Academy CouNCIL & BKCAT Governance
Please click here to read a note from our Chair of Academy Council.
Our Chair of our Academy Council, since March 2022, is Mr. Cedric Duval. Any correspondence should be sent via the school address below.
St Benedict's Catholic Primary School
C/O Mr. Cedric Duval
Chair of Academy Council
Station Fields
Garforth
LS251PS
We are very lucky to have a strong and highly skilled Academy Council who very effectively hold leaders to account to ensure St Benedict's is the best that it can be. They ensure that leaders in the school ensure that St Benedict's has strong academic standards and ensuring that we have an exciting and effective broad balanced Catholic education.
Our governors are active in the life of the school. They undertake regular visits, monitor the impact of school developments and help drive the strategic direction of St Benedict's.
St Benedict's Academy Council
Mr Cedric Duval Foundation Governor / Chair of Academy Council
Mrs Elizabeth Taylor Foundation Governor / Vice Chair of Academy Council
Mrs Fran Stanton Foundation Governor
Mrs Kate Dilworth Foundation Governor
Mrs Helen Prior Parent Governor
Mrs Lucy Britton-Dixon Parent Governor
Mrs Sue Coolican Staff Governor
Mr John Woolley Head Teacher
Mrs Inga Lunn Deputy Headteacher (Assosciate Member)
Meet our Team - Governor Pen Portraits
Here's an opportunity to meet the members of our Academy Council and find out a little more about each of them...
Mr Cédric Duval (Chair), E-Safety Governor (Complaints)/ Training
I am the father of two children in school and have been a parent governor (2018-19), a Foundation governor (2019-present), and since February 2022, I am the Chair of the Academic Council at St Benedict’s. I work as a Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Leeds, and teach French at the “La Petite École” supplementary school, so I have an interest in education. I also have experience in governance, having been on the board of two other sports governing bodies until the academic year 22/23. In my role as a Governor, I enjoy giving my time back to the school community and working with a diverse and committed board of governors.
Mrs Elizabeth Taylor (Vice-Chair) RE & Catholic Life Governor
Hello! I’m Liz Taylor. I’ve been in the parish of St Benedict’s for almost 50 years since we came to live in Garforth. Our own three children began their education at St Benedict’s before moving on to St Wilfrid’s. I was delighted to have been able to re-connect with the school, since my three grandsons attend St Benedict’s, a school in which I hold high regard. My eldest grandson is in Year 3 and my younger two, who are cousins, are in Reception.
In my professional life, I taught for almost thirty years before retiring and the last ten and half of those were as headteacher of another primary Catholic school in our diocese. Since retirement, I have been governor of a community school but am now looking forward to offering any personal or professional qualities I may have for the benefit of the staff, parents and children of St Benedict’s.
Mrs Fran Stanton, Wellbeing Governor
St Benedict’s provided my two children with a warm and nurturing environment in which to grow and develop. This meant they could make the most of the varied educational and extra-curricular experiences on offer. I became a Foundation Governor just over a year ago in order to contribute to the school that had looked after and supported my children so well. As a governor, my hope is that all St Benedict’s children are able to fully benefit from the wide range of enriching opportunities available to them at school.
My background is mainly in student support and administration within Higher Education. I currently work for the Association of Dyslexia Specialists within Higher Education. I have also undertaken administrative work for the Anglican Diocese of York and as Parish Administrator at St Benedict’s.
Mrs Kate Dilworth, CP / Safeguarding/Early Reading & Phonics Governor
As a former pupil, I wholeheartedly believed that St Benedict’s would provide my children with an outstanding Catholic education. I have seen my own children grow in confidence from the outset of their learning journey due to the nurturing and respectful ethos of the school and its parish community. I wanted this to be the case for all of our children in school and this is the reason why I became a Governor.
As Headteacher of a C of E Infant School, I understand the importance of providing a high quality education in an environment where children feel safe and cared for and all are able to thrive both personally and academically. I have seen how the importance of well-being for both the children and staff is prioritised and supported at St Benedict’s. I was previously a coach for my daughter’s football team; I am a regular attender at a local Zumba class I feel that this too is a priority for myself and my family.
The children are always at the heart of every decision and contribution that I make and have been since I became a Parent Governor last year and, more recently, a Foundation Governor supporting the strategic leadership of the school.
Mrs Helen Prior, CLA & Pupil Premium, Sport Premium, Health & Safety Governor
I have been a parent governor at St Benedict’s since 2018 and 2 of my 3 children still currently attend the school. It is also the primary school that I attended, and I feel passionately about the school that St Benedict’s is, the education that it provides to all of the children to enable them to reach their individual potential, and the safe environment in which the children are encouraged and nurtured. I believe that the role of governor enables me to contribute, in some way, towards the school community and provide support to the headteacher and all of the school staff.
Professionally, I am solicitor, specialising in Child Abuse work. This has given me an insight into safeguarding procedures, and the work that local authorities and other statutory agencies undertake in this area. My role requires strong interpersonal skills both with colleagues and clients; as well as an ability and willingness to learn new skills and adapt to changing situations. I also have responsibility for budget planning within my department.
Mrs Lucy Britton-Dixon, Early Years Governor
I have 3 wonderful girls. Two of which attend St Benedict’s. My older girls have flourished in their time at St Benedict’s and the supportive community that St Benedict’s brings.
I have over 18 years of experience working in a vast array of settings, from working in the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) to working for the local authority. I have worked in many different school clusters in the time I have been employed for the local authority. Mainly in Cluster Manager and Targeted Service roles. In my role I have forged professional relationships with key people / organisations across the local authority as well as making new links with key organisations. In my current role I work across all of Leeds.
My last role involved managing a team of Family Support Practitioners (across two different clusters- 22 schools in total), creating, developing and implementing governance procedures, co-ordinating complex case work, management and development of training packages and train the trainer, co-ordinating the daily domestic abuse notifications from the FDSH (Front Door Safeguarding Hub), co-ordinating the SAD Event (child loss)work, managing and supporting school staff with Early Help Plans, chairing the attendance strategy group, developing packages of support for the team to deliver in schools, quality assurance and case file auditing.
I am passionate about the delivery of good quality children and families services. I believe with my skills, experience and knowledge am a fair and transparent governor who puts the child's and families voice at the heart of everything I would do. I am honoured to be part of the future of the school and it’s wider community.
Mrs Sue Coolican, Staff Governor
I have been a member of staff at St Benedict’s since January 2007. Although my original financial/admin experience came from working at the Yorkshire Bank for 16 years I initially joined St Benedict’s as a part time class/SEN TA after obtaining my qualifications. I also worked 2 mornings in the school office. In 2010 I became Staff Governor when I started working full time in the school office. Due to having worked both in and out of the classroom I felt I would be able to offer support and understand the needs of all staff.
Family values are very important to me. St Benedict’s has always given me the feeling of being a family. I am committed to making decisions that are in the best interests of staff, pupils and the wider school community ensuring our school’s ongoing success.
register of interests & attendance
bkcat governance
Governance-related documentation, Governor & Director recruitment details and Trust financial information can be found in the Governance section of the Trust website:
Articles of Association, Scheme of Delegation & Code of Conduct
