Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Parent governor - thinking of applying

22 replies

puddle · 12/10/2004 19:56

There's a vacancy at DS's new infant school (he's just started in reception) for a parent governor and I'm interested in going for it. Can anyone give me some feedback on what their experiences have been of being a P-G? I have to write a 200 word statement - what kind of things would the school be looking for? Am also wondering how you represent the many parents who have children at the school - do people contact you to raise things on their behalf, are you supposed to canvass opinion at the school gates etc?

OP posts:
poppyseed · 12/10/2004 20:36

bump for you puddle
I was a teacher governor in a school where the parents' support was few and far between.
Go for it girl!! Hope that someone can help you

clary · 13/10/2004 09:16

Hello Puddle
I have just been elected as a parent governor. We had to give a 100-wd statement and I just put a bit about me and my family, what I do for a living and why I wanted to be a PG (help the school, find out more abou child's education etc).

Five people stood for 3 places! which i think surprised them all a bit. We have already had a meeting and a first session of training so there is quite a commitment.

Our meetings are 6pm to 8pm tho which is not too bad. You should perhaps check that sort of thing out as some schools do much later, longer meetings!

As far as representign parents goes, we are told we should refer any parent who approaches us to the class teacher, then head teacher, or ask them to formally write to the governors - ie not deal with things on our own!

Of course people who know you are bound to raise issues I would have thought.

TBH I am wondering a bit what I have let myself in for, but also excited about a new challenge and a chance to find out more about how DS1's school (which is fantastic) is run and any way I can help and get more involved.
Good luck

lou33 · 13/10/2004 09:18

I think coddy is a pgov.

clary · 13/10/2004 09:27

is that a fact? Oooh come on Coddy, let's have yr top tips!

Elvis · 13/10/2004 09:29

I'm in the middle of an election at the moment to be PGov. Let you know how it goes.

Elvis · 13/10/2004 09:30

I'm in the middle of an election at the moment to be PGov. Let you know how it goes.

Original poster
puddle · 13/10/2004 10:16

Thanks Clary - yes I probably need to find out a bit more about the time commitment. Anyone else?

OP posts:
lou33 · 13/10/2004 10:31

As luck would have it I have just found a letter sent home from dd2's school about a pg vacancy. It has an faq attached. For how much time does it take up, its says from 6 hours per term, to as much as you care to commit. For querying skills or experience, it says "the key requirement is to care about education and to be prepeared to represent the interests of all the "stakeholders" at the school (i.e staff, pupils, lea, parents)

Parents of registered pupils at the school may offer themselves for election, and pgovs can serve for a term of up to four years irrespective of how long their child remains registered at the school.

You are disqualified from election or appointment as a pgov if you are an elected member of the LEA, or if you work at the school for more than 500 hours in a school year at the time of election or appointment (i.e for more than 1/3 of the hours of a full time equivalent)

Any help?

NomDePlume · 13/10/2004 10:34

Ailsa is also a PGov.

sinclair · 13/10/2004 10:38

Hello there P, I have been a PG at nursery sch for a year now, I was surprised just how much responsibility governors have - financial, interviewing staff etc. You will defintely get asked to join committees - usually finance/staffing/premises/curriculum/welfare etc but some smaller schools organise themselves into just 2 or 3 covering various related areas, and then each committee needs chairs, secretaries etc. Basically what I am saying is it is quite a commitment, in terms of time and brain space as well. Having said that if you work out where you can make a contribution it is very rewarding. I work p/t so felt I couldn't help with curriculum issues but can find way round balance sheet and that turned out to be very useful as running the budget has now been delegated down to the schools, to give you an example. I originally applied to get more connected to the sch - usual working mum guilt thing - and found that it was way more work than running the cake stall, but more rewarding too. HTH. Clary what committees have you signed up to?

Original poster
puddle · 13/10/2004 10:45

Thanks all - that's v helpful.
Sinclair - I work too and to be honest this is one of the reasons I wanted to get involved - although I am around a fair bit to drop my son off and pick him up it's a way to get more connected and also to try and make a contribution. My DD will be going there too - the school is going to play such a large part in our lives for the next few years and I wanted to support it as much as possible.

OP posts:
sinclair · 13/10/2004 14:33

That is exactly my situation with my younger DS coming up for a place (fingers crossed). There are 5 of us parent governors and a mix of working full or pt and SAHM/D - personally I think the mix of skills etc makes for a better team. Good luck!

clary · 13/10/2004 15:54

sinclair i signed up for premises and appeals, felt i couldn't handle finance, personnel was a bit too much of a daytime commitment (interviewing) and i think s/one else went for curriculum...

codswallop · 13/10/2004 16:09

yes Iam a gvbr adn am chair of the presonnel but
Its great

Cat me as have no time now!

MrYamamoto · 14/10/2004 11:25

www.governornet.co.uk is worth a peek. Janh was a parent Governor and is very well informed! Im new in the job so can say no more..good luck!

JanH · 14/10/2004 12:31

[puzzled] I was, MrY (when did you start being Mr, btw?) but don't remember talking about it here much!

MrYamamoto · 14/10/2004 13:16

Not stalking! just remembered reading you were before I applied. As to the other question...do you not think it suits??

JanH · 14/10/2004 17:26

It suits very well!

How is DD's leg btw? Have been meaning to ask for ages but never remember when I'm here. Hope it's much stronger now.

olliepolly · 14/10/2004 20:25

I have just committed myself to doing Pgov thing at dd's infant school. First meeting went on for 2 hrs 30 mins and was late home. Have opted for premises commmittee as knew I could not read a balance sheet and am not a teacher so was not sure about whether had anything to offer re curriculum. First impression is that there are a lot of very dry documents to read with lots of fine detail and my other concern is the other parent elected at the same time as me is a real pain.I do hope this is going to prove to have been a good idea.

MrYamamoto · 15/10/2004 13:06

dd swam 200m last night so I guess shes well on the road. Very lucky, dp's friend broke his neck last week and it looks grim.

codswallop · 15/10/2004 13:07

I love knowing abut hte school and feel its a really good way of helping out.

really helped in my mag application too

Original poster
puddle · 15/10/2004 13:11

Thanks for all these comments - I've definitely decided to put my name forward.
Any more advice on the application?
Codswallop - are you a magistrate too then?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page