Is Anyone a School Governor?

cakeforbrains

I wasn't sure where to put this question.

My son's secondary school is requesting applications for parent governors, and I am interested. I am currently a stay-at-home mum (with a toddler). My eldest is in year 7 at the school and my middle son will be going up in September 2015.

The school is Ofsted outstanding and the head is a governor himself.

Does anyone have any experiences of being a school governor? What kind of work is involved? Did/do you enjoy it?

MallyGirl

I was a governor at an independent school - a bit different from being a parent governor - but I really enjoyed it and found out a huge amount about what was going on in the school.
It does take some commitment though as there will be 3 or 4 general meetings a year - ours ran from 3:30 to 6 or 7pm depending on what we were talking about, they will also probably want you to join one of the sub committees which will have its own meetings, then there is an expectation that governors will attend a few school events (speech day / school plays / visiting speakers / etc). They might offer you some training too.
Do you have someone to look after your toddler / take the older ones after school when you need to be at meetings?

cakeforbrains

MallyGirl wrote: »

I was a governor at an independent school - a bit different from being a parent governor - but I really enjoyed it and found out a huge amount about what was going on in the school.
It does take some commitment though as there will be 3 or 4 general meetings a year - ours ran from 3:30 to 6 or 7pm depending on what we were talking about, they will also probably want you to join one of the sub committees which will have its own meetings, then there is an expectation that governors will attend a few school events (speech day / school plays / visiting speakers / etc). They might offer you some training too.
Do you have someone to look after your toddler / take the older ones after school when you need to be at meetings?

I hadn't thought about meetings inside office hours, to be honest. I assumed most meetings would be in the evening. I might email to find out about that. Saying that, my husband or mother could help.

Seanymph

I was at two of my childrens schools.

You are tasked with being a 'critical friend' - a bit like an unpaid board of directors.

In reality the usefulness of the governors tends to depend upon the head - it doesn't bode well that the head is also a governor, some heads are very controlling, drip feed pre-vetted information to governors and expect you to turn up four times a year and nod at meetings.

Other heads use their governing body very effectively indeed, as a tool for improvement and involvement within the school.

Who is the Clerk (I have done that too) - if it's the school secretary then the Body is very dependent upon school for information - if it's an independent (such as I was) then the Governors have a better opportunity for legal guidance from someone who is not dictated to by the school staff.

Having said all that I enjoyed the involvement, ended up at National Conferences, and feel I contributed to the schools my children were at in very tangible ways.

DigForVictory

Lapsed, but enthusiastic - go for it!

For a start, it cannot hurt your children that you take a lively interest in their school - the whole school not just their classes. (Should you wish to return to work, not only does being a Governor look good on your c.v., it may even get you (some) paid time off, depending *entirely* on your employer.)

It does take up some evenings - but that's usually outside school & office hours - ask!

If nothing else, you get a totally different perspective on the school, see the budgets, hear the gossip from the horses & get to cheer them on should Ofsted come knocking.

I was able to contribute a bit by listening to the three offspring chatter (sometimes conversations, sometimes eavesdropping) & by applying my knowledge of financial controls. Our Bursar ran a very tight ship & a lot of the other governors didn't appreciate the lengths involved: that got me landed on the finance committee but kept everyone reassured.

time2change_2

I am a parent governor at my DS's school and currently the Chair and would encourage anyone to go for it.

You get a completely different perspective and understanding of the school and their challenges.Not all schools have meetings during the day, ours are all evenings (although as Chair I am in school a lot). Ring the school and ask to be put in contact with the chair or vice chair or clerk for more information.

As someone said the role is to be a "critical friend" so to support the school but challenge them as well about how they are run, their results, future plans etc. It is not an issue that the Head is a governor as all Heads are - it is a statutory post on the governing body even if they are an academy. How can the governors know what happens in school without input from the Head or senior leadership team? (it may be different for independent private schools).

I love it although it is challenging and when I first started I felt very ignorant and a little overwhelmed.

It is important to be interested in education for all the children not just your own though!

cakeforbrains

Thanks for the input. I've emailed the clerk about timings of the meetings, but I am actually going to a parents' forum meeting tonight (which are run monthly) and this one is held by the head, I believe, so I might take him aside to ask if I can.

I'm pretty good at being a critical friend!

Mrs_Soup

Have been a Clerk but not a governor. Many schools have their meetings immediately after school/early evening as Head and some teachers may have to attend various committees and it makes for a long day for them if meeting say starts at 8pm. It is the law that one space on the governing body is for the Headteacher - they don't have to take it up but cannot pass it on to anyone else either. Do not go into it in order to serve your own childs ends- its important that you take the wider perspective. A good governor may spend a lot of time on the work particularly if chairing although you obviosuly don't have to do that. You have to be List 99 checked and some places will do a CRB but you wouldn't expect normally to be left alone with children anyway. There are some conditions which prevent you from being a governor eg if you are a bankrupt you are not allowed. (not saying this applies to you but this is MSE after all). There is often training available from the local council for governors which can be useful.
I would love to do it and have stood once but didn't get elected. Some schools there is a shortage of parent governors and anyone who expresses an interest will get in- others there will be an election becasue so many people want to do it.

cakeforbrains

Thanks all. I had a word with the head last night and I put in my application. Meetings are all 6.30pm til 8pm so that's fine and, apparently, even though the school is massive (1700 pupils) they don't get many applicants for parent governors so fingers crossed.

maman

time2change wrote: »

I am a parent governor at my DS's school and currently the Chair and would encourage anyone to go for it.

You get a completely different perspective and understanding of the school and their challenges.Not all schools have meetings during the day, ours are all evenings (although as Chair I am in school a lot). Ring the school and ask to be put in contact with the chair or vice chair or clerk for more information.

As someone said the role is to be a "critical friend" so to support the school but challenge them as well about how they are run, their results, future plans etc. It is not an issue that the Head is a governor as all Heads are - it is a statutory post on the governing body even if they are an academy. How can the governors know what happens in school without input from the Head or senior leadership team? (it may be different for independent private schools).

I love it although it is challenging and when I first started I felt very ignorant and a little overwhelmed.

It is important to be interested in education for all the children not just your own though!

I'm being pedantic but not all Heads are governors. They can be but some choose not to be. They'd still attend the meetings and give reports, answer questions etc but wouldn't actually be a member of the governing body. That way if governors have views (e.g. on strike action) that the Head isn't comfortable with then they are able to formally agree to differ. I haven't explained that very well but hope you can see why some would choose not to.




Although it is possible to be a governor just in the evenings, you really need to be prepared to spend some time in the school during the working day to get a proper feel for the place.


The other thing I'd say is that discretion is hugely important as some of the issues you might hear about would be sensitive if not completely confidential. Plus parents with moans and groans about the school might contact you and you have to very diplomatic. I'm not saying you aren't OP but I just wanted to alert you. You may have read the other thread where a mum is jumping up and down because the venue for a school residential has been changed and parents are moaning all over facebook. Beware of drama llamas amongst parents.

Colin2511

Good Luck Op, ! I am currently a Governor at 2 schools, as a Foundation Governor at a Primary School (where I am chair) and parent Governor at a secondary school - it is a great way of finding more about the school, and how things work - I have no background in education, but this does not matter, and sometimes helps, as you are the critical friend, making sure that the school provides the best education and welfare for all pupils regardless of background or ability. - You really are helping by putting your name forward, as we need more people to take an interest - I was at a meeting last week, where it was stated that School Governors are the largest voluntary body of people in the UK!