To reconsider the role of chair

[UndecidedChair]

I’ve been keen on becoming a chair of governors for a few months now. I’m hoping the experience I gain can contribute toward career development for me in terms of management. There’s of course the contributing to society bit too.

Now I’m close to being allocated to a school but I’m hesitating because I’m concerned I might be taking too much on

My mentor is not in paid employment and she goes into the school a lot. I don’t have that kind of time to spare tbh. I’m concerned i might not be able to do a good job, if I don’t have as much time as she does.

I work full time, mostly from home and have two children. The school is 8miles away.

Am I right to think twice?
Any personal experiences to share?

Aibu- Take on the role. It’s rewarding and will benefit you and the school

Ainbu - it’s a massive role and if you’re unsure, don’t do it

If the expectation has been a succession plan for you to take over as chair and now you do not wish to, I would say to be open and honest with the school as soon as possible so they can revise their plans.

I don’t have experience of school boards but I do have governance and board experience.

I’m also not getting the comments about having to be present, etc. Surely the chair’s role is to oversee and provide strategic direction - not to be in school micro managing the head.

@Snoopsnoggysnog where do you think they oversee and set strategic direction from? When I worked for a charity our chair of trustees was in most weeks, largely that's where the meetings happened but also insight of operations is quite important too.

I must admit that I don’t agree with taking on the role to boost your CV.

Roles like this should be about altruistically giving back. I’m sure it’s common but it ought to be frowned upon.

@Tomatalillo I took on a governors role to have some agency in my kids school experiences/local children's education. I love it but as other have said it's a lot of work.

stopblowingyournose yes that’s what I meant. For the good of the school and the good of all the kids. Even if you have something particular in mind that would benefit your own kids, that’s vastly different to doing it so it looks good on a cv. It’s such an influential position that it needs the right people doing it.

@Tomatalillo

stopblowingyournose yes that’s what I meant. For the good of the school and the good of all the kids. Even if you have something particular in mind that would benefit your own kids, that’s vastly different to doing it so it looks good on a cv. It’s such an influential position that it needs the right people doing it.

I agree based on a year experience I have now. I think there is a perception it's a light role as it's unpaid but it's not. I really need to pull my finger out with the courses in the next few weeks I'm getting behind.

There is also some quite tiresome work involved around the areas that arnt your own specialism for example - estate budgets etc that need your full attention anyhow.

@TheChiefJo

Good luck with it, OP.

Thank you, that’s very kind of you @TheChiefJo

@Mummyford

I echo the concerns expressed by others about whether you really have the time and depth of knowledge necessary--I think you're wise to be thinking hard about whether this is the right moment and situation for you.

I do know people in full-time employment who have done it, but a lot depends on the school, the individual, etc., so I wouldn't necessarily think that would disqualify you.

I do think, to be very honest, that your motivation as you've stated it, isn't quite right. While I suppose it can be a useful addition to a CV, the 'contributing to society bit' will be the main benefit, so if that's not your primary reason for wanting to do it, I don't think you're going to get the results you're looking for. It is a lot of personal responsibility and requires a real commitment.

I'd also add that it sounds from your posts that while you've been a governor for a year, it's not been at the school where you would be chair? If that's right, I'd have some real concerns about the state of the school you would be going to. Why have they not looked to their existing governing body for someone to bring along? Bringing in a totally outside person with a background but minimal governance experience and no specific knowledge of the school would be worrying to me.

I see what you’re saying but I hoped saying “of course there’s the contributing to society bit would put across that it’s a given. My number 1 motivation for starting the whole governor business was that I still want to contribute to education after deciding to leave education. The contribution to my career development is something I hoped would happen but not the no1 reason.

@YorkshirePuddding

I've been involved in school governance for 25 years, as an LA support officer, as a chair, clerk and Governor at various schools. There's really no blueprint but there is a correlation between school context and time commitment. If yours is a Good school with no particular issues then much easier, a school in special measures is always a tough call.

I see no problem with becoming chair when working ft, plenty of people do it and have done it myself. As long as you're at the end of a phone that's fine. The focus now for all governors is having the right skills and if you're in this category you might well not have much daytime availability.

