The Governors have overall responsibility for the school and are representative of the community in which it is based. They have a responsibility to uphold the Catholic ethos of the school, with additional responsibilities for the curriculum, for premises and finance. Our Foundation Governors are appointed by the La Sainte Union Sisters; the Local Education Authority nominate a representative, and the remaining Governors are elected by the teaching staff and parents. The Head of School is also a Governor. They are an active and dedicated group whose wisdom, guidance and hard work are given voluntarily throughout the year for the benefit of our children.
Governors
Foundation Governors
Mrs O Akeume (Co-Chair)
Mrs R Thomas (Co-Chair)
- Inclusion Governor
Mrs J Iwobi (Vice Chair)
- Appointed
- Link Governor for Finances and Health &Safety
Mrs P Johnson
- Safeguarding Governor
Vacancy
Parent Governors
Vacancy
Staff Governor:
Mrs Sandra Power - Head Teacher
Mrs Nuwa Omo - RE Lead
Appointed
Observers:
- Mrs H Westrop (Assistant Head Teacher)
Associate Governor
- Ms Mercy Wasike (with full voting rights)
Clerk to Governors:
- Mr Stephen Islip
To find out more about the Governors, please read their biographies:
Mrs Rachel Thomas - Co-Chair
I feel privileged to have been nominated as a parent governor in March 2018. I am married with 2 children. My daughter attends the school and my husband I have been really pleased with her progress since joining the school year 2. I hope my son will also join the school in 2020. I am a practising Catholic as are both my children and feel the Holy Cross School plays a fundamental role in my children’s faith. Many of my family members are teachers and work in the Education system. I have worked for many years as a beauty and holistic therapist and achieved an Award in Education and Training where I taught beauty and holistic therapy to students 16 years old plus in an award winning training academy in Essex. After having my son, I changed my career and am now a Manager at M&P Estates Sales and Lettings based in South Ockendon, where I lead a busy team of nine members of staff selling, letting & managing properties. I have an extensive knowledge of the area and am a member of the local BRN Group (Business Referral Network). When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and am a volunteer for a charity called ‘ The Nystagmus Network’ - people who are partially sighted where I offer support and advice to families whose children are affected with the condition and help the charity with fundraising.
Mrs Penny Johnson-Foundation Governor
My name is Penny Johnson and I am delighted to have been appointed to the Governing body at Holy Cross this December 2016. As an ex-pupil I have come a long way since then, and hope that my experiences will help support the school and the governing body. I am really pleased that the school is doing so well, and hope to be a part of its success in the future, as it has been part of mine.
I am the Head teacher of Grays Convent, which is one of the five La Sainte Union Schools in England, and therefore a sister school to Holy Cross. I live close to my school in Grays, and although I have lived and worked away from the area for most of my working life in East London, I know this area very well. I have four children and I hope that my experiences in education as well as a parent will be of value to the school, and help me to support Holy Cross in continuing to deliver an excellent standard of education.
I have an MBA (International) with a focus on leadership, as well as many other leadership qualifications. I am an English teacher of many years, and still teach to this day. I am an active parishioner of St Thomas of Canterbury where I am an extraordinary minister and also deliver children’s liturgy.
Just like Holy Cross’s mission statement, I hope to ‘give my best in all things’.
Jennifer Iwobi-Foundation Governor
I am married with two children, my youngest is currently at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, and my son has just gone into Year 8 at Campion. My relationship with the school has been a lengthy one as several of my nephews and nieces have passed through this school.
I have a degree in psychology and have worked in the Civil Service since 1998 when I came back to England. I worked for Department of Work and Pensions for 16 years in various supervisory roles, managing staff and performance. I also worked as a Disability Employment Adviser in which I attained my British Sign Language Level 3 and Advice and Guidance Level 3. I currently work for HMRC as a Policy Adviser in Transport Taxes.
I am very passionate about Catholic education, being raised a Catholic myself and experiencing first hand the moral and spiritual values that are manifest in Catholic schools. I feel privileged for the opportunity to contribute towards the continued development and progress of Holy Cross Primary School. In my spare time I enjoy baking, reading, watching movies and listening to Music. I am also a member of the Westminster Charismatic Praise and Worship Group since 2000.