As a school governor/ trustee you have the opportunity to make a positive impact upon the lives of young people whilst giving something back to the heart and soul of our communities – local schools.
But often people can misunderstand the role of a governor/trustee, the training you need to join a board, or the day-to-day experience of serving in the position.
So, we have put together a helpful guide to bust of some of the misconceptions of school governance.
1. You need special qualifications to be a school governor
This is not the case. Governing boards are looking for people with a wide-range of skills from financial planning to human resources to team-leadership. Often boards are as interested in your attitude as they are in your skill-set.
2. You have to be a parent to be a governor
This is also not the case. Anyone over the age of 18 can serve as a governor. So long as you’re motivated, passionate about improving the lives of young people, and want to serve your community you’re the right kind of person to become a governor.
3. Being a school governor takes up a lot of time
In fact, the average amount of time a person spends on governing is between 5 and 8 hours a month – during term time and mostly out of office hours. Considering the difference that you will make, this is not a lot of time at all.
4. Governance is old-fashioned
Shaping the future excellence of a school is so rewarding and governing boards are more dynamic than ever, looking to recruit people from every cultural background, age-group, and career.