Kendra Sill – Ex Officio Headteacher

Kendra has been teaching in Catholic Education since 1995, working at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School then moving onto St Edward’s Catholic Primary School as SENDCo and gaining promotion to Assistant Headteacher and then Deputy Headteacher. Kendra Joined St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School in February 2017 where she led the school from a ‘Requires Improvement’ school to a ‘Good School with Outstanding Features’ in May 2018. The school was also inspected by the Diocese in June 2019 and is now an Outstanding Catholic School.
Kendra is also an active member of the Parish of the Blessed Nicholas Postgate in Redcar where she has led the children’s liturgy group and volunteered as a children’s catechist for First Holy Communion.
Kendra is fully committed to her role as Headteacher and to ensuring each and every child in St Benedict’s can be the best they can be.

Kendra says, “Our school mission ‘Pray together, learn together,’ is at the heart of everything we do in St Benedict’s. Our high expectations of standards, behaviour and the Catholic life of the school are based on the words from St Benedict – ‘Ora and Labora.’ As a Catholic school our vision is to provide each and every child with a Catholic Education whereby they each develop a unique understanding with Jesus. Our school mission states that in order to ‘Pray together, learn together,’ we are reminded that: ‘For when 2 or 3 gather in my name there I am with them.’ Matthew 18:20
As a school, we aim to pray to God, pray with each other and for each other.’
Each day is a new day to embrace and we continue to achieve this vision supported by a well-informed, educated, skilled, supportive and visionary governing body.”

Canon Derek Turnham – Foundation Director (Parish Priest)

Link Governor for Catholic Standards

Canon Derek Turnham is a priest of the Diocese of Middlesbrough currently serving the parishes of Redcar and Marske where he offers pastoral support to primary and secondary schools. He has served as a School Governor for over forty years in the primary and secondary sectors and in both community schools and schools with a religious character.

Gavin Dickinson – Parent Governor

Link Governor for PE and Sports Premium

Gavin has been a member of the Governing Body of St Benedict’s for over two years. He brings with him over twenty years professional experience of managing large teams, budgets and operations and his knowledge and skills will be a great asset to the school and the Trust. Gavin lives in the community and has 2 children that attend the school. Academically, he has an Academic Strategic Management Level 7 Diploma in the Prince2 Project Management.

Gavin’s Link Governor Role in PE and Sports is the natural choice for him as he is passionate about all sports in general and recognises the importance of sport for children’s health, wellbeing, social and mental development.

Gavin says, “the team as St Benedict’s have achieved so much within the past three years. The school has progressed significantly and this is a great building block to continue to achieve greatness within the school and Trust. I will assist in any way possible to make the experience for the children enjoyable, challenging and rewarding”.

In his spare time, Gavin enjoys playing football, cycling and motorsports.

Becky Gaynon Johnson

Chair of Governors

Link Governor for Safeguarding, Behaviour and Attitudes (Including Attendance), SEND

Colleen Short – Foundation Governor

Link to Quality of Education

June Craven – Foundation Governor

Link Governor for Pupil Premium

Becky Heath – Staff Governor

Nigel Wistow – Foundation Governor

Link Governor for Catholic Standards

Brenda Burns – Foundation Governor

Link Governor for Personal Development (Including Wellbeing)

Catherine York- Parent Governor

Link Governor for computing