School Governor

It doesn't really matter
Schools need Governors and as long as someone doesn't have a terrible ulterior motive then they should be gratefully accepted

I do it but not at a school where my DC are or ever were. Because of that I tend to do the PX stuff and leave the more fluffy stuff to parents
I enjoy it and its not too onerous, not sure it helps my CV but thats not why I do it anyway

I've been a governor for years. It's interesting. The amount of work depends on the amount of extra responsibilities that you take on board.

Be aware that most of the meetings will probably be in the evenings.

Governing bodies vary a lot. I spent around 15 years on one where the majority of governors who stuck around had backgrounds in education and finance. No legal bods at all, though the clerk was a great guide. I found my role involved a lot of background reading to ensure I stayed abreast with changes in legislation.

It’s about strategic oversight of the school’s educational performance and spending public money so you don’t necessarily have to have any specialist skills. Just curiosity, integrity and an interest in the school doing well for the best interests of the children.

I don't think wanting to improve your CV is a good or noble motivation.

Oh, it is. Can also be frustrating trying to explain for the 20th time that the Law doesn't say that to a Head or Chair who is convinced that reality is determined by what they say it is.

Your employer should give you some time for this as it is a public duty. Slightly different but I am a trustee and our chair is keen that employers release us so it is not all done in our own time.

I found it more time consuming than I expected but I ended up on lots of group and leading 3 areas. It was fascinating, i formative, interesting, frustrating and productive. Ofsted was scary but we worked amazingly well as a team.

Do something you have an interest in e.g. area of curriculum, finance, link to SEND, link to PTA etc.

If you are a parent governor, you have to make it very clear that it’s not your role to take on their complaints. It’s a strategic role, to act as a critical friend with regard to the school as a whole, the strategy for the future, long term planning and results.

I think, if done properly, there is more work that a termly GB meeting and some committee meetings. You should be abreast of all policies, the future plans for the school, the finances and anything else that’s strategic. You need to be aware of the development plan, SEND, what Ofsted will focus on etc.

It is very rewarding and gives a real insight into the challenges faced by schools, particularly in terms of finance.

I find it very rewarding, though it is more work than you ever expect. Particularly if you are in the Ofsted window or need to be involves in recruitment of a new Deputy or Head, all of which I have done during my two terms so far!

I find it hardest to navigate other parents expectations, as in they think you are a "representative" of their concerns etc. and come to you with trivial matters as they don't understand the role. Also find it hard when there is moaning in the whatsapps and you want to bite back with hiw hard everyone works behind the scenes that the don't see!

I was a school governor. It wasn’t that much work. A meeting once every half term, then whatever else came up.

I was a governor at my kids’ school and thought it would be a good way to CV boost my skills during a SAHM period of life. I’m also a solicitor so similarly thought I’d have some skills that would be helpful. On my board there was 4 current or former solicitors so it seems to attract that type 😂

It was incredibly interesting and also slight depressing to see the state of funding, behaviour etc in school but it is a really time consuming endeavour in terms of the initial training and also in order to really understand the school and the role so that you can do a decent job. Plus I found the schedule for meetings was very fixed and inflexible so I found I was having to organise a lot of childcare for meetings which was why I ultimately stepped down.

It is a very interesting role and can take up a lot of time. depending on what sub committees you join.
I've done it for 20 years.