Becoming a governor
- What do school governors do?
- What qualities are needed?
- What training and support are available?
- What would I be expected to do?
- How long are governors in office?
- What qualifications do I need?
- Would I get time off work?
- Do
governors get paid?
- How
much time is needed?
- What about Risk Assessment?
- Who can become a school governor?
- I would like to become a school governor. What
should I do?
1. What do school governors do?
There have been school governors for over 600 years. School
governors make up the largest voluntary organisation in the
country. As a school governor you will be part of a team, working
closely with the Headteacher, who is responsible for the day to day
management of the school. The governing body is generally
responsible for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting
high standards of educational achievement, including:
- Setting appropriate targets for pupil achievement
- Managing the school budget
- Selecting new staff, including the headteacher
- Drawing up an action plan following an Ofsted Inspection
- Maintaining links with parents and community
- Take general responsibility for the conduct of the school
- Make sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based
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2. What qualities are needed?
- Desire to work for the good of pupils
- Desire to serve local community
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to ask questions
- Willingness to undergo training
- Time to fully read papers
- Time to attend meetings
- Ability to put school interests above personal preferences
- Ability to respect others
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3. What training and support are
available?
Support is available from many sources. Experienced governors,
the headteacher and clerk are all available to advise. Help and
advice is also available from the Governor Support Service and a
number of regional and national groups also offer support
Knowsley provides comprehensive training and support for
governors including:
- Various training courses held throughout the year, open to all
governors including welcome and induction session
- Bespoke courses are requested by individual governing
bodies
- An annual conference
- Written guidance to governing bodies on key issues
- Confidential telephone advice
- Website
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4. What would I be expected to do?
As a school governor you will be part of a team. A governing
body works closely with the headteacher who is responsible for the
day to day management of the school. You will decide key issues
which will assist teachers to raise standards and shape the future
of the school. Governors, through their work:
- Promote high standards of educational attainment
- Set targets for pupil achievement
- Take general responsibility for the conduct of the school
- Ensure proper financial management of the school
- Make sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based
- Participate in the appointment of senior staff (including the
appointment of the headteacher) and regulate staff conduct and
discipline
- A governor will never have to make a decision alone and expert
help is always available if needed.
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5. How long are governors in office?
Most governors are elected or appointed for four years but can
resign at any time. There is further information on this website
under "Becoming a School Governor". This includes an application
form to apply to become a governor.
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6. What qualifications do I need?
None. Governors come from a wide range of backgrounds. Personal
qualities such as enthusiasm, tact, a willingness to listen and ask
questions and knowledge of the local community are just as
important as specific knowledge. A desire to make a difference to
children’s lives and a couple of spare evenings and/or afternoons a
month is really all that is needed.
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7. Would I get time off work?
The Law says that an employer must give an employee who is a
school governor "reasonable" time off work to carry out their
duties. Payment for time off is at the discretion of the employer
Many employers actively encourage their people to become governors,
since it provides new experience and skills which are useful in
many jobs.
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8. Do governors get paid?
No. They are the largest volunteer workforce in the country.
However, governors are able to claim expenses for such things as
travel and childcare during meetings, if their governing body has
adopted an allowances scheme.
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9. How much time is needed?
The amount of time each governor gives to the role will vary.
The following list gives a guideline of the minimum commitment a
governor would need to fulfil the role.
- One to two governing body meetings per term (governors are
required to attend a minimum of 3 meetings per year) including
reading of agenda and supporting papers in advance of the
meeting.
- Meetings for each committee on which the governor is a
member.
- Attendance at training and development sessions as
appropriate.
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10. What about Risk Assessment?
There are legal restrictions which prevent some people from
becoming school governors. Most of these relate to criminal
offences resulting in imprisonment and child protection
issues. If someone is appointed as a governor, there will be
an enhanced CRB check completed prior to appointment being
confirmed.
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11. Who can become a school governor?
Almost everyone over the age of 18. Naturally there are some
restrictions. No one can serve if they are barred from working with
children or young people, if they have a severe mental illness or
if they are bankrupt. A full list of qualifications and reasons for
disqualification is included with the application form and
governors will be required to sign a declaration to confirm that
none of these apply to them. See also information on CRB
checks.
Certain other restrictions apply to the category of governor to
ensure a balance of interests such as, a person is not eligible to
become a parent governor if they work at the school for more than
500 hours in a year, they would be eligible as a staff governor.
Local councillors are eligible to be appointed as authority
governors but not as community governors.
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12. I would like to become a school governor. What
should I do?
If you want to become a governor at a particular school, contact
the headteacher or clerk to governors at that school. If your child
attends the school, you can stand for election as a parent governor
or you could ask to be considered as a community governor at the
school.
You can also contact Knowsley Governor Support on 0151 443 3263
or you can complete the governor application form (Word
73KB).
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