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Who are school governors?

The role of the school governor is demanding but very rewarding and is a great way to give back to your local community. Good schools need keen and committed governors. School governors play a vital part in the success of schools. They are volunteers, who work with senior leaders to push forward the strategic development of the school and raise standards of achievement. Governors bring a huge range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing board and schools benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers.

Role of the governing body

All Governing boards have three core functions, whether in maintained school or academies, and no matter how many schools they are responsible:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff, and
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

What is involved

Being a school governor is a commitment to attending governing body meetings which consider issues such as setting the school vision, mitigating financial risk and scrutinising educational outcomes. Governors are also involved in the school community, acting as critical friends to the headteacher and senior leaders. Being a governor is a valuable way of serving the local community and gives an opportunity for people to influence the future of education in their area.

Governing bodies have to meet at least once each term, but much of the work of governing bodies is usually delegated to committees. All governors are expected to participate in the work of at least one or two committees. Most termly meetings are held during the evening, but committees may meet either in the evening or daytime.

It is important to get to know the school by visiting it and supporting events. It is equally important to support training sessions, which may be arranged for either individual governors or whole governing bodies.

Most governors serve for four years, and many continue for a second or even third term by being re-appointed or re-elected.

If you want to be a governor in a Southwark school, go on our becoming a governor page.