- Abigail Sampson - 24, Charity Worker and school governor at The Priory School, Hertfordshire.

"I had not thought of volunteering as a school governor before, it was not something I considered I would have the skills or experience to do. However SGOSS encouraged me to apply, suggesting that my own recent educational experience would be of real value. I have been able to contribute far more than I initially thought, learning lots in the process which has really developed my transferable skills, given me confidence and helped me be more productive at work."

- Harleen Kainth - 25, North East London, Marketing professional and is a serving governor at Gwyn Jones Primary School in Waltham Forest

“I have wanted to take part in a volunteering project for a while now and after talking to staff at SGOSS, I believe that school governance is a good opportunity for me to both get involved in the community and broaden my skill-set. I would like to help a school in my local area and I think that my recent first-hand experience of the modern education system as well as my experience, both academic and professional, would be a real benefit to a governing body.”

- Elaine Harris -is 24 and a Governor at Knavesmire Primary School in York.

“For a while I had wanted to learn some new skills and meet new people, so I did some research on the internet to see what volunteering opportunities were available in my area. One of the things that stood out was the idea of becoming a school governor."

"I already feel that I have learnt alot in only a few months, and I hope to learn more and be able to play a full part in this role."

- Peter Critchley, IT Manager - "Over the past 4 years, I’ve both given and gained so much. Working on different committees, and with my colleagues on the Governing Body, has enabled me to improve my own skills and has had a direct and positive impact on my business and the relationships I have with my own clients. Many of the skills I have learned have relevance throughout my life."

"Communication with people, both directly and indirectly is a really important part of the Governors role, and obviously, it’s very important in life – Being given a structured environment to learn and practice these skills has increased my own confidence, and has enabled me to pass on some of this important knowledge to my staff."

- Andrew Clarey - 22, Student at Lancaster University and school governor at Rivington Primary School, St. Helens.

“It (school governance) not only provides a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the local community but as I believe education is so important it is something that I really wanted to be involved with.”

“The most rewarding aspect of being a school governor is the fact that you are actively making a positive difference within the school community. You are in a fantastic position to make changes that will really affect young people who are in education.”

- Martin Jermyn - Martin Jermyn, 21, Student at Nottingham University and has been a governor at Hadden Park High School since 2006.

“I wanted to be proactive in the development of education in my local area, hopefully making positive changes due to observations I made in my own recent education.”

“I think it is crucial that young people are given the opportunity to make a difference at a young age, you shouldn’t have to wait till your 30+ and in a high flying career to feel like you’re making a significant difference in other peoples’ lives. Plus young people thrive in positions of responsibility and especially in an environment close to their hearts.”

- Tom Philpott - Tom Philpott 23, a governor at Marvels Lane Primary School in South East London - "I became a governor because I wanted to become more involved in my community. My work at Marvels Lane Primary allows me to meet people from a range of backgrounds that I might not normally have come across. The challenges that we face as a governing body, have also given me useful experiences which I can bring into my professional life."