School Governors

Being a school governor or trustee is a challenging but hugely rewarding role. It will give you the chance to make a real difference to young people, give something back to your local community and use and develop your skills. You will also be joining the largest volunteer force in the country: there are over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state funded schools in England.

Schools need governing bodies that have a balance and diversity of knowledge, skills and experience to enable it to be effective. Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has repeatedly noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management – including by the governing body.

Anyone aged over 18 can be a governor or trustee (but there are some exceptions) and you do not need to be a parent. There is no requirement for you to have an understanding of the education system, just the necessary skills, character and time to contribute. There is plenty of training available to help you learn about education. Schools needs and benefit from a range of professional knowledge on their governing body including education, finance, human resources, legal, marketing and public relations, property and estates management, and organisational change.

As a governor or trustee, you will be able to:

◾ Use your own experience of education and life beyond school to inform conversations

◾ Develop and utilise your skills in a board-level environment

◾ Make a valuable contribution to education and your community

◾ Support and challenge the school so that it improves for pupils and staff

◾ Bring your unique experiences, perspectives and insights in to decision-making in the interests of the school community.

(Extract taken from The Key for School Governors)