School governors

Becoming a school governor is one of the most important ways in which you can help your local school.

Could you be a School Governor?

Havering schools need Governors

Use your skills and expertise
to help children's education

The School Governor role is the most important role in education. Governors are critical to the effective running of schools and there are currently vacancies near you.

Contrary to popular misconception, school governors come from all walks of life. You don't need to be a parent or have any knowledge of the education system. All different individuals with varying skills are eligible to apply and can add enormous value to a governing body.

The only requirement is that you are 18 years or over and essentially want to make a positive difference to the education of local children.

School governors' responsibilities can include planning for the school's long term future, allocating budgets and appointing senior members of staff. Therefore, the School Governor Role not only benefits the education of potentially thousands of children, but will also give you the opportunity of implementing existing skills and develop new skills.

If you are interested in this challenging and ultimately rewarding role and would like to find out about vacancies in your area please contact the Governing Bodies Support Unit, Scimitar House, 23 Eastern Road, Romford, RM1 3NH, e-mail governingbodysupport@havering.gov.uk or info@sgoss.org.uk

Become a school governor in Havering.

Why Schools need Governors

The local community has been part of the school life for sometime, and have been making decisions on how their local schools are run.

Your local schools need enthusiastic, committed people to become a school governor. It gives you the opportunity to voice your opinion. As long as you have commitment, common sense and an interest in education, schools and young people, you can become a school governor in Havering.

The Role of the School Governor

All schools have a governing body. Their governing body must consist of:

Parent Governors - parent governors are elected by parents of children currently at the school

Staff Governors- staff governors are elected by staff members of the school

Local Authority- local authority governors are appointed by the local authority (Havering Council)

Head Teacher

Community Governors- community governors are appointed by the governing body.

All schools are required to have a governing body which can be between 9-20 members. Governing bodies are responsible to the wider community. Governors are appointed for a term of four years, although there may be differences in individual schools.

It is the governors who are responsible for ensuring that their school provides a good quality education for the pupils. The governors and headteacher set the school aims and policies and they work closely together to achieve their set targets. The headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school.

The Governing Body

Anyone can apply to become a school governor you do not need specialist skills or be an expert, as long as you are:

Ready to learn and open to new ideas
Able to work as part of a team
Available, and have some spare time evenings and some weekends to read papers and attend meetings
Willing to put something into your local community
Able to get on with other people

If you feel you have the above qualities you already have the makings of a school governor.

Everyday skills you use in everyday life are often useful to help solve problems at the school. You will be surprised how much you can give to your school just by using these skills.

The governing body work as a team to:

Select the headteacher

Ensure that the national curriculum is taught

Make decisions regarding the schools budget and staffing

Make sure that the school has provisions for all pupils, including those with disabilities and special needs

Help to plan the schools' future development/direction

Governors are accountable for the performance of the school

The above tasks are not always easy, but they do affect the interest of the pupils, staff and how the school is perceived by parents and the local community. Advice is always at hand and can be obtained from the headteacher, staff and Havering's Governing Bodies Support Unit who are there to offer advice and support.

Why would you want to be a School Governor

School governors do play an important part, they are volunteers who work together with the headteacher of the school and the local authority to improve education in local schools, they work as a team, but individually school governors have no powers of responsibility. It can be both challenging and rewarding.

New governors are encouraged to learn and there are many courses that you can attend to help with your role as a governor.

It can be hard work, with lots of papers to read before meetings which are sent out to you a week before the governing body meeting. You may be required to make difficult decisions regarding members of staff or individual pupils.

Many governors find the role satisfying because:

You can make a difference

You can help the next generation

You can serve the local community

You can learn new skills and interests

Being a school governor needs dedication and a keen interest in education to fulfil the role of the governor. Governors are encouraged to visit the school, speak with the staff to get to know the school and how it works. If you have spare time in the evening and occasional weekends and feel you want to become part of a school governing body please contact:

Mrs M Smith
Governing Body Support Service Manager
Scimitar House
23 Eastern Road
Romford
Essex RM1 3NH

Telephone: (01708) 433665
e-mail: Maureen.smith@havering.gov.uk

or alternatively, contact your local school and speak to the headteacher or the chair of governors.

Members of the Governing Body Support Unit can be contacted by e-mail or telephone:

If you would like to be a school governor in Havering or would like further information please contact us at:
GBSU, Scimitar House, 23 Eastern Road, Romford, RM1 3NH