Governors
INTRODUCTION
We are part of the Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust (SJSCAT), a multi-academy trust in the Diocese of Westminster.
A Board of Directors governs the Trust and is legally responsible for our school and other schools in the Trust. The Board is the key decision-making body and has three core governance functions: ensuring clarity of Catholic vision, ethos and strategic direction; holding executive leaders to account for educational performance and ensuring money is well spent.
The Board has appointed a Local Governing Body to conduct core governance functions in our school. Local governors, appointed or elected from different parts of our school community, serve on our local governing body. The Chair of the Local Governing Body is Mark Cramphorn. To get in touch with the Chair, email office@stjosephsschool.org.uk or write to the Chair at the school address.
The local governing body meets twice a term to conduct business. Some aspects of its work are carried out by sub-committees or by link governors who visit our schools to focus on particular areas.
Remit and Exercise of Functions
The powers, constitution and proceedings of the local governing body are set out formally in a Scheme of Delegation and Delegation Matrix. The terms of reference for local governing body sub-committees and link governor roles show which responsibilities have been delegated by the local governing body and the names of those appointed to key positions.
Our local governing body has the following sub-committees and link governor roles: Admissions, Hearings, Headteacher Performance Review, Safeguarding. The terms of reference are available here.
OUR GOVERNORS
Mark Cramphorn
Mark Cramphorn
Mark is an associate member of our local governing body. He is a father of four with two children currently attending St Joseph’s. Mark has spent a career in advertising, marketing and communications. During his time in business he has held senior positions in both global and local companies in roles ranging from Managing director to COO. Mark currently runs his own agency in central London. Having spent time in India, Mark finds himself interested how a country or organisation can improve a situation from the bottom up, as well as top down.
Dr. Ninette Fernandes-Viana
Dr. Ninette Fernandes-Viana
Dr Fernandes-Viana is Headteacher at St. Joseph's Primary School and a staff governor on the local governing body. A former pupil, parent and teacher at the school, Dr Fernandes-Viana has a long and successful history associated with the school's achievements, having progressed from an LSA to a class teacher in Years 2, 4, 5 and 6, Head of English, Deputy Head, SENCO, Acting Head Teacher and now Head Teacher. Passionately devoted to learning, with English as her specialism, Dr Fernandes-Viana also has a PhD in English Literature and has taught Victorian Literature in King's College London and at Hull University.
Gillian Balcombe
Gillian Balcombe
Gillian was elected as Local Authority Governor in January 2019.
Maria Kusionova
Maria Kusionova
Maria is an elected Parent Governor and has had a child attending St. Joseph's since nursery. Maria works in Financial Services and is experienced in Risk, Governance, Finance and Operations. She holds a university degree in Management and is a qualified Management Accountant
Caroline Moulinet
Caroline Moulinet
Caroline Moulinet is a Parent Governor since 2023. Her family joined the school in 2015: her four children attend or have attended St Joseph’s from nursery to year 6. She has a Master’s degree in chemistry and biochemistry and worked ten years in the cosmetics industry. She is now working in AI and machine learning patents technology for pharma, medtech and beauty care products industries. She is also a journalist for the Catholic online newspaper Aleteia and a write
Jean-philippe Pogorzelski
Jean-Philippe Pogorzelski
Jean-Philippe has been a Foundation Governor since 2024. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, Masters in Finance and Management from Grenoble École de Management, and is a CFA Charterholder. He has over 10 years of experience in investment banking and asset management, specialising in investment strategy, capital raising and business development. He also spent several years in the non-profit sector, leading anti-human trafficking programmes across Asia and East Africa.
Kerry Simmance
Kerry Simmance
Kerry has been a Parent Governor since October 2025. A lifelong member of the local community and former pupil of St Joseph’s, she now has two children at the school. She works as a Principal Research Scientist at Johnson Matthey and holds a PhD in materials chemistry. With a strong interest in data and a commitment to inclusivity and fairness, she brings both analytical expertise and a deep personal connection to the school.
Governance Documents
The Governance documents for the Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust can be accessed from its website.
The terms upon which our school is funded are set out in a funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education.
Register of Interests and Meeting Attendance
- Register of Interests for the local governing body.
- Record of Meeting Attendance 2023 - 2024 for local governors
Financial Reports
The Trust maintains accounting records and prepares an annual report and accounts in line with the Charity Commission's Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Accounts Direction. Our reports and accounts will be published on the trust’s website by 31 January each year.
Live Life to the Full Fund
The focus of the Live Life to the Full Fund is to bring everyone in our community together to improve provision for our pupils and ensure we can give them the best possible Catholic education.
Through the collective effort of the entire community, we can help to ensure that St Joseph’s continues to be a truly special place, which offers a fantastic education and opportunities to all pupils, regardless of their background.
We invite all families and friends of the school to consider giving to the Fund at a level which is right for them, taking into account circumstances and existing commitments. We can claim Gift Aid on all donations, which will help benefit pupils further. Your gifts will be used solely to support the pupils here at St Joseph’s.
Find out more about Live Life to the Full Fund.
