Becoming a School Governor
Becoming a school governor is one of the most important ways in which you can help your local school.
School governors are responsible for making sure the school provides a
good quality education. Together with the headteacher, who is
responsible for day-to-day management, they set the school's aims and
policies as well as carrying out a number of other important duties.
These include:
- 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
- Pupils behaviour and discipline.
If you were to become a school governor you would be one of between
nine and 21 people making up the governing body. Advice, support and
training in carrying out the role is given by the Local Authority and
much of the work is done in working groups or sub-committees where you
can share your experience with other members.
The term of office for a school governor is normally four years and
you would be expected to attend at least one meeting per term. Most
governors find they usually attend meetings or visit school three or
four times a term.
Being a school governor is demanding but rewarding and a good way of
putting something into your local community. You don't have to be a
parent of a child at the school, but if you are you can also know that
you are having a direct influence on the quality of your child's
education.
Support for Governors
Schools in Nottinghamshire purchase the services provided by the Local Authority to support governing bodies.
Alongside the clerking service, the training and development
programme and the headteacher appointment service additional support
packages can also be provided for governing bodies that find themselves
in challenging circumstances.
The 2011/12 Prospectus [PDF] is now available and contains a full description of the services available.
