The role of governor is a very rewarding experience. School and academy governors form part of the largest volunteer movement with approximately 300,000 appointed or elected in schools and academies across the country. They perform one of the most important voluntary roles in schools and are made up of people from all walks of life and backgrounds who want to make a difference to children’s education. Becoming a school governor is a great way to contribute to your local community and improve the lives of local children.
What skills do I need to become a governor?
You do not need to be an expert or have any special qualifications to become a school governor. You will bring skills and expertise developed at work or have a good understanding of the community served by the school. Schools are looking for people with energy, experience and fresh ideas and you'll be offered support and training.
Do you?
- Want to put something back into the local community?
- Want children to get the best from school?
- Have time to get involved in the role?
Are you?
- Interested in education?
- Prepared to work as part of a team?
- Comfortable asking questions?
- Open to new ideas and ready to learn?
- Enthusiastic? - the work is voluntary and will take up some of your spare time
If the answer is 'yes' then you could have what it takes to be a school governor and make a difference to our children's future.
How much time will I need?
As a minimum it is expected that governors:
- Attend one full governing board meeting each term
- Serve on one committee, meeting each term.
- Get to know their school well, preferably by visiting via agreed procedures, when the school is in session and pupils are in school.
- Take part in training to enable them to fulfil their roles effectively.
Those governors who are in employment are allowed ‘reasonable time off’ to undertake public duties as detailed in the Employment Rights Act. This should be negotiated with individual employers as to what is determined as ‘reasonable time off’. This may be granted with or without pay and is dependent on their employer’s policies and procedure
If you're interested in becoming a school governor and would like more information, have a look at the websites and contact your local area for an informal chat
- Bolton - Becoming a School Governor - Bolton Governance Services - Bolton Governance Services
- Bury - School governors - Bury Council.
- Manchester - School Governors | School Governors | Manchester City Council
- Oldham - Become a school governor | Become a school governor | Oldham Council
- Rochdale - About school governors | School governors | Rochdale Borough Council
- Salford - School governors • Salford City Council
- Stockport - School Governors - Stockport Council
- Tameside - Governors Information in Tameside
- Trafford - School governors (trafford.gov.uk)
- Wigan - School governors (wigan.gov.uk)
Your Local Church also appoints Governors
- Manchester Church of England Diocese - School Governance - Diocese of Manchester (anglican.org)
- Chester Church of England Diocese - Governance & Admissions — Chester Diocesan Board of Education (chesterdbe.co.uk)
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford - Governance - Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford
Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury - Governance - Diocese (educationshrewsbury.org)