Becoming a School Governor in Kingston

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All schools need governors, people like you, who are interested in supporting a local school. There are over 300,000 school governors; one of the largest volunteer groups in the UK.

If you are:

• keen to contribute to your local community in a voluntary way
• excited to help improve the education provided for children and young people in a local school
• able to bring enthusiasm, commitment and fresh ideas to the work of the school’s governing body; and
• someone with the time to give to the important role of being a school governor  

Then please read on.

Schools are changing – and so are governing bodies.  The Government is committed to raising educational standards in the classroom, and to increasing the role of parents and the local community. Volunteers are needed to help our children reach their full potential.

As a school governor the most important thing you need is commitment, enthusiasm and a contribution of your time to this rewarding role.  We’ll provide you with the training you need.

Anyone over 18 who is keen to make a positive contribution

Governors work as a team.  They are responsible for making sure the school provides a good quality education.  Raising educational standards in school is a key priority.  This has the best chance of happening when there are high expectations of what pupils can achieve.

Governors also promote effective ways of teaching and learning when setting the school aims and policies.  They do this together with the Head, who is responsible for the day-today management of the school.  Headteachers are chosen by governors and most heads are governors themselves.

Every school has a governing body.  It will include:-

• parents elected by other parents at the school
• staff elected by their colleagues and the Headteacher
• local authority governors
• community governors co-opted by other members of the governing body

They may also include representatives from the local authority, church, charitable trust or business interests.  Special schools may have health authority or voluntary organisation representatives. Governing bodies are responsible to parents, funders, the community and OfSTED.  Numbers vary from a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 20 depending on the school’s type or size.  Appointments are for four years.

The governing body’s main role is to help raise standards of achievement.  It:-

• is accountable for the performance of the schools to parents and the wider community
• plans the school’s future direction
• selects the Headteacher
• makes decisions on the school’s budget and staffing
• makes sure the National Curriculum is taught
• decides how the school can encourage pupils’ spiritual, moral, emotional and cultural development
• makes sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special needs

Governors can get a great deal from the work and time they put in.  It gives them a chance to

• make a difference to how well the school runs
• see how their efforts help raise standards
• do something positive for the next generation
• serve the local community and
• help realise their own potential by learning new skills

Schools are part of the community they serve – and can provide a focal point for improving life chances for adults too.

Everyone has something to offer their local school.  But governors find that they gain a lot too.  From meeting new people to gaining new skills and most importantly the knowledge that you are helping to improve educational standards for youngsters in your area.

Many employers encourage staff to become school governors.  They realise that the skills gained from being a governor are transferable to the workplace.

The Governor Support Unit aims to provided support, information and training to enable governors to be effective in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities in accordance with legislation and best practice. If you would like more information on becoming a governor please contact the Governor Support Unit:

Hatija Bhatia
Principal Admissions and Governance Officer
Telephone: 020 8547 5284

Sandra Rosato
Governor Support Assistant/Inspectors PA
Telephone: 020 8547 5282

Email:Governor.support@rbk.kingston.gov.uk