Laura Maw

I have served as a foundation governor for the last four years and elected chair in October 2022. I have been linked to the school for many years with my daughter in year 4 and my son leaving in the summer of 2022.

I am the Head of Religious Education at St Pauls Catholic School and have worked there for 20 years. I am also a Catholic Schools inspector, so have a lot of experience in Catholic Education. I am interested in education and have a master’s degree in Education and Management.  In my spare time, when not watching my children dance or play sports, I enjoy cooking, reading and travelling!

Edward Sepke

I was appointed a Foundation Governor in November 2021. It is a great honour to have this opportunity to work closely with other Governors and the school's management to ensure our children receive the best possible education and religious guidance by God's grace.

I have a Masters in International Business with over 24 years of experience  and skills from a variety of industries such as; security, cleaning, customer relations, hospitality, electronic, sales & marketing, rail, theatre, facilities management, car parking and retail/commercial asset management. 

I believe in God and doing His work through His Son Jesus Christ so, being a School Governor is a good opportunity to belong in a likeminded group with the same goals and objectives.

This is also an opportunity for me to acquire more knowledge, training and understanding about how a school is and should be run. Seeing the consistent growth and sustenance in the outstanding quality of education alongside the religious formation our school makes me so proud to be part of this governing board.

Faye Duncan

I began my role as a Parent Governor at St. Mary Magdalene’s in November 2019 and transitioned to a Foundation Governor in September 2023. Elected Co-Chair in 2024, I am an active member of the Resource Committee, which oversees the school’s finances.

As a Brand Director and Marketing Consultant, I bring over 20 years of experience in management (including financial) and marketing communication. This professional background offers me a unique perspective and a diverse approach to my responsibilities as a Foundation Governor. I am dedicated to supporting the development and continuous improvement of St. Mary Magdalene’s while upholding the mission and values of The Diocese.

It is a privilege to have my children attending both St. Mary Magdalene’s (Year 4) and St. Paul’s (Year 7). Our family is actively involved in the school and parish communities, regularly attending Mass at St. Edward's. I am passionate about fostering a nurturing and supportive environment that enables all students to thrive and grow.

Joanne Byrne

I have been a foundation governor since 2018.

I am a registered mental health nurse with 25 years experience and am currently employed as a senior practitioner in a community mental health team.

I have two daughters who both attended St Mary Magdalene School and a nephew who is currently in year 5.

I think being a governor is a really important and worthwhile role that allows me to work alongside the school in supporting teachers to provide ongoing excellent education.

I was appointed as a parent governor in 2022 and have enjoyed being an active part of the governing body. It is a privilege to be able to contribute to the strategic leadership and direction of St Mary Magdalene school.

I am a qualified social worker and have worked within safeguarding services for almost 13 years. I am passionate about the wellbeing of children and ensuring that children are afforded opportunities. It is wonderful to see the work that the school do to ensure it remains a safe and happy place for our children where they can thrive academically, physically, emotionally and in their faith.

I have 2 children who attend the school and I am a former pupil, completing my primary education at the school in 2002. 

I look forward to continuing my role as governor at St Mary Magdalene School.

I'm a foundation governor, serving for over a year with previous experience at St Joseph’s in Camberwell. I have two sons, one in year 6 and the other attending the Royal Latin.

I work within government services as an analyst, with a background in finance and the clothing industry. I'm a volunteer assistant scout leader, and it’s my privilege to see the children grow in confidence as Scouts. I have a keen interest in the provision of support for our SENCo services to ensure all children can flourish.

In my spare time, I am a proficient DIY enthusiast, gardener and seamstress. I also enjoy reading, music and cycling.

I was appointed as a Parent Governor  in October 2024 and as a dedicated member of this school community, I am committed to supporting the growth and success of both students and staff.  

I have been a dentist since 2008 and have also held various clinical teaching roles over the years. I am very aware of how each individual/child’s educational and emotional needs can vary throughout the years.

I also have 2 young children at the school which is the main reason I wanted to be part of the governing body. I hope to work with fellow governors, the leadership team, and the wider school community to ensure that our school continues to offer a nurturing, inclusive, and high-quality learning environment.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, racket sports along with music. 

My background is in Nursery Nursing which I have done for over 30 years. I have worked in Nurseries, Schools, and in the community in Health Visiting offering support and advice to children and families.

I am the Family Support worker offering both practical support and emotional care to the children in our school and their families, this be long and short term interventions. I lead on Drawing and Talking offering 12 sessions to children requiring a little extra TLC, I am the youth Mental Health First Aider, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Mental Health Lead for the school. I am passionate about my job here at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School and I strive to provide the highest standards of care for your children.

Here are some example of my role which include:

Overseeing punctuality, managing attendance (absences from school) in order to achieve 100%, signposting parents or carers to services who can provide further support, offering children guidance in times of change or stress, family stresses, Providing food Bank vouchers, parenting advice, parental concerns, benefits support i.e. universal credit, families in crisis, offering St Mark’s meals which is a one meal food box, bereavement and mental health support. 

I have a daughter currently in year 6 and I have 3 dogs and a cat which keep me busy.

I was appointed a foundation governor in October 2006 and later appointed by the council as the LEA governor. During this time, I have had many roles including Chair of governors. I have taken an active part of the governing body and attending most school functions as the governor representative.

I am retired and therefore, I have the time to attend school functions. I have been to Walsingham a few times with the school and have enjoyed the experience. On a recent private visit, when talking to the priest, he was very complimentary about the behaviour of the children from our school.

I like attending the functions because I have a grandson attending the school and a daughter who teaches at the school.

I have enjoyed my time as a school governor and feel I have contributed to the overall success of the school in this time.

I first joined the governing body as a Parent Governor in 2015, and after my term ended, I was appointed as a Foundation Governor. I am a mum of two, both of whom attended St Mary Magdalene before moving on to secondary school. I feel incredibly lucky to be a Governor, allowing me to stay connected to St Mary Magdalene and play a part in supporting its continued success.

I have worked for many years as a Financial Solutions Consultant helping organisations in their use of technology. This experience has given me a strategic and problem-solving mindset, which I bring to my role as a governor to help the school grow and develop.

It’s a privilege to work alongside dedicated staff, students, and fellow governors to help shape the school’s future and ensure it remains a place where every child can thrive academically, socially, and personally.