
Mrs Alison Wagstaff
Vice Chair of Governors
Alison Wagstaff
Key Roles:
I live in Bodmin and am a parishioner at St Mary’s Church. I am a very new governor having been appointed for the first time in July 2021, so my first experiences of governing body meetings were via Zoom. It is a challenging role, but it is fantastic to be able to experience at first hand the strong sense of community at St Mary’s School, and the way the children are taught and encouraged by example to live out the Gospel values of love of God and neighbour in their own lives. As a Foundation governor I hope to have many opportunities to share in the Catholic ethos of the school.
I am very interested in education having had four children of my own, and now also grandchildren living reasonably close by. After bringing up my family I worked for ten years for the Foundation Board of a large educational charity which ran a number of independent, grammar and comprehensive secondary schools. I also acted as clerk to the Governing Body of a local authority primary school, which gave me a good insight into how much is now expected of school staff and also of the children.
My own educational background is in languages, and I have a degree in German language and literature as well as an abiding interest in classical languages, especially Latin. I also took up quilting a couple of years ago, and my ambition now to make something which is both useful and beautiful.
- n.rich@plymouthcast.com

Mrs Alison McDonald
Head Teacher
Alison McDonald
Key Roles: Headteacher, SEND, Teaching and Learning
I have been working in education for nearly 30 years. Prior to my career in education I worked in my family's business, running a successful public house and restaurant in Lostwithiel. Although I am originally from the Midlands my family moved to the west country during the seventies, my father securing a job with Telcalemit in Plymouth designing the first petrol injection engines in the UK. My parents decided to change career paths and decided to become hoteliers. They successful ran two hotels in Looe and Fowey before their move to Lostwithiel.
I am a former pupil of Notre dame Catholic School for girls. I moved from Notre Dame to Falmouth School of Art and then took some time working for my family. I felt that I had more to offer and I applied to the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth to study a degree in Education. I achieved my degree and took up my first teaching post at Carclaze Infant School in St Austell. It was here that I first took my steps into leadership and management as an assistant head. I then moved to St Mabyn CE Primary School as Head of Teaching and Learning and subsequent Head of School in the Saints Way MAT. Whilst working for the MAT I also supported on School Improvement and SEND across the five schools.
I came to St Mary’s as an acting head teacher covering a maternity leave before being appointed as the permanent head teacher in 2018.
St Mary’s is a special school full of amazing children who always try their best in everything that they do. I am very proud to be ‘St Mary’s’ head teacher and I will do everything in my power to ensure our children make the best possible start at St Mary’s as well as ensuring that they become confident individuals who can contribute to our society in the future.
- n.rich@plymouthcast.com