Parent Governors
WHAT IS A SCHOOL GOVERNOR?
School Governors are volunteers who help to run the School. They are involved in decisions about all aspects of managing the School – such as running buildings and budgets, supporting staff and setting standards of school discipline. Governors also help to make big decisions about the School’s long-term goals. They support the Headteacher, but also ask questions and make sure the Headteacher is taking the School in the right direction.
The most important qualities for being a Governor are enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education. You don’t need teaching experience but it is useful to bring skills from other areas of your life. Currently the Governing Body is looking particularly for new governors (parent or community) with skills and experience in the Finance and HR areas as in our future succession planning we have identified these areas as needing more support. However if you do not have these areas of expertise it does not stop you from putting yourself forward as a parent governor.
Being a school governor can also be time consuming. You will be expected to attend a governors meeting every term (6 times per year); these meetings are held in the early evening. You’ll need to be able to work well in a team as you’ll be making joint decisions on policies.
WHO CAN BE A PARENT GOVERNOR?
All those who have parental responsibility and are over the age of 18 are eligible to stand for election, including parents who work at the School provided that they work for less than 500 hours per year when they are elected.
‘Parent’ is defined as including ‘any individual who has or has had parental responsibility for, or cares or has cared for, a child or young person under the age of 18’. It includes a person who the child lives with and who looks after the child, irrespective of what their relationship is with the child. This must be someone involved in the full-time care of the child on a settled basis.