There are a few myths on this thread. There is a much reduced emphasis on governance in the current ofsted framework, and a short meeting of phone call is all that's likely especially if the school is good and likely to stay that way. So being in school for 3 days as someone said is extremely unlikely.

I also think there can be an inverse relationship between experience and effectiveness as a chair. Some of the most hopeless chairs I've come across are the most experienced.

As I'm sure you know, governance is a strategic, hands off role so I don't agree that you need a strong presence in school for staff benefit. This can actually encourage a blurring of roles.

You sound amazing OP and I think you should go for it! You're an experienced Governor, you've done training and you have the right attitude.

@YorkshirePuddding thanks very much!

I know the clerk is there to provide guidance and there is a lot of support from the training provider.
I really don’t want to do the job unless I can do it well.
I was sure I could do it but I’ve recently been ill and although I’m fine now, it’s got rethinking.

I’ve volunteered with children since I finished secondary school, trained to teach ( but changed careers due to family circumstances) and remain passionate about making a difference to young people’s lives where I can.

@Tomatalillo

I must admit that I don’t agree with taking on the role to boost your CV.

Roles like this should be about altruistically giving back. I’m sure it’s common but it ought to be frowned upon.

I can honestly tell you that’s not the main driver, not by a long shot. Probably in future but for the next few years, it’ll bear no relevance on my line of work.

I’ve always been part of the PTA at my children’s school. Becoming a governor was the next level of that journey.

I’m starting a masters’ level management and leadership apprenticeship at work that will be far more beneficial than the role as chair will ever be. It won’t be anywhere near as rewarding, of course.

I wouldn't do it until you have a lot more governance experience and your children are older.

I stepped down as Chair and from governance earlier this year after 9 years. It was the best decision ever. I had been trying to stand down for years due to lack of time with full time job and 3 young DC, but once you are in it is difficult to leave: the shortage of governors puts a guilt trip on you for leaving more work for good colleagues. We also had a huge traumatic event that affected staff badly and it was even more important that stability was maintained for everyone, so I felt obliged to stay an extra 18 months until we were all in a better place.

I don't miss governance or chairing at all. Much of what we experienced together as a GB and as a school left me disappointed in the system.

@Didiusfalco

i have been offered role as clerk to the governors. Did you enjoy the role? How many hours a week?

I used to be an "expert" clerk to governors. If the board can't manage to elect a chair and vice chair then it would suggest that their governance isn't strong. The last place a relatively inexperienced governor would want to go in as chair.
When governance is weak they should be looking for an experienced chair, maybe a National Leader of Governance for example.
Schools are trying to recruit governors and chairs of governing boards. If they find one they just elect them into a vacancy, so it's relatively straightforward.
If a chair is spending days in school every week then I'd suspect that they are over-stepping their role. The role of all governors is to be strategic, not to be involving themselves in the operational running of the school - that's the Head's job. It's also important to realise that the chair is just "first among equals". Their main role is to make sure that the board operates effectively - setting agendas and managing meetings. They also maintain a supportive relationship with the headteacher, but not to the extent that they know more about individual staff and pupils than the other governors. They have a few extra responsibilities - they might need to make urgent decisions within the strict definition of "Chair's Actions". They might have a stated role in say the complaints procedure, but not always.
Chairs of governors should only do what the rest of the board decide to delegate to them, and in that respect they are no different to anyone else.
But Op - I think you should put in some time as a regular governor before setting yourself up to be chair. Get a good understanding of governance first.

Make sure you're being offered some really good training right from the start. The Clerk is the legal adviser to the board, it's not just about creating agendas and minutes. Clerks get paid shit rates and stupid hours sometimes. I used to allow 12 hours for a full board meeting, at £30 per hour (self employed). It covered the meeting and the routine admin such as managing memberships. If they wanted governor training, monitoring or policy review managed then that was extra. Self employed clerks should look at the other services on offer and be looking to charge at least £300 for a full board meeting in my opinion. The good ones manage to charge more.

The role of governors and their focus will depend on whether it is state maintained or part of an Academy Trust. If part of a Trust there will be Trustees who will take on a lot of the responsibilities that used to be done by governors.

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