See the Essex County Council website for school governor information
The role of the school governor is demanding but very rewarding and is a good way to give back to your local community. School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a good quality education. Together with the headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, they set the school's aims and policies.
Key roles of governors:
- To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
- To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its funding is well spent
They also carry out a number of other important duties, which include:
- Determining how the school's budget is spent
- The appointing and dismissing of staff
- Hearing appeals and grievances
- Forming policy on the school's curriculum and collective worship
- Setting standards for pupils' behaviour and discipline
- Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
- Setting and monitoring the school's aims and policies
Who can be a school governor?
You don't have to have children at the school to be a governor. However, you do have to be over 18, and pass a formal check for your suitability to be within a school. No specific qualifications are required but there are certain expectations.
What's really important is that you have the skills, time and commitment to help drive school improvement as well as the passion and ambition to achieve the best possible education for children and young people. One of the key Essex priorities is that every school in Essex is judged to be at least 'Good' by 2018.
EES for Schools Governor Services have developed a charter for local authority governors that sets out our expectations and commitment to support.
Effective governance will include these core features:
- Commitment to ongoing development and to getting to know the school well, including effective induction.
- Commitment to playing an active part whilst working as part of a team.
- Ability to provide robust challenge and hold school leaders to account whilst listening to and respecting the views of others.
- Focus on a strategic role rather than involvement in operational matters
Information is also provided to help you, or advice and support if you are already a school governor or clerk
