School governors

Contents

What are School Governors?

What do Governors do?

Who can be a School Governor?

How much time will it take up?

What are the benefits of being a School Governor?

As a Governor what support will I get?

I'm interested in becoming a School Governor who do I contact?

What are School Governors?

Every school has a governing body of between 9 and 20 members. They are a bit like a management board for a company. The governing body consists of parents, school staff, representatives of the local Council, people from the local community and certain schools have foundation governors linked with their local church or diocese.

Governors are the largest volunteer force in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. They have three key roles:

• setting strategic direction
• ensuring accountability
• monitoring and evaluating the school's performance.

The decisions made by the governing body help to the shape the future of the children in their schools.

What do Governors do?

With the head teacher they set the future direction for the school and decide how the school’s budget should be spent. Governing bodies make decisions collectively on matters such as performance targets, school policies and the school’s improvement plan.  They report to parents on the school’s achievements and respond to inspection recommendations. They hear appeals from pupils and staff and consider complaints.

Governors provide the head teacher with support and advice, drawing on their knowledge and experience. They ask searching questions and respect the head teacher’s position as the professional leader of the school.

"It's a tough job, but I have received lots of support, and it's worth it"

Primary School Governor

Who can be a School Governor?

Governors do not have to be a particular type of person. You don't have to have particular qualifications, know about education or have children.

Volunteers must be over 18 but are then welcome regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or religion. It is, in fact, critical that volunteers represent all age groups and all the diverse communities in the area of the school. Being a governor can also offer you the chance to learn new skills, which may then help you in your careers.

How much time will it take up?

The time needed to be an active school governor can be as little as six to eight hours each school month. This includes preparation time for meetings and visits. The normal term of office for a school governor is four years but governors are volunteers who can leave at any time. They can also be re-appointed or re-elected.

The amount of time will vary depending on how much you are able and willing to give to the role. However you should be prepared to:

• attend meetings – the governing body must meet at least once a term. Governing bodies also have a number of committees who report back to the full governing body. You will probably be asked to serve on at least one committee. We recommend that no meeting lasts more than two hours
• read through papers and minutes prior to the meeting so that you are prepared for any discussions
• get to meetings - which are normally during the evening but can be during the day
• attend training to develop your skills as a governor.  

What are the benefits of being a School Governor?

The main benefit of being a school governor is the personal satisfaction you will get from being involved in the most important volunteering role in education. You really can make a difference to the future of our children. Other benefits include:

• the opportunity to develop new skills and strengthen existing ones
• the opportunity to work as part of a team, often with a range of people from a variety of social, cultural and religious backgrounds
• an understanding of the decision-making process of school governing bodies and an awareness of the education system as a whole
• the opportunity to undertake training provided by the local Council on various aspects of the governor role.

"Governors have a real job to do and it is interesting, challenging and rewarding"

Governor from the business community

As a Governor what support will I get?

• The head teacher, experienced governors and the Clerk on your governing body will be a major source of advice.
• An induction course for newly appointed governors is provided covering all the main areas linked to governance.
• A full training programme is available to all governors
• You will get a copy of a new governors’ induction guide called All you wanted to know about being a School Governor
• A welcome pack from your school which includes the School Governor's Handbook will be provided.
• There are training and conferences on a wide range of subjects.
• We produce a half term Governor's newsletter to help you in your role as school governor. This covers both local and national initiatives and developments.
• Specific advice is available from us.
• Department for Education – DfE – has a free professional helpline offering e-mail and telephone support to school governors, clerks and individuals involved directly in the governance of maintained schools in England: Telephone: 08000 722181.
• DfE governor website contains vital up to date information for governors.

"My time as a governor has been a most rewarding one, I feel that, along with my fellow governors, I have made a contribution in ensuring the best possible education for all children who attend our school. All sorts of people become governors and I believe that the variety and breadth of interests, knowledge and experience that governors bring to the role is of great value to the school."

Paul Hassall, Chair of Governors, Chaddesden Park Junior School

School Governor One Stop Shop - The Volunteers' Perspective Video      

The School Governors' One-Stop Shop (SGOSS) is a small, highly successful charity which recruits volunteers to become governors in schools across England.  They have produced a video highlighting the role of governors which features a Derby City governor - Richard Betts, Head of HR, Rolls Royce and Chair of Governors at St. Andrew's Special School.

You will need the latest version of Flash Player to view the video. For more information on SGOSS you can visit their website. 

I'm interested in becoming a School Governor who do I contact?

If you are interested in becoming a governor contact the Governor Support Team, complete the online interest form or download the School Governor - application form (we need two School Governor - reference letter and form to support your application).

Opening times

Useful forms

• Become a school governor

Downloads

• School Governor's Handbook (pdf, 2,142kb)
• All you wanted to know about being a School Governor (pdf, 567kb)
• School Governor - application form (pdf, 1,040kb)
• School Governor - reference letter and form (word, 176kb)