Being a school governor is a challenging but hugely rewarding role. It will give you the chance to make a real difference to our young people, give something back to your local community and use and develop your skills in a board-level environment. You will also be joining the largest volunteer force in the country: there are over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state-funded schools in England.

Schools need governing boards that have a balance and diversity of knowledge, skills and experience to enable it to be effective. Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has repeatedly noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management - including by the governing board.

Anyone aged over 18 can be a governor or trustee (there are some exceptions) and you do not need to be a parent. There is no requirement for you to have an understanding of the education system, just the necessary skills, character and time to contribute. There is plenty of training available to help you learn about education. Schools need and benefit from a range of professional knowledge on their governing board including education, finance, human resources, legal, marketing and public relations, property and estates management, and organisational change.

As a governor, you will be able to:

• Use your own experience of education and life beyond school to inform conversations
• Develop and utilise your skills in a board-level environment
• Make a valuable contribution to education and your community
• Support and challenge the school so that it improves for pupils and staff
• Bring your unique experiences, perspectives and insights in to decision-making in the interests of the school community

The governing board provides strategic leadership and accountability in schools 

It has three key functions:

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

Governors set the aims and objectives for the school and set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher.

The instrument of government states that the governing body shall consist of:

• 2 parent governors
• 1 local authority governor
• 1 staff governor
• 1 headteacher
• 7 foundation governors

In a Voluntary Aided School, a majority of the governing body is made up of Foundation Governors, who are appointed by the Church with a duty to include maintaining the Church of England character of the school in their overall governance. One of these Foundation Governors is always identified as the ex-officio governor. There is a legal and ecclesiastical expectation that the parish priest should assume this role unless there are particular reasons against. Parent governors are elected by the parents of the school. A person is disqualified from being a parent governor if they are an elected member of the Local Authority or paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours. Local authority governors are nominated by the local authority but appointed by the governing body.  All full-time and part-time members of staff employed by the governing board are eligible to be elected as a staff governor. Staff governors are appointed by the governing board.

The headteacher of each school is ex-officio a staff governor, but he or she can decline to take up the position. Should they decide not to become a member of the governing body, their place is left vacant.

If you are interested in becoming a school governor, please email chairofgovernors@langdale.cumbria.sch.uk