governor
Mrs McCafferty is a Parent Governor and her term of office ends on the 16/09/2025. Mrs Maccarrone is a member of the Behaviour, Curriculum, Achievement & Teaching and Safeguarding Committees.
Mrs McCafferty's statement
I am honoured to be a part of the Governing Body of St Mary’s. My son’s father, aunties and cousins have all attended the school in the past and I am delighted to be able to make a contribution to such a wonderful setting.
I am originally from Italy but have resided in the UK for the majority of my life.
I have a degree in Health and Social Care and have for a long time worked in Special Educational Needs, first as a support worker, then has a Team Leader for Children’s Services for a local charity specialising in supporting children and young people with Autism, and currently within the Local Authority.
I am driven by the desire to make the school environment a positive experience for all with a focus on inclusion for every child at St Mary’s.
Mrs Liz Burles – Co-Opted Governor
Mrs Burles is a Co-Opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body; her term of office ends on the 30/01/27. Mrs Burles is our Sports Premium and Wellbeing Governor, and a member of both the Finance and Behaviour, Curriculum, Achievement & Teaching Committees.
Mrs Burles's statement
I attended primary school at Nyewood as back in those days my mum couldn’t drive and couldn’t get us as far as St Mary’s for school! From Nyewood I went on to SPH and then Chichester High School 6th Form, finally going on to study English Literature at Southampton University, graduating in June 2001 with a 2:1 BA (Hons). Following this I held jobs in varying administrative roles before settling in a career in HR and Training; my previous employers include Sussex Police; Chichester District Council; Bank of Ireland Private Banking and GE Money (while living for two years in Dublin) and the NHS.
When it came to choosing a school for our son to join in September 2016, my husband and I considered a few of the local schools, but as soon as we visited St. Mary’s we both knew there was absolutely no contest (despite another local school being only a few minutes’ walk away from our home at that time and St. Mary’s being considerably further away). We both left that visit not only impressed by the school’s academic record but also with an overwhelming sense of the welcoming, supportive, friendly and nurturing environment that exists at St. Mary’s; we absolutely knew that this was the right school for our family.
Since then I have really enjoyed being involved in many aspects of school life, helping when possible on school trips or listening to children reading in class, as well as helping with the FSA events that raise funds for the school. I was pleased to be selected as a Co-Opted Governor in the Spring term of 2019, and I’m proud to be working with Mr Edgington and all of the staff team and Governors to provide the best learning environment for all at St. Mary’s, regardless of ability or background, helping the children here to grow and gain the confidence and skills they need to be ready for the next stage in their lives.
Mrs Joanna Myatt – Local Authority Governor
Mrs Myatt is a Local Authority Governor appointed by West Sussex County Council; her term of office ends on the 24/01/2025. Mrs Myatt is a member of the Finance and Admissions Committees.
Mrs Myatt's statement
Prior to becoming a mother to my two young children I worked with children and families in a variety of roles across the county.
As a teacher I specialised in Early Years and Key Stage one, as I am passionate about play based learning and teaching creatively. It was while working closely with the families of children with SEND with a local charity and in a Nursery School that I became interested in finding ways to support and empower these children and families. This led me to pursue work with West Sussex Parent Carer Forum, a post where I liaised with the Local Authority to represent the voice of parent carers of children and young people of SEND, aiming to ensure that parent carers are involved in the shaping of children’s services.
My eldest attends St Mary’s and it is a privilege to be involved in the life of the school as both a parent and as the LA Governor. I hope to draw from my experience of working with a wide range of children and families to best support the future of the school.
Mrs Ania Claveria – Foundation Governor
Mrs Claveria is a Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton; her term of office ends on the 11/10/2025. Mrs Claveria is a member of the Catholic Ethos & R E Committee.
Mrs Claveria's statement
My name is Ania Claveria. I have been living in Bognor since 2019. I worked as a Physiotherapist in various hospitals and in an orphanage for mentally and physically disabled children, which was run by The Sisters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul. I also worked for L’arche in Brecon supporting people with learning disabilities and owned a small business of Complementary Therapies. I’m an active member of the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Mrs Cathy Smith – Foundation Governor
Mrs Smith is a Foundation Governor; her term of office ends on the 28/11/2025. Mrs Smith is the Safeguarding Governor and a member of the Behaviour, Curriculum, Achievement & Teaching and Safeguarding Committees.
Mrs Smith's Statement
I have worked in education most of my life.
My teaching roles have varied, ranging from Reception class to providing music lessons throughout KS1 and KS2. This involved leading the choir, music group and playing the piano for Assemblies, Mass, Nativity plays etc.
I enjoyed being involved in the life of my local Catholic school until retiring in 2018.
Since moving to Bognor Regis in 2020, I have become a parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows church and also a volunteer at Bethany House, L’Arche Community.
I am looking forward to serving as a foundation governor at St Mary’s school.
Contact Information
You can contact Mr Tony Lucas, Chair of Governors, via email or letter. Emails should be sent to . Letters should be posted to Mr Lucas, C/O St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Glamis Street, Bognor Regis, PO21 1DJ.
Governing Body Structure
The Governing Body of St Mary’s consists of 14 governors; 8 Foundation Governors, the Headteacher, 1 Staff Governor, 2 Parent Governors, 1 Co-opted Governor and a Local Authority Governor.
The FGB meets at least twice a term. Committees also meet regularly and at least once a term. The committee structure is as follows:
Finance, Staffing, Premises and Health & Safety Committee
Membership of six governors plus the Headteacher. Chair Mr Loose.
Safeguarding Committee
Membership of six governors plus the Headteacher. Chair Mrs Smith.
Catholic Ethos & R.E. Committee
Membership of seven governors plus the Headteacher. Chair Fr Chris Bergin.
Behaviour, Curriculum, Achievement and Teaching Committee (B-CAT)
Membership of seven governors (to include staff governor) plus the Headteacher. Chair Mrs Burles.
Other committees are convened when necessary, with governors allocated to these committees at the start of each academic year.
