Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a 'critical friend': to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community. 

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Executive Headteacher, Head of School, staff and the local authority. Whilst the Executive Headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.

Who are we?

The Governing Body now consists of:

• The Executive Headteacher
• One elected staff governor
• Four foundation governors
• One parent governor

The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The chair and vice-chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.

The chair of governors is Mrs E Cotterill, who can be contacted via the school office or directly via email at admin@francisxavier.co.uk

The Governing Body meets at least three times each year with committee meetings during the year.

Committees include:

• Finance and Facilities - Chair Mr P McCay
• All other aspects of school life which require governance are arranged through the chair.

The Governing Body for academic year 2025/2026 consist of:

Mrs Bernadette Nesbit - Executive Headteacher

• A member of the governing body by virtue of position in school
• Sits on all committees
• Register of Interests: Sits on the board of 2 other governing bodies, Co-opted Memeber at Doncaster Council Chambers

E. Cotterill - Foundation Governor - Chair of Governors

• Term of office 15/05/23 to 14/05/27
• Appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for: Safeguarding, SEND, Mental Health
• Register of Interests: Governor at 2 other establishments, Works for the LA within the Adults & Community department

Mr Tom Hoyes - Staff Governor

• Term of Office: 06/09/2022 to 05/09/2026
• Elected member
• Sits on all committees
• Register of Interests: None

Ms Annette Dews  - Foundation Governor - Vice-Chair of Governors

• Term of office 04/12/2023 - 03/12/2027
• Appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for: RSHE, Section 48 - RE, Attendance
• Register of Interests: Governor at 2 other establishments

Mr Paul McCay - Foundation Governor

• Term of office 12/07/2023 to 11/07/2027
• Appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for: Pupil Premium, Finance, HR, SCR
• Register of Interests: Governor at 2 other establishments

Mr Rick Doherty - Parent Governor

• Term of office 28/11/2023 to 27/11/2027
• Elected Member
• Responsible for: Premises, H&S
• Register of Interests: None

Ms Katie Gannon - Foundation Governor

• Term of office 04/09/2024 to 03/09/2028
• Appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for: Section 48 - RE
• Register of Interests:

General Meetings

Date	BN	TH	EC	AD	PM	KG	RD	CoOp
15/10/2025	A	A	A	A	A	X	A
11/03/2026
08/07/2026

Finance Committee

Date	BN	TH	EC	AD	PM	KG	RD	CoOp
08/10/2025	A	A	A	A	A
03/12/2025	A		A	A	A

The Governing Body for academic year 2024/2025 consist of:

B. Nesbit - Executive Headteacher

• A member of the governing body by virtue of position in school
• Register of Interests: Sits on the board of 2 other governing bodies, Co-opted Memeber at Doncaster Council Chambers

E. Cotterill - Chair of Governors

• Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for: Safeguarding, SEND, Premises, Mental Health
• Term of office 15/05/23 to 14/05/27
• Register of Interests: Governor at 2 other establishments, Works for the LA within the Adults & Community department

T.Hoyes - Staff Governor

• Staff Governor appointed by the staff
• Responsible for: 
• Term of Office: 06/09/2022 to 05/09/2026
• Register of Interests: None

A. Dews  - Foundation Governor

• Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for: RSHE, Section 48 - RE
• Term of office 04/12/2023 - 03/12/2027
• Register of Interests: Governor at 2 other establishments

N.Budding - Parent Governor

• Parent Governor appointed by the Parents
• Responsible for: 
• Term of office 05/01/2023 to 19/10/2023
• Register of Interests: None

P. McCay - Vice-Chair of Governors

• Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for:
• Term of office 12/07/2023 to 11/07/2027
• Register of Interests: Governor at 2 other establishments

R.Doherty - Parent Governor

• Parent Governor appointed by the Parents
• Responsible for: 
• Term of office 28/11/2023 to 27/11/2027
• Register of Interests: None

K.Gannon - Foundation Governor

• Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Hallam
• Responsible for:
• Term of office 04/09/2024 to 03/09/2028
• Register of Interests:

Meeting Attendance

This Governing Body was reconstituted on the 1st May 2015