Is anyone a school governor?

[MrsFogi]

Could you give me an idea of what sort of time commitment it entails? + any other info on the nature of the job much appreciated. What are the downsides/upsides? Do you choose the school or does the school choose you?

Yes, I am.

The time commitment varies from school to school but for me it's one meeting per term of the full governing body and about three per term of the sub-committee (every governor is a member of a sub-committee). I usually attend about two training events a term, usually for a couple of hours in the evening.

There are different routes into being a governor. Parent governors, for example, are usually elected by a vote amongst the parents (although this may be a formality if there are fewer candidates than posts). Governing bodies also have local education authority (LEA) governors; some LEAs invite people to apply, interview them and then (if they're selected) they can choose between the local schools with LEA governor vacancies. So - depending on your LEA's system - you do get some choice about where you serve.

Governornet is a useful source of information.

DH started in Sept. He was nominated by a friend, but I think he was the only nominee (parent governor). He went on a full day training course and has been to at least a meeting a month so far, maybe 2.

He is loving knowing how the system works etc and is really enjoying it.

I have to confess I did not want him to do it and still wish he wasn't. I was asked to be staff governor once but I turned it down.

I've been a school Governor for many years (now Vice-Chair) - a very lovely large primary school in a very mixed area so we get children of every background and ability level.

I'd recommend it to anyone. It does take a bit of time once a fortnight or so for meetings in the evening (school time only), and there's reading and thinking to be done, but it's a lovely way to be part of a community, and they've been very supportive of me and my need to work in a certain way, too.

PS, you can apply direct to the school, or approach the local Council to see if they need any 'council-sponsored' Governors anywhere. Very few schools would turn away a willing person these days.

A couple of our governors own shops in the catchement area (it is a large village school in a rural area) and they have told DH with a couple of his sub-committees that they don't envy him his position as they have had parents going into their shops and being a bit abrasive about stuff at school. Worth considering.

Yes, I think you do need to decide how 'open' you are to being lobbied at the bus stop/in the pub/in the supermarket about school governor business.

At my school we have a full governing body meeting once per half term, and then usually sit on two sub-committees which meet once per half term. In addition we have Link roles (optional) so a governor is allocated to each class and is expected to go in and help/play once a term minimum. I'm the Chair, which is extremely time consuming (have just returned from a 2 hour meeting), but it's much less for other governors.

A lot of it is what you want to make of it - the training is usually of a very high standard, you learn a lot of new skills (in my case budgeting) and it's very rewarding. This is one way in - they fill Community and LEA vacancies, or you can stand as a Parent Gov.

Thanks for all the tips that gives me a better idea.