Introduction to the Board of Governors
THE ROLE OF THE BOARD
St. Dominic’s Brewood Trust is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Its purpose is to promote, provide for and develop St. Dominic’s H.S.G.
The Board of Governors is responsible for determining the aims and overall
conduct of the School in order to ensure the best possible education for present and future pupils. The Directors are not involved in the day to day running of the School. Academic, curriculum and marketing matters are delegated to the Headteacher. Other non-academic activities and financial matters are delegated to the Bursar. As an independent school St. Dominic’s H.S.G. is subject to the disciplines of the market and its Statutory Accounts are open to public scrutiny.
In order to ensure that the school is being well run, the Board:
• Approves the School’s strategic objectives and policies
• Monitors progress towards achievement
• Satisfies itself that financial information is accurate and that financial
controls and systems of risk management are robust
• Engages fully in the pursuit of the School’s mission
The School is justifiably proud of its achievements. It is firmly established as the leading independent girls’ school in Staffordshire and one of the best in the West Midlands. St. Dominic’s H.S.G. does more than provide a first class education for its girls; it prepares them for life.
As a non-executive, independent of line management, each Director shares a collective responsibility for the overall governance and direction of the School. It is a complex and demanding role requiring skills, experience, particular behaviours and personal attributes. Since no individual can expect to have an abundance of these, the Board seeks balance from among member Directors.
If you would like to know more, please email your request to enquiries@stdominicsschool.co.uk or call Fiona Allen on 01902 850248.
DENNIS MARRISON
ACTING CHAIRMAN
INTRODUCING THE DIRECTORS
 | DENNIS MARRISON Acting Chairman Dennis is an Economics graduate of Lancaster University. After a long career in manufacturing he led the MBO of Hamilton Acorn, where he was Managing Director for 10 years. He has chaired several companies and was a business adviser to a number of government bodies until 2006. Both of Dennis’ daughters are ex-pupils and have gone on to study at university since leaving. |
| JACKIE ANDREWS Jackie is currently a Director of the family auto body business and Treasurer and Ticket Secretary of Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company, of which she has been a member for over 30 years. Both of Jackie’s children attended St. Dominic’s and her son was one of the first boys to join the nursery when it opened in 1990. Jackie has been a Director of the school for 11 years and has held many roles within the Friends. |  |
 | IAN ATKINSON Ian is a Chartered Accountant who graduated from Salford University in 1984 and is currently Finance Director with SI Group. During his career Ian has worked in various countries around the world including New Zealand. Ian has been involved with St. Dominic’s since his daughter started. He is already an experienced school Governor, having served at his son’s school and is Chair of the Board’s Marketing Sub-Committee. |
| NICK BERRIMAN Nick graduated from Manchester University with a Law degree in 1994 and moved to London to work as a specialist property consultant. He returned to the Midlands in 1998 to work for the family estate agency business which he took over in 2005. He is a member of Wolverhampton Round Table and Brewood Civic Society. His daughter recently joined St. Dominic’s and Nick represents the Board on the Parents Forum. |  |
 | ARTHUR CLARE-HAY Arthur is an experienced business manager, who is currently Group HR Controller and Chair of the Development Board for a large logistics company. He has had notable success with the Business Bridge Project for The Prince of Wales Trust. Arthur chairs the Board’s Planning Sub-Committee. |
| PIETER HAZENBERG Pieter qualified with The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has been Finance Director of several prominent companies. He led the MBO of The Denby Group in 1998. Pieter, who chairs the Board’s Finance Sub-Committee, has been a Director of St. Dominic’s since 1999. |  |
 | BREDA JONES Following a degree in Applied Sciences, Breda qualified as a teacher. With more that 20 years experience in senior teaching positions, she now owns her own business providing services to the education sector. Her daughter Emma, a former pupil, is reading History at Cambridge University. |
| ELAINE MARRISON Elaine’s secretarial career working for blue chip engineering companies came to a natural break when she married in1985 and subsequently had two daughters, both of whom attended St. Dominic’s. She ran the Uniform Shop at school before being appointed School Secretary until leaving to concentrate on other projects. She is currently involved in local amateur dramatics and is Secretary of Bilston Operatic Company. |  |
 | JOANNE MILLER After attending Wolverhampton Girls High School Joanne graduated from Durham University with a degree in French and German. A successful period in London with a blue chip events management company led her back to Staffordshire in 2005 where she now works as a freelance Event Management Consultant and a Marketing Director. Her daughter started at St. Dominic’s in January 2009. |