parent governor election advice

[ohnono]

Voting finishes tomorrow in ds school for parent governors - there are two pages of candidates and i just don't know who to vote for. Do I pick the person I know and quite like, the Dad from ds class, the professional parent who might bring their expertise to the school, the person who wrote the most impressive pitch? I love to hear what other people do? Who did you pick at your school and were they a good choice?

[TidyBush]

Doesn't matter anyway. IME they'll come in and either be totally confuddled by rubber stamping the decisions that have already been stitched up the by the Chair of Govs and Head Teacher then leave after their period of tenure or they'll become part of the inner circle and stay for the next 20 years and be co-opted on to the board time and time again long after their kids have left the school.

[Takver]

I pick the person I know, so that if I have a query or a problem, its easier to approach them. Of course I wouldn't do that if I didn't think they'd do a good job too.

[Hassled]

Pick the person who you think actually gives a toss and isn't doing it so that their CV looks a bit more impressive. Who seems the most sincere? Who sounds like they're prepared to make some sort of commitment to the school? Who sounds like you just want them to say "blimey, he/she has a successful career?

[dockate]

Whoever you think will stick at it and do a good job. I have been a parent governor for 18 months now, and it does involve a lot of committment and time. But I am also absolutely loving it, despite the trauma of a recent OFSTED inspection. It doesn't need to be someone with any previous experience (in many ways, better NOT), but any useful outside experience is always useful (usually especially in finance). The parent governors are not there to bring parent disputes/ issues/ complaints to the board of governors, but to act as 'Critical Friends' to the school, challenge the senior management team and improve the place.

If you have a candidate who you think is likely to do that, (rather than just sit at meetings silently seething that their preconceived ideas of being able to influence their own child's school career were completely wrong!), then vote for them!

[ohnono]

Thanks for the helpful posts. I think part of the problem is too much choice. I did a little mumsnet searching before I posted and it seems like our school might be a bit odd in having so many eager parents! I think there's a few I can cross off the list already and tbh although I haven't been around the school long I can't stand the idea of the "queen" of the pta being a governor too so the list of possibles is narrowing!!

[Wordsmith]

2 pages of candidates!! I can see your problem. I would pick someone you know and like, as long as you don't think they're doing it just to get advantage for their child.

Schools tend to like people with 'useful' skills, so lawyers, HR people and especially teachers/ex-teachers seem to dominate in my experience. I am a sch governor with NO public sector/education experience (other than as a pupil and a parent) and must say, even 2 years in, I find some of the jargon completely confusing.

When I stood for election my pitch was that i was going to try and represent parents' interests on the board of governors, which I try to do - not always easy.

Guess you've already voted now anyway, so this is academic.