The purpose of the Governance section is to provide you with background information on the body responsible for College governance (the Corporation), explain the roles and responsibilities of the governors and provide access to publicly available documents.
Sixth-form College Corporations (Governing Bodies) have the legal status of statutory corporations and exempt charities. A College is a charitable activity undertaken by its Corporation.
The composition of the Corporation is laid down by the College’s Instrument & Articles of Government. This is a legal document under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and establishes the Governing Body as a legal entity and defines what the Governing Body and the College may do.
The Governing Body (Corporation) has a total of 16 members, each of whom bring their own specific expertise, skills and experience to the role. All Governors give their time voluntarily and have always shown a high level of commitment to both the College itself and its mission. Details of our Governors are shown in section 4 of the ‘Governance’ section of the website Governance – St John Rigby College (sjr.ac.uk).
The composition of the Governing Body is laid down by the College’s Instrument and Articles of Government. This is a legal document under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 which incorporated the College. It establishes the Governing Body as a legal entity and defines what the Governing Body and the College may do.
The Instrument of Government and the Governors’ own Standing Orders define the constitution as being comprised of the following stakeholders:
• 10 Foundation Governors, who are appointed on behalf of the Archdiocese of Liverpool
• 1 Co-opted Governor
• 2 Staff Governors
• 1 Parent Governor
• 1 Student Governor
• The Principal
Additionlly, the College may appoint Associate Members who serve on a Committee. The assigned Committee is determined by the Member’s skills and expertise.
Governors and Associate Members are appointed or elected (as appropriate) from a diverse range of volunteers from Wigan and surrounding areas. It is not necessary for candidates to have expertise in the education sector, but the overall skills balance of the Governing Body is designed to support the effective governance of the College.
Pam Tate continued her role as Chair of the Governing Body, having taken over the role in November 2023.
The Governing Body continue in 2025/26 with the professional clerking services of Wigan Governor Services through an SLA secured in September 2023, with a dedicated clerk who facilitates all aspects of its work.
• represent the key stakeholders in the College
• represent the key external stakeholders, especially the Archdiocese
• provide the College with expertise and experience not normally available
• assist in the accountability of the College to the community for the provision and quality of the education, care of young people and for the expenditure of public money
• provide oversight of and facilitate the management of the employees and resources of the College.
· To set and communicate the College’s educational mission, vision and quality improvement strategy
· To hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance and quality of the college and the performance of staff
· To exercise effective control to ensure that funds and assets are used efficiently, and legal obligations are met
· To oversee the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and the determination of the pay and conditions of Senior Post Holders and the Clerk
· To set a framework for the pay and conditions of service for all staff
· To contribute to the leadership of the College in ways which promote the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and raise student achievement. In addition, governors also commit to follow the Nolan 7 principles of public life, which are the ethical standards expected of people in public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
The full Governing Body meets at least termly. It receives reports from the Principal or the Clerk and its own committees. Most of the detailed work is undertaken in committees which meet as required, normally once or twice per term. The Corporation conducts its business through a number of Committees. Each Committee has Terms of Reference which have been approved by the Corporation. These Committees are:
• Audit Committee which has legal powers to investigate all aspects of the administration and financial systems of the College. The Governing Body employs two firms of auditors and commissions relevant studies.
• Finance and Resources Committee oversees the budget, manages the resources and the estate.
• Quality and Standards Committee monitors and develops all aspects of student achievement and the quality of education.
• Remuneration Committee manages the recruitment, remuneration, performance management and development of designated senior post holders and the Clerk.
• Search and Governance Committee recruits new governors with appropriate expertise and experience. It ensures that the Governing Body operates smoothly and fulfils its responsibilities.
Further information is available on the College website or by contacting the Clerk to the Governors. The Clerk’s contact details are as follows:
Clerk to the Governing Body
c/o St John Rigby College
Gathurst Road
Wigan
WN5 0LJ
Tel: 01942 214797 Email: governorservices@wigan.gov.uk (please reference SJR in any email).
Click Here to view the Membership Of The Governing Body 2025-26
Clerk to the Governing Body: Sophie Gardiner (governorservices@wigan.gov.uk)
This content is temporarily unavailable while we update the page contents. Please check back soon.
This content is temporarily unavailable while we update the page contents. Please check back soon.
In accordance with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, the College commissioned an external governance review through the Association of Colleges. The Review was carried out of David Wright between May and July 2024. The full report and recommendations were received by the Principal and the Chair of Governors on 24th July and, following a review, the final report was agreed on 31st July. The report and recommendations have be reviewed and discussed at the by the Full Governing Board in October 2024 and a summary will be shared in the report below.
Click below for this report
Click the links below to view the Minutes from Full Governing Body meetings.
Minutes from committee meetings are available on request.
Click the links below to view the Report and Financial Statements for the year ending July 31st.
Please send letters and other documents or comments to The Clerk to the Governors:
By post: St John Rigby College, Gathurst Road, Wigan, WN5 0LJ
By email: governorservices@wigan.gov.uk. Please reference St John Rigby College (SJR) in any emails to the Clerk.
St John Rigby College fully complies with the freedom of information requirements.
Requests for information about the work of the Governing Body, or for copies of documents, should be addressed to the Clerk to the Governors.
Please reference St John Rigby College (SJR) in any emails to the Clerk.
The College seeks diversity in terms of the background of its Governors. However, there is an expectation that all prospective Governors would share the following characteristics:
• A real interest in education and training
• Skills and experience that will benefit the College
• A commitment to act as an advocate for the College and to act in the best interests of the College at all times
• A commitment to working with integrity, openness and honesty
Governors, the Principal and senior managers at St John Rigby College recognise the important contribution which training and development makes to the College’s effectiveness in providing and delivering high quality education.
The principal objective of providing training and development opportunities for the governing body is to ensure the effectiveness of all governors as individuals and as members of a corporate governing body; to enable them to set the College’s Mission and strategic direction, to meet their responsibilities as laid out in Article 3 of the College’s Instrument and Articles of Government.
The College will provide training and regular development opportunities which underpin the role of being a governor at an outstanding Sixth Form College. Governors are then able to discharge their responsibilities effectively and with confidence. There is an induction programme for all newly appointed governors.
If you are interested in applying to become a Governor at St John Rigby College, please email
governorservices@wigan.gov.uk.
Please reference St John Rigby College (SJR) in any emails to the Clerk.
Amy Appleton, Clerk to Governors will then send you more detailed information about the College as well as a full application pack. All applications are handled by the Search Committee who will interview all short-listed applicants. Recommendations will then be made to the Governing Body who will approve the appointment, subject to having received satisfactory references and archdiocesan approval of the appointment.
If you’re not quite ready to start on a Level 3 Technical course (T Levels) or a Vocational Level 3 course (BTEC) but want to begin on the path to your chosen career, the Transition Programme could be for you.
Transition Programmes are tailored to prepare students to move onto Technical or Vocational Level 3 study. They will give you the opportunity to improve your English and Maths, your work readiness skills and introduce you to the technical skills and concepts that you will need for future study and employment.
As part of the Transition Programme you will study a BTEC Level 2 Award in your chosen subject area as well as the BTEC Level 2 Extended Award in Work Skills. You will also have the opportunity to resit GCSE English and/or Maths if you have not yet achieved a grade 4.
Entry criteria for Transition Programmes is four grade 3s including grade 3s in English Language and Maths GCSE.