| As a School Governor, you’ll be part of a team. You’ll agree the school’s budget, covering everything from computers to chemistry benches. You’ll decide on the key issues which will help teachers to raise standards and to shape the future of the school. You don’t need qualifications, just the desire to make a difference and a couple of spare evenings a month. |
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| A good governing body is vital to a school’s success. But why? |
- Governors make key decisions like appointing the head teacher.
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- Governors’ decisions directly affect the education and well- being of children.
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- Governors can really make a difference in improving standards throughout a school.
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| Who can be a governor?. |
| Anybody over 18, with a few exceptions . ‘Being on the governing body means I have the opportunity to help youngsters achieve their goals and ambitions. We make sure that staff have the right tools to broaden the children’s knowledge and widen their horizons. In essence it’s about making things better. ’ Paul Murray Foundation Governor |
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| What will I get out of being a school governor? |
- The knowledge that you have played a part in improving children’s education and supported the school’s staff.
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- A chance to develop new skills and to practise existing ones, such as chairing meetings, speaking in groups, asking questions, making suggestions and appointing staff.
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- A chance to help other members of the team, perhaps because they are new, are not used to committee work or need help in learning about the school and about school governance.
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| ‘Governors feel a sense of pride. The role opens your eyes to things and it’s an interesting experience to work with different people to make things happen. ’ Ann Read Head Teacher of Mill Vale Middle School Dunstable |
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| Do I need qualifications to be a school governor?
No. Schools need volunteers (whether parents or not) with experience of life, but some governors may have qualifications or professional skills. |
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| I work full- time. Will I still have time to be a school governor? |
- Many school governors are in full- time work. But governors’ meetings can take place during the working day and, very often, during the evenings.
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- Check carefully the number of meetings you would be expected to attend and when they usually take place. Also bear in mind that you might want to spend time getting to know the school in other ways and joining its activities.
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| What makes a good school governor? |
- You care about improving children’s educational attainment.
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- You want to contribute to the local community.
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- You want to work as part of a team and can value the contribution made by different people.
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- You accept you might need training.
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- You are willing to ask questions.
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- You are open to ideas and willing to learn.
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| What can I offer? |
- Enthusiasm and commitment.
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- If you are a parent, your own understanding of other parents’ concerns, but you don’t need to be a parent to be a good school governor.
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- Whether you are a parent or not, as a member of the school’s community your local knowledge will be valuable: you will have a feel for what is important to people.
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- If you happen to have business or other skills, schools might find these particularly helpful.
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| Who sits on a governing body?
Governing bodies are made up of: |
- parents elected by other parents with children at the school;
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- the head teacher, if the head teacher chooses to be;
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- teachers elected by other teachers;
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- non- teaching staff elected by other non- teaching staff;
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- people appointed by the Local Authority;
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- people chosen by governors from the local community; and
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- in church and some other types of school, people appointed by the church or foundation.
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| How much time does it take?
Governors act as a team and, as such, the amount of time that each of them can give to the role will vary. Some people will be able and willing to give a lot throughout their time as a governor. Others will find that the amount of time they can give increases or reduces during that period. But if you are serious about helping your school to help children, then you do need to: |
- be willing to prepare for meetings: there can be a lot of papers to read;
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- attend meetings: the governing body must meet at least once a term, but you probably will be asked to serve on at least one committee. How often this meets will vary, but it is not unusual for one committee to meet each half- term;
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- be able to get to meetings which, quite often, will be during the evening but which may be early or during the day (see below on the reimbursement of expenses);
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- participate. If you cannot prepare for, and attend, meetings you will not be able to help the school effectively.
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| But what if I incur costs, like childcare?
Governing bodies are allowed to refund costs, for example, the cost of a carer for dependent relatives while you attend meetings. |
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| How do I become a school governor?
You can become a school governor by: |
- being elected by parents as a parent governor, if your child attends the school;
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- being elected by the teaching or non- teaching staff, if you are a member of the teaching or non- teaching staff;
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- being appointed by the local education authority;
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- being appointed by the church or charitable trust; or by
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- being co- opted (that is, appointed) by the other governors. To become a governor, you will need to ensure that those who have a vote, or who appoint people, know about your interest.
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- Schools organise elections and tell parents and staff about them. But you can always ask a school whether there are vacancies now that need to be filled.
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- You can approach a school to see whether they might co- opt you.
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- You can ask the local education authority, church or foundation if they would appoint you.
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| What if my employer won’t give me time off?
Employment law gives people the right to reasonable unpaid time off and some employers give paid leave for school governor duties. |
- Many employers actually encourage their staff to become school governors. They realise that the skills gained through being a school governor are transferable to the workplace.
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For more details on becoming a governors, click here to view the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) School Governor Recruitment booklet. |
