Emma Allen

I became a governor as I wanted to help my local community and fundraise for a worthy cause that I could see benefit from my work. I have always enjoyed helping the local community and when the opportunity to do this came, I was very keen. I am also trying to understand the issues schools are facing in the current climate, in preparation for starting my own family.

The school that I am chair of governors for is a wonderful Primary school. It’s very small and has a very warm and welcoming feeling about it. When I first decided to become a governor I met the head teacher and she gave me a tour of the school. I got to see what the children were working on and different activities they do each day, I immediately felt like this was a school I would want my children to attend.

I attend our governor meetings each term. Being a new governor I have not spent too much time on my duties, but I fully expect to become more involved as my knowledge increases and I become more involved.

I have done on the job training and I am currently arranging child protection training for the group. We are working through our finance responsibilities as a group.

I have faced having to learn the entire role from scratch. I am lucky in some ways though as my predecessor was not really performing as a chair of governors, so between I and the rest of the governors we are learning new ways to work as a group. The world of work has armed me with skills that I can use in meetings, so I took to the role of Chair of Gov’s like a duck to water.

I don’t gain any physical benefits as such apart from a sense of helping my community and peace of mind that I am learning more about my future family’s education. I am helping to shape what happens in local schools in my area.