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Governance Register
School · PrimaryiSource and licenceOfficial record from Get Information about Schools (DfE). Results, attendance, pupil numbers, finance and inspection outcomes are from the Department for Education and Ofsted, as published.Governor records: Get Information about Schools, as at 25 October 2026.Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.Governance Register calculates the connections.How we handle data

Location

iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).

About

Welcome to Folkestone St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy — a school where every child is known, nurtured, and empowered to succeed in their own way. As Headteacher, my vision for leadership is rooted in transparency, collaboration, and a deep belief in the potential of every child and every member of staff.

I want St Mary's to be more than a place of learning — I want it to be a community where people grow, belong, and thrive. We are proud of our Christian values of Friendship, Forgiveness, Compassion, and Service, which shape our culture and guide our decisions.

These values help us create a safe, inclusive, and ambitious environment where children feel supported and inspired to achieve their very best. At St Mary's, we are building a learning-centered culture that celebrates diversity, prioritises well-being, and holds high standards for all.

We believe that education should be rich in opportunity, full of joy, and deeply connected to the world beyond the classroom.

In the school’s own words, from the school website.

Enrichment

1 activityiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.
  • Forest School

Key facts

URN
139310
Type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
Ages
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Sixth form
Does not have a sixth form
Nursery
Has Nursery Classes
Local authority
Kent
Constituency
Folkestone and Hythe
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
2013

Governing body (17 current, 1 former)

iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.

11 governors are linked to a profile (all confirmed).

Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.

Leadership

NameRoleHow appointedTerm
Mrs Kenza PickfordChief Financial OfficerTrust officersince 2026
Mr Philip Andrew Haynes Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardElected by parentssince 2026 · until 2030
Miss Clare Theresa Laws Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardElected by parentssince 2026 · until 2030
Mrs Dawn Wolley Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardAppointed by academy memberssince 2026 · until 2030
Mrs Lindsey Maria Smith Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardAppointed by academy memberssince 2025 · until 2029
Mrs Hilary Diana Grimble Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardAppointed by academy memberssince 2025 · until 2029
Mr Richard Paez Confirmed same personAccounting OfficerTrust officersince 2025
Mr Richard Paez Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardEx-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principalsince 2025
Revd Christopher James Johnson Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardEx-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold)since 2025
Mr John TomlinsonMemberTrust membersAppointed by academy memberssince 2024
Mr John William Bird Confirmed same personMemberTrust membersAppointed by academy memberssince 2024
Ms Natalie Fleur Martin Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardAppointed by academy memberssince 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027
Mrs Emma Lane Confirmed same personChair of TrusteesTrust boardAppointed by GB/boardsince 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027
Mrs Claire Frost Confirmed same personTrusteeTrust boardAppointed by academy memberssince 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027
Mrs Emma Lane Confirmed same personMemberTrust membersAppointed by academy memberssince 2018
Pcc St Mary and St Eanswythe, FolkestoneMemberTrust membersOriginal (signatory) memberssince 2013
Directors Diocese of Canterbury Academies Company LtdMemberTrust membersOriginal (signatory) memberssince 2013
Mrs Julia Briggs FormerChief Financial OfficerTrust officersince 2013 · term ended 2026

Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record