Do school governors have perks?

[itsraining2024]

Parent governor at my child’s school gets to pick her kids up 5 mins earlier than everyone else and from a different side entrance. I’m not sure if this is normal. We all have other children to pick up and get late. I’d understand if she was a school teacher.

Nothing wrong with that! I meant there's nothing wrong with looking professional and it isn't sinister in the way OP seems to suggest. I don't think that there is an expectation to. I phrased that incorrectly.

I applied to be one at our school and didn't get elected. I doubt I'd have been going in anything other than jeans and trainers if I had been elected.

I think it depends on the headteacher and the governors relationship with them. At my kids old school, one governor in particular indeed had some perks and his children were always chosen for news articles/events/prize winners. Possibly deserved in some cases but definitely not all. Sadly it caused some resentment from other children in those children’s classes because they could absolutely see it too.

No, not in 33 yrs as a governor... although at one school when I was Chair I did get to sit in the front row for the Christmas Concert but that was the year that the school recorder group was launched... three verses of Good King Wencelaus, each sounding distinctly different.

I suspect if I added up the time spent clearing papers, attending meetings, panels and school visits, to say nothing of leaving gifts and earning my title as governor for cakeage, it has probably cost me a pretty penny. Do I regret it, not a bit, it is and has been a real privilege.

I’m not saying this is not true- but how do you know it is?

I buy my HT biscuits not the other way round. I also get a modicum of abuse about things over which I have no control from parents and a huge amount of ‘job’ satisfaction. The only perk if it is one is the ability to WhatsApp the HT about policy documents that are missing from the meeting folder. This brings us closer.

Could it be that they had parents who were actively involved in and valued their education? So a head start in that respect resulting in good performance and a good attitude to learning?

Honestly, you sound so resentful of volunteers. Why? They have statutory duties. It’s hard work, and more demanding on time and energy than ever before. We go out for a meal as a group, we pay for it ourselves. We do so because it helps build our team.
How should I walk into school? Dressing gown and slippers? Beach sarong? Or in the clothes that I wear for work as often I am either on my way to, or from, work when I got to meetings.
Sign up to Governors for Schools. Ask at interview about “the perks” and responsibilities. You too can make a difference, without the need to be snarky about people’s dress.
Some governors in MATs are also directors of the company under company law, trustees of the MAT under charity law. There are lots of options for you, go on I dare you to be the change.

Resentful? Definitely not. It’s hard work especially if you have young children and are not appreciated. This thread is to gain and share insight and not personally attack people.

I’ve sometimes got a free school dinner after a ‘learning walk’ morning. The food was pretty good bearing in mind the budgets they’re working with. That’s the only perk I’ve had so far although we do get a cup of tea at meetings so maybe I should consider that a perk given that many others don’t even get that!

They were absolutely involved parents but every single competition in the years we were at the school this governors 3 children won first place. Not just one out of the 3 - all 3 of them when competitions were done by class. School used to post the winners along with their entries on the app - occasionally it was blatantly obvious that someone else’s entry was better.
it didn’t really affect my kids as they weren’t in class with any of these children but once I noticed I couldn’t stop seeing it. The eldest was well aware of it and actually seemed a bit embarrassed at times.