Become a Governor
There are different types of governors but all governors have the same roles and responsibilities once part of the governing board.
Hopefully this page will provide you with information to help you decide if you would want to consider becoming a governor in the future.
Please contact school if you have any further queries and we will put you in touch with the right person to answer your questions.
Useful Links
https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/schools-education/school-governors/
http://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/schools/Governance
What do governors do?
School governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education.
Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the governing board is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school. Time and time again Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management - including by the governing board.
Strategic leadership
School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. They appoint the head teacher and deputy head teacher. In some schools the site is owned by the governing board. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.
Each individual governor is a member of a governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board and decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.
The role of the governing board is a strategic one with three key functions:
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Governors set the aims and objectives for the school, set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives, set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives, monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives and act as a source of challenge and support to the head teacher (a critical friend).
The head teacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing board.
Who can become a governor?
Almost anyone over 18 years of age can become a governor. There are no particular qualifications or requirements, other than a willingness to give time to the role and a capacity for working with other people.
There are different categories of governor:
- Parent
- Staff
- Foundation
- Partnership
- Local authority
- Co-opted