To really hate being a school governor and want to step down after two years

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 2023-09-18T15:17:32+00:00

My DC are all grown up and as I have more time on my hands these days I volunteered to be a governor at the school they attended. I've been doing it for two years now, so I feel I've really given it a go. But honestly, I hate it. I don't mind attending meetings etc and giving my time it's not the hard work element as such. Just the actual make up of the board and the fact that I seem to be there to be a bum on a seat rather than because anyone is paying attention to anything I have to say. I feel like it's a lot of responsibility but I can hardly influence anything at all and have to go along with the status quo or upset the clique of people who have been there for years. It's a four year time but honestly I feel so miserable I just want to stand down. WIBU just to go? If it was a job I would have resigned by now.

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 18/09/2023 16:18

Sounds like hell...life is too short

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:23

There is a part of me that really wants to stick it out as I've made a commitment. But, honestly, the thought of carrying on is just miserable.

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VickyEadieofThigh · 18/09/2023 16:25

I'm a governor in one primary school and chair of governors for another. I dislike the meetings, largely because they're pretty dull and governing boards have very little power or influence (I don't particularly want any, but it might be more interesting if actual decisions were made). I used to be a secondary head, so I knew what meetings were like!

What I DO like is making myself useful to the head and staff. I do a bit of teaching every year (subjects on the curriculum in which I have expertise), which frees up the staff to do other things, regularly go in and do learning walks with the head or other staff which enables them to see aspects of the school through 'outside eyes', meet with groups of children to do 'pupil voice' interviews, support school visits and trips, etc.

Could you identify any similar activities which might make you feel a bit more "useful"?

mrswhiplington · 18/09/2023 16:25

Just tell them you need to leave for personal reasons. You gave it a go and it's not for you. I've left jobs more quickly.

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:28

VickyEadieofThigh · 18/09/2023 16:25

I'm a governor in one primary school and chair of governors for another. I dislike the meetings, largely because they're pretty dull and governing boards have very little power or influence (I don't particularly want any, but it might be more interesting if actual decisions were made). I used to be a secondary head, so I knew what meetings were like!

What I DO like is making myself useful to the head and staff. I do a bit of teaching every year (subjects on the curriculum in which I have expertise), which frees up the staff to do other things, regularly go in and do learning walks with the head or other staff which enables them to see aspects of the school through 'outside eyes', meet with groups of children to do 'pupil voice' interviews, support school visits and trips, etc.

Could you identify any similar activities which might make you feel a bit more "useful"?

I'm surprised your going in and doing anything as operational as teaching that is an absolute no-no on our board.

Strategic and hands off only.

Glad you are enjoying it, though.

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Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:28

mrswhiplington · 18/09/2023 16:25

Just tell them you need to leave for personal reasons. You gave it a go and it's not for you. I've left jobs more quickly.

Thank you, this is my view. I've given it a crack and it's just not working for me.

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2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps · 18/09/2023 16:34

I'm on a Board for a credit union and I am going through the same experience.

They are so short of numbers that they accept any volunteer who expresses an interest, as opposed to finding people who share the same goals. We recently had our strategy day and I've come away from it very disheartened. It seemed to me that the management had their strategy all pre-planned and just steered the board into agreeing with what they want. When things were queried, the more cliquey members pushed things through. Alas, I have disengaged. I will serve out my term and leave them to it. It's sad, as I feel I offer a valuable viewpoint and experience but I'm a voice lost in the wind and I really have better things to do with my time than to battle a bias Board/Management team. Life is too short.

Bluevelvetsofa · 18/09/2023 16:35

I left one governing body when it became very apparent that there was no way of offering a critical friend challenge to the head. It’s interesting that she has now left and there’s only one person on the board that was there when I was.

I was persuaded to join a local school governing body and I think it’s going the same way. If I don’t feel valued or useful, I’ll have no compunction in resigning. Not surprising so many schools are struggling to recruit.

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:37

2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps · 18/09/2023 16:34

I'm on a Board for a credit union and I am going through the same experience.

They are so short of numbers that they accept any volunteer who expresses an interest, as opposed to finding people who share the same goals. We recently had our strategy day and I've come away from it very disheartened. It seemed to me that the management had their strategy all pre-planned and just steered the board into agreeing with what they want. When things were queried, the more cliquey members pushed things through. Alas, I have disengaged. I will serve out my term and leave them to it. It's sad, as I feel I offer a valuable viewpoint and experience but I'm a voice lost in the wind and I really have better things to do with my time than to battle a bias Board/Management team. Life is too short.

Thanks so much for this perspective, this is exactly how I feel.

