Role of a school govenor

[GoodDaysBadDays]

ds1 (14) attends a Special school for children with social, emotional and behavioral difficulties.

The school has had a very poor reputation for a long time (as a school for 'naughty/violent/out of control teens) but a new head is slowly bringing the school round as has lots of ideas of how to move the school forward (Academy status being one)

The school have approached me and asked if I would consider applying to become a parent governor. They do not have any parents on the governing body and haven't had for many years. Parental support is generally very poor, and this is something they are trying to work on.

I know it's a reasonable commitment of time, but I wanted some realistic idea of how much time and the type of things i'd be expected to be involved in. The head did say each governor was expected to have an area of responsibility.

I'm a sahm with 4dc's, 2 have sn. I have the capability to be ultra organised but have let myself slip in the last few years

I love a challenge, love to have something to think about and focus on and have always enjoyed sitting on a committee. [sad emoticon]

I am very interested and quite excited at the prospect but don't want to take too much on and let people down.

Anyone able to give me a little insight?

oops, I think I should make sure I can spell governor before I apply

It's really not that much work.

I go to 2 or 3 meetings a term.

Before each meeting I have to read a big sheaf of docs.

You get invited to every school event (special assemblies, sports day etc) - but you only go if you want to.

I find it great. I've found out so much about the school and the education system.

Not sure I've been much help though .

That is useful, thanks Indigo

what sort of things do you cover at the meetings?

Do you feel you make a difference?

Topics covered are finance, buildings, staffing, health&safety, curriculum, plus a few others. There are a lot of training courses if you want to go on them. Sounds like a good move - no one will expect you to know anything to start with and you like committees! Potential there to be really appreciated on governors if you show interest and I really believe your own child there benefits from your support. You'll know so much more about the place and the staff. Some of it will be confidential of course.

I make as much of a diff as any other governor

It depends on your HT how much governors get to help, and how much it is just a formality that has to be got through.

My HT is fab and asks for a few of us to volunteer to discuss stuff. Whenever she wants an extra person in a legal meeting she asks us to come, and even to discuss things like succession planning and ICT planning and the caterers......

But at a prev school we never did anything.

I think we bring diff points of view, because everyone else is so used to working in schools they don't know about how other places work....