Anyone who is not disqualified from being a school governor under the School Governance (Constitution, )(England) Regulations 2007. These are printed in full on page 4 of the SGOSS Application Form.
The role of school governance may involve access to children, therefore you may be subject to the appropriate identity checks (including List 99 and Criminal Record Bureau).
If you already hold a Criminal Records Bureau certificate please submit a copy with your application
Governing bodies comprise representatives from the school staff, the Local Authority, the local community, parents and, in particular circumstances, members of churches and other interest groups.
- Community Governors are appointed by the governing body to represent the community They may also have no previous experience or knowledge of the school whose governing body they join.
- Local Authority (LA) Governors are appointed by the Local Authority that maintains the school and in some cases these appointments are made on a party political basis. SGOSS is able to advise on particular circumstances in each area.
- Parent Governors are voted onto the governing body by other parents and are usually parents of children who attend the school.
- Staff Governors are elected by staff within the school
- Foundation Governors are appointed by the organisation that set up the school to to represent their interests. Further information on foundation governors is available from SGOSS.
- Associate Members are appointed in an advisory capacity by the governing body to enhance the experience or expertise of a committee(s). Associate members can attend full governor body meetings but have no voting rights.
Governing bodies have the power to establish schemes for paying expenses necessarily incurred when performing governor duties, from the school budget, to any governor who claims them. Governing bodies are encouraged to establish such schemes to broaden the field from which good governors can be drawn.
| Nursery schools | children aged 2-5 |
| Primary schools | children aged 5-11 |
| Secondary schools | children aged 11-18 (if school has 6th form) |
| Special schools | providing education for children with special educational needs |
Local authorities provide training for new and existing governors. This is free of charge to the individual governor, usually paid for by the school through a service level agreement. There is an expectation that all new governors will attend the governor induction programme, which is essential in helping them to understand their key roles. Schools should also have their own in-house induction arrangements.
Local authorities provide a range of other training opportunities to enable governors to develop their knowledge and skills and keep up to date with developments. Governors should be committed to attending further training during their term of office in order to be able to make an effective contribution to their governing body. Local authority governor services departments also provide a range of other support services, such as guidance documents, briefing papers, newsletters and advice.
Many employers appreciate that governors not only contribute, but also learn new skills that are useful in their place of work. Governors have the right to reasonable time off work for their public duties – although this may be unpaid. It is always worth checking with your manager and Human Resources department for the up-to-date policy.
Governing bodies need people who are prepared to make the necessary commitment but understand that governors are volunteers and may not be able to attend all meetings. Obviously the Chair of Governors would appreciate notice of non-attendance.
You can be a governor as long as you are resident within the country legally.
Governing bodies are established by law as corporate bodies. Responsibility for actions and decisions lies with the whole governing body and not with individual members. Governing bodies are covered by Local Authority insurance arrangements. All governors receive a copy of the Guide to the Law for School Governors to help them understand their role.
Yes. There is no reason why couples should not be elected to the same governing body although this is at the discretion of individual governing bodies..
Advice and support
- GovernorLine 08000 722181 - independent advice, information and support for serving governors across all areas of school governance.
- www.governornet.co.uk – volunteers and serving governors can access “A Guide to the Law for School Governors” and training and recruitment information. Every school should have a copy of “A Guide to the Law for School Governors” on CD-ROM.
- National Governors’ Association (NGA) 0121 643 5787 governorhq@nga.org.uk / www.nga.org.uk
- Information for School and College Governors (ISCG) 0207 229 0200
Publications
- National Governors’ Association – publications include the handbook for new governors, ‘Welcome to Governance’ (prices on application to NGA) a range of priced briefing papers, a distance and e-learning course ‘First Certificate in Governance’ and subscription to the national magazine ‘Governors’ News’ issued 5 times a year.
- ‘Adding Value to Governance’ by Dr. Anne Punter and Professor John Adams (commissioned by SGOSS and produced by University of Hertfordshire).
- ISCG – New revised ‘Manual for Governing Bodies and their Clerks’
- ‘Basics for School Governors’ by Joan Sallis (Network Educational Press)
- ‘Joined-up Governance’ by Ann Holt and Jane Martin (Adamson Books)
- ‘Becoming a School Governor’ by Carol Dadswell and Mike Simmonds with Ann Holt (John Hunt Publishing)
- ‘Recruitment and Selection – a practical guide for school governors and head teachers’ by Jane Phillips (Adamson Books)
- ‘Headteachers and Governing Bodies: a practical guide to making the partnership work’ by Martin Pounce (Adamson Books)