That they want me to sign off on things and not challenge them, when the role is literally supposed to be about offering critique.

I have a lot of knowledge and expertise in a particular area that is being ignored, or at the very least not welcomed. It feels like a waste of my time and it also compromises me professionally to know that I'm associated with practice I don't agree with. I have tried my best to win hearts and minds and I'm just fed up of it now.

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Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:39

Bluevelvetsofa · 18/09/2023 16:35

I left one governing body when it became very apparent that there was no way of offering a critical friend challenge to the head. It’s interesting that she has now left and there’s only one person on the board that was there when I was.

I was persuaded to join a local school governing body and I think it’s going the same way. If I don’t feel valued or useful, I’ll have no compunction in resigning. Not surprising so many schools are struggling to recruit.

Sorry to hear you've had this experience, too. Not valued or helpful is exactly how I feel. Mostly I've just had snark about meetings I can't make (I don't have a very flexible job and they schedule them in the middle of the working day) despite attending every FGB and every school event for the last two years.

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VickyEadieofThigh · 18/09/2023 16:41

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:28

I'm surprised your going in and doing anything as operational as teaching that is an absolute no-no on our board.

Strategic and hands off only.

Glad you are enjoying it, though.

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Quite a few governors on every GB are paid employees of the school - there's no reason at all why other governors can't be involved (especially where qualified) in supporting the school. One governor is a police officer and does assemblies and lessons on safety (safeguarding, e-safety, etc). Another is the local vicar and he regularly goes in to do assemblies and other activities.

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:43

VickyEadieofThigh · 18/09/2023 16:41

Quite a few governors on every GB are paid employees of the school - there's no reason at all why other governors can't be involved (especially where qualified) in supporting the school. One governor is a police officer and does assemblies and lessons on safety (safeguarding, e-safety, etc). Another is the local vicar and he regularly goes in to do assemblies and other activities.

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That's nice for you all.

Our board would not allow that.

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MinnieMountain · 18/09/2023 16:43

I lasted 2.5 years. I mentioned some targets that the HT hadn’t achieved and asked her to explain why (pay review committee). She got stroppy, the other governors baked her up.
As PP have said, governors are supposed to support AND challenge. What’s the point if we can’t?

MinnieMountain · 18/09/2023 16:44

*backed

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:47

MinnieMountain · 18/09/2023 16:43

I lasted 2.5 years. I mentioned some targets that the HT hadn’t achieved and asked her to explain why (pay review committee). She got stroppy, the other governors baked her up.
As PP have said, governors are supposed to support AND challenge. What’s the point if we can’t?

Sorry to hear you had that experience.

I feel exactly like this, like no one on the board has my back and that they just want to keep the status quo as it is.

I wouldn't feel comfortable challenging the head in a meeting, I think it would make me even more of an outsider than I am.

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Dixiechickonhols · 18/09/2023 16:48

2years is a huge amount of time to give. You are a volunteer, if it’s not suiting you then time to move on.
The work reasons are as good a reason as any. You are unable to attend midday meetings due to paid work commitments and feel best to step down.

Gonegrey31 · 18/09/2023 16:49

I would stand down in the circumstances you have described. You are clearly a conscientious and committed individual who understands what the role should involve. Don’t soldier on , find another organisation where you can play a full part . Their loss .

Jackydaytona · 18/09/2023 16:49

VickyEadieofThigh · 18/09/2023 16:41

Quite a few governors on every GB are paid employees of the school - there's no reason at all why other governors can't be involved (especially where qualified) in supporting the school. One governor is a police officer and does assemblies and lessons on safety (safeguarding, e-safety, etc). Another is the local vicar and he regularly goes in to do assemblies and other activities.

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Only staff gov and ht az 3x officio

I think you're probably in breach of the terms of reference

Jackydaytona · 18/09/2023 16:50

Ex officio even

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:53

Jackydaytona · 18/09/2023 16:49

Only staff gov and ht az 3x officio

I think you're probably in breach of the terms of reference

Show quote history

Yes, this was my understanding.

Our Staff Governors were told they had to stand down at last FGB, apparently there is no longer such as thing, nationally - they can be committee members I believe but no longer Full Governors.

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TizerorFizz · 18/09/2023 16:53

@kevinknowsimmiserabletho

Bear with me! I know exactly how you feel! I did two stints of being a governor around 25-18 years ago. First school had a great head. I was parachuted in to be Chair because the school was below “satisfactory” when inspected. The head was first class and managed to pull the school up. Unfortunately lots of flack from some staff as changes were made. Head moved on and the next one was great at interview but she was awful. So, long story short: she resigned and my fellow governors didn’t put me on the selection/interview panel. Pay back time as they put teacher and staff governor on whose friends were governors. So I walked out. Obviously. Since I was the only governor who ever did any training, or looked at data, or basically did anything, I deeply resented their attitude.

