What is a School Governor?

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

The Governing Body has a strategic role working with the Headteacher to set the aims and objectives of the School, agreeing policies, targets and priorities to achieve the objectives and monitoring and evaluating the aims and objectives in order to promote high standards of achievement.  The Headteacher has day to day management of the School.

As a School Governor, you will be part of a team.  Individual Governors do not act alone.  It is only the full Governing Body that has legal duties and powers and all Governors share that corporate responsibility.

A good Governing Body is vital to a School's success.  But why is this?

What are the benefits of being a School Governor?

Do I need qualifications to be a School Governor?

I work full-time.  Will I still have time to be a School Governor?

What if my Employer won't give me time off?

What makes a good Governor?

What can I offer?

How does a Governing Body work?

How much time does it take?

Can I expect to receive any help and support?

A good Governing Body is vital to a School's success.  But why is this?

• Governors make key decisions, such as appointing the Headteacher
• Governors' decisions directly affect the education and wellbeing of children
• Governors can make a difference in improving standards throughout a School.

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What are the benefits of being a School Governor?

• The knowledge that you have played a part in improving children's education
• A chance to develop new skills and to practice existing ones, such as chairing meetings, speaking in groups, asking questions, making suggestions and appointing staff
• The opportunity to contribute your knowledge and skills to the team.

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Do I need qualifications to be a School Governor?

No.  Schools need volunteers with a variety of life experiences.

Whilst you do not need qualifications to be a Governor, the following are important:

• A commitment to undertake training in order to update knowledge and skills, which will enhance an individual's effectiveness as a Governor
• A commitment to regular attendance at meetings of the Governing Body and any Committees to which they are appointed
• A desire to raise the standards of education within the School
• A willingness to share skills and expertise within the context of the Governing Body.

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I work full-time.  Will I still have time to be a School Governor?

Many School Governors are in full-time work.  Governors' meetings can take place during the working day but, very often, they are arranged for the evenings.

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What if my Employer won't give me time off?

Many employers actually encourage their staff to become School Governors.  They realise that the skills gained through being a School Governor are transferable to the workplace.

Employment law gives people the right to reasonable unpaid time off and some employers give paid leave for School Governor duties.

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What makes a good Governor?

• You care about improving children's education
• You want to contribute to your local community
• You want to work as part of a team and can value the contribution made by other people
• You accept the need to receive training
• You are willing to ask questions
• You are open to ideas and willing to learn

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What can I offer?

Enthusiasm and commitment!

If you are a parent, you will understand other parents' concerns, but you don't need to be a parent to be a School Governor.

As a member of the School's community your local knowledge will be valuable - you will have a feel for what is important to people in the area.

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How does a Governing Body work?

• Works closely with the Headteacher
• Makes decisions democratically as a team
• Often delegates decision-making to committees or to individuals such as the Headteacher
• Meets at least once a term
• Conducts most of its business through meetings, making use of relevant papers, guidance and advice from the Headteacher and the Local Authority.

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How much time does it take?

The amount of time that Governors can give to the role will vary, but if you are serious about helping your School to help children, then you do need to:

• Be willing to prepare for meetings - there can be alot of papers to read
• Attend meetings - the Governing Body must meet at least once per term, however you will probably be asked to serve on at least one committee.  How often these meet will vary, but it is not unusual for some committees to meet each half-term
• Be able to get to meetings which, quite often, will be during the evening but which may be earlier during the day
• Participate - if you cannot prepare for, and attend, meetings you will not be able to make an effective contribution to help the School.

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Can I expect to receive any help and support?

Yes.  The Local Authority values School Governors as important partners in the Education Community and so ensures a comprehensive package of support is available.  The Local Authority runs an Induction Course for new Governors that cover the main areas of a Governing Body's responsibilities.

Training is an integral part of the development of every Governor and this is organised and delivered through an annual training programme facilitated by specialist staff called upon as appropriate because of their particular expertise.  Details of the training programme can be downloaded to the right of this page.

Governors can expect to receive:

• Written support materials published by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), Governors Wales and the Local Authority
• Induction and other training to help Governors carry out their duties
• Readily accessible advice and support from our School and Governor Unit, the Swansea Governors Association and Govenors Wales
• Help from your School's Headteacher, other staff and fellow Governors
• Direct support from Local Authority specialist staff who help Governors deal with specific issues such as Personnel, Finance, Health and Safety, Property Management and the Law
• Termly copies of our publication 'Governor News'

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