Role of the Governing Body

The role of the Governing Body is to:

• set the school’s strategic direction
• hold the Head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• ensure that the school’s budget is properly managed and money is well spent

School governors usually serve a four year term of office, but can resign at any time.

If you become a school governor, you will be expected to:

• attend three meetings of the governing body every year, plus meetings for any committees you’re on
• visit the school once a term
• commit to complete on-going training to continuously update your knowledge

 

How to apply

Contact the school to find out if there are any vacancies. You can learn more about the role of a school governor from the Inspiring Governors Alliance and Governors for Schools.

 

Types of school governor

There are six types of school governor:

• Parent governors are parents of children attending the school and are elected by other parents.
• Co-opted governors are appointed by the governing body and usually have specific skills that will help run the school.
• Staff governors work in the school as teachers or support staff and are elected by staff at the school.
• Foundation governors are appointed by the Archbishop of the Dioceses of Westminster.
• Local Authority governors are appointed by the governing body following a nomination from the local council. These are often from local political parties.

Associate members of committees will have specialist knowledge of a committee’s subject area. They are appointed by the governing body.

Who can't be a school governor?

 

You are not able to be a school governor if, you:

• are a registered pupil at the school
• are under 18 at the date of election or appointment
• have had your estate sequestrated and the sequestration has not been discharged, annulled or reduced

are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim order.

 

• are subject to a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or under Part 2 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(c), or a disqualification undertaking accepted under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002(d); or (d) an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986(e) (failure to pay under county court administration order).
• have been removed from the office of trustee for a charity by an order made by the Charity Commissioners or the High Court on the grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity for which you were responsible or privy, or to which you contributed or which you facilitated by your conduct; or (b) have been removed, under section 34 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005(a) (Powers of Court of Session), from being concerned in the management or control of any body
• are disqualified from working with children
• have been convicted of any offence within the last five years and been passed a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months without the option of a fine
• have been convicted of any offence in the last 20 years and had a sentence of imprisonment for a period of not less than two and a half years
• have at any time been convicted of any offence and passed on a sentence of imprisonment for a period of not less than five years
• have been convicted under section 547 of EA 1996(a) (nuisance or disturbance on school premises) in the last five years or under section 85A of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992(b) (Nuisance or disturbance on educational premises) of an offence and have been sentenced to a fine
• refuse a request by the clerk to the governing body to make an application under section 113A of the Police Act 1997 for a criminal records certificate.