What is a School Governor?
School Governors are volunteers who help to run the school. Most schools work with a group of School Governors - together they’re called the 'Governing Body'. They’re 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 headteachers, but also ask questions and make sure the headteacher is taking the school in the right direction.
Who can be a School Governor?
Anyone over 18 can be a school governor – you don’t have to be a parent with a child at the school. However, every governing body includes parent governors, and it can be a rewarding way to be involved in your child’s school.
The most important qualities for being a governor are enthusiasm, commitment, and an interest in education. You don’t need teaching experience, but it’s useful to bring skills from other areas of your life. It can also be time-consuming - for example, if your school has been asked to make rapid improvements for any particular reason.
Co-opted and Parent Governors
We are currently looking for new parent and community/ co-opted governors to join our friendly governing body. Our governors come from a range of different backgrounds, skills and experience but all share a common interest of wanting the best possible education for the children in our school.
We would be delighted to hear from anyone who:-
- Is interested in children’s education and the performance of the school
- Is community spirited and would like to represent the community
- Has spare time and the energy for the role
- Is able to work well as part of a team
- Has an enquiring mind and the confidence to ask questions and debate issues that affect the school
- Can consider matters objectively and make informed judgements
These volunteer positions are open to parents/guardians or other people from our community. Co-opted governors are not elected by a parent election but are instead appointed directly by the governing body
What is the role of the governing body?
- Helping to set and review the school's strategic direction and agreeing targets for improvement
- Holding the headteacher and school leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure public money is well spent
What does the role offer?
- A chance to develop your own personal skills
- Access to a programme of free training in respect of education/governance matters
- A sense of achievement in helping make a difference to children reaching their potential
- The support and guidance from fellow governors
In looking to fill these vacancies we are particularly interested in applications from people with education experience or management skills and also people who can occasionally visit the school, during the day, although please do not be put off if you do not have these skills. What is more important is enthusiasm, interest and the willingness to learn.
If you are interested or know of somebody else who would be then please contact the Clerk by emailing:
enquiries@lenthall.derbyshire.sch.uk