The role of the Governing Board
In this section of our website, you can find details of the Governance arrangements for Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, which is a single-academy trust within the FCJ Educational Trust.
Using the links below, you will be able to access details about the structure, including Governing Board, Declarations of interest, Attendance records, Committee details, Code of Practice.
The Trustees/Governors manage the business of the Academy Trust and should focus strongly on the three core functions of governance:
- ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction in accordance with the FCJ Visions and Values and as a Catholic School
- holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupil, and the performance management of staff
- overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
The trustees must ensure compliance with the trust’s charitable objects and with company and charity law, and adherence to the trust’s funding agreement with the Secretary of State and be governed by The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as The Nolan Principles)
The Chair of the Governing Board at Bellerive is Sr Brenda Wallace fcJ. To get in touch with the Chair, contact Sr Brenda Wallace, Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, 1 Aigburth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool, L17 3AA, or via email: contactus@bellerivefcj.org.
The full Governing Board meets to discuss business through the year, with some aspects being undertaken by sub-committees.
Governors have a four year term of office (excluding the Headteacher)
Members
- Sister Josephine Grainger FCJ
- Sister Brenda Wallace FCJ PhD OBE
- Sister Bernadette Coughlan FCJ
Trustees/Governors
The Trustees are known as Governors at Bellerive FCJ Catholic College and there are different categories of Governors, which are determined by the way in which they are appointed/elected.
Foundation Governors
- Sr Brenda Wallace (appointed by members 07/10/2015) Chair
- Ms Caroline Braggs (appointed 01/11/2020)
- Mr Bill Ewen (appointed by members 01/03/2023)
- Miss Stephanie Kilgallon (Appointed by members 01/11/2020) Resigned April 2025
- Sister Lynne Baron (appointed by members 01/09/2022)
- Sister Mary Kathleen McDermott (appointed by members 01/09/2022)
- Mr Mike Kostrzewski (appointed by members 01/11/2024)
- Ms Hayley Marshall (appointed by members 06/07/2023) Vice Chair Resigned June 2025
- Mr Peter Forsey (Headteacher) (Ex officio) appointed 01/09/2024
Parnt Governors
Clerk to the Board
- Mrs Helen Owens
Accounting Officer
- Mr Peter Forsey, Headteacher
Chief Financial Officer
- Mrs Clare Brennan, Business Manager
Code of Practice
Please click for Code of Practice
Register of Pecuniary Interests
Governors are required to register their personal and business interests and declare any potential conflicts should they arise. This ensures that decisions are free from personal bias and do not unfairly benefit and individual or company connected with the Trust.
The registered business interests can be seen below:
- Sr Jo Grainger is a Governor at Gumley House Convent School, Isleworth
- Sr Brenda Wallace is a Governor at Maria Fidelis Catholic School, London & Director of the FCJ Educational Trust
- Ms Caroline Braggs is Assistant FCJ Educational Trust Officer for the FCJ Educational Trust
Governors’ Attendance at Meetings
Please click on the link below to see Governors’ attendance at meetings:
- Governors' Attendance at Meetings 2024-2025
- Governors' Attendance at Meetings 2023-2024
- Governors' Attendance at Meetings 2022-2023
- Governors' Attendance at Meetings 2021-2022
- Governors’ Attendance at Meetings 2020-2021
- Governors’ Attendance at Meetings 2019-2020
- Governors’ Attendance at Meetings 2018-2019
- Governors’ Attendance at Meetings 2017-2018
Committee Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the Committees can be accessed below:
Audit, Finance, Staffing & Resources Committee
- Sr Maria McDermott
- Ms Caroline Braggs
- Mr Bill Ewen
- Mr Mike Kostrzewski
- Mr P Forsey (Headteacher) (Accounting Officer)
- Mrs Clare Brennan (Business Manager)
- Mrs M Broom (Finance Manager)
Curriculum and Standards Committee
- Sr Lynne Baron
- Sr Brenda Wallace
- Mr P Forsey (Headteacher)
- Mr P McMenamin (DHT)
- Mrs Helen Taylor (DHT)
Disciplinary Committee (Staff & Pupils)
Committee to be composed of 3 members, to be convened as required, according to need/circumstances.
Appeals Committee
Committee to be composed of 3 members, to be convened as required, according to need/circumstances.
Admissions Committee
- Sr Brenda Wallace (Chair)
- Ms Caroline Braggs
- Mr Peter Forsey
Departmental Link Governors
Bellerive has a Link Governor system where Governors have volunteered to be assigned to a specific area of the school. This enables effective lines of communication to be established and maintained between the curriculum and the Governing Board. Governors are able to act as critical friends and gain further insight into the working of the school in these link roles.
Quality of Education
- SLT Link - Mr Paul Mcmenamin (Deputy Headteacher
- Ms Caroline Braggs
Leadership & Management
- SLT Links - Mrs Helen Taylor
- Sr Brenda Wallace
- Ms Caroline Braggs
Behaviour & Attitudes
- SLT Link - Mr Ian Withers (Deputy Headteacher/DSL)
- Sr Brenda Wallace (Safeguarding Link Governor)
Personal Development
- SLT Link - Mrs Helen Taylor (Deputy Headteacher)
Company Secretary
- Mrs Clare Brennan
Financial Statements
Scheme of Delegation
Publication of Executive Pay
The trust must publish on its website in a separate readily accessible form the number of employees whose benefits exceeded £100k, in £10k bandings, for the previous year ended 31 August. Benefits for this purpose include salary, employers’ pension contributions, other taxable benefits and termination payments.
Click here for information relating to year ending 31 August 2025
School financial benchmarking information can be found by clicking here