Next school. New inexperienced secondary Head who decided to exclude pupils for no good reason. My job had been dealing with excluded DC and I knew the law. He didn’t. So obviously I was wrong and the governors backed the head but appeal panels reinstated. As I knew they would. This is some years ago but the governors were not going to listen. Again no training done and arrogant men who knew nothing. Heads report was a single sheet of A4. So what was going on in school? No one knew.

Roll on a few years. Have another go. Eventually I’m the only one of the GB who isn’t a teacher, retired teacher or school employee at this school or elsewhere. Everyone else left. All reports of visits had to go via the head who put red lines through bits she didn’t like. Loads of meetings went on between her and the chair with no reports to governors. No idea what I was doing there except rubber stamping their efforts. Which, we’re pretty good, but they didn’t need governors. So I escaped after three years.

Before DC I trained governors. I know the role of governors. I undertook extensive training myself to keep up to date. I made appointments to visit staff as required. I read all the papers - 36 pages of the heads report . I sat on committees. I took a lot of interest in the data and everything we were required to do. I didn’t miss meetings. And yet I was an outsider and very much made to feel this by the other” insider” governors if I asked a question - which mostly had to go to head in advance via the heads report to be answered. No left field questions permitted. It was hard work and joyless.

So if it’s not for you. Walk away. I felt huge relief when I did.

Spendonsend · 18/09/2023 16:55

I'm a clerk and Im amazed anyone does it!

I wonder if a trustee of a charity would be more rewarding or just the same in a different setting.

Something that is rewarding is volunteer reading.

Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:56

Dixiechickonhols · 18/09/2023 16:48

2years is a huge amount of time to give. You are a volunteer, if it’s not suiting you then time to move on.
The work reasons are as good a reason as any. You are unable to attend midday meetings due to paid work commitments and feel best to step down.

Thank you, your post really made me feel better, it's appreciated.

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Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:57

Gonegrey31 · 18/09/2023 16:49

I would stand down in the circumstances you have described. You are clearly a conscientious and committed individual who understands what the role should involve. Don’t soldier on , find another organisation where you can play a full part . Their loss .

Thank you, I appreciate that!

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Original poster

kevinknowsimmiserabletho · 18/09/2023 16:57

TizerorFizz · 18/09/2023 16:53

@kevinknowsimmiserabletho

Bear with me! I know exactly how you feel! I did two stints of being a governor around 25-18 years ago. First school had a great head. I was parachuted in to be Chair because the school was below “satisfactory” when inspected. The head was first class and managed to pull the school up. Unfortunately lots of flack from some staff as changes were made. Head moved on and the next one was great at interview but she was awful. So, long story short: she resigned and my fellow governors didn’t put me on the selection/interview panel. Pay back time as they put teacher and staff governor on whose friends were governors. So I walked out. Obviously. Since I was the only governor who ever did any training, or looked at data, or basically did anything, I deeply resented their attitude.

Next school. New inexperienced secondary Head who decided to exclude pupils for no good reason. My job had been dealing with excluded DC and I knew the law. He didn’t. So obviously I was wrong and the governors backed the head but appeal panels reinstated. As I knew they would. This is some years ago but the governors were not going to listen. Again no training done and arrogant men who knew nothing. Heads report was a single sheet of A4. So what was going on in school? No one knew.

Roll on a few years. Have another go. Eventually I’m the only one of the GB who isn’t a teacher, retired teacher or school employee at this school or elsewhere. Everyone else left. All reports of visits had to go via the head who put red lines through bits she didn’t like. Loads of meetings went on between her and the chair with no reports to governors. No idea what I was doing there except rubber stamping their efforts. Which, we’re pretty good, but they didn’t need governors. So I escaped after three years.

Before DC I trained governors. I know the role of governors. I undertook extensive training myself to keep up to date. I made appointments to visit staff as required. I read all the papers - 36 pages of the heads report . I sat on committees. I took a lot of interest in the data and everything we were required to do. I didn’t miss meetings. And yet I was an outsider and very much made to feel this by the other” insider” governors if I asked a question - which mostly had to go to head in advance via the heads report to be answered. No left field questions permitted. It was hard work and joyless.

So if it’s not for you. Walk away. I felt huge relief when I did.

Wow! Does it ever go well? I'd love to hear what it's like when it's good. It sounds like you were completely wasted and that's such a shame :(

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