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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Parent Govenors

26 replies

annieshaf · 12/02/2011 15:58

Hi I am thinking of volunteering to act as a Parent Governor at Ds's school. I have been reading through some older threads about this to find out what is involved and what peoples experience of doing this has been.

As a result of this I have been thinking about what I would be able to add to the school as well as what I would get out of it.

I am a qualified accountant and have worked in a large firm of accountants for 12 years. I then worked in a small Nursery school (family business) for two years before having DS1 and 2. I am now working part time as a freelance accountant specialising in the preparation of business plans and I think I have skills which would be useful although I know I will have a lot to learn about how schools are run.

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experience of being a school governor as to whether you think I could be useful or whether my predominatedly commercial experience would be of little use.
Thanks

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spanieleyes · 12/02/2011 16:04

An accountant as a governor, you would be welcomed with open arms! The financial side of running even a small primary is HUGE and anyone with any experience in accountancy would be invaluable. You would need to become familiar with school systems but that wouldn't take too long ( there has to be some method in the madness of LA allocations, surely!) and any finance committee would welcome the input. Go for it!

profound · 12/02/2011 16:07

Hello, I am a Headteacher and I am not bothered about who has what experience as along as they can be reasonable, listen to advice (from me!), though not necessarily agree (you are there to save me from my own bright ideas!), be supportive, hold us to account (i.e get us to prove that we are doing the best for every child as far as humanly possible). You must go into it prepared to act on behalf of all the children not in the interests of your own DCs.

TBH commercial experience isn't a lot of use - I know how to run a school budget and I can get loads of advice from the LA if necessary. However, your intelligent advice and support, to me and all the staff would be very much appreciated!

Do go for it, as HT your life is a million times easier if you have good Governors!

DanFmDorking · 12/02/2011 18:42

Being a Governor varies slightly from school to school. The main thing is ?time and commitment?. You should think of the Governor meetings as meetings that you must attend and arrange your social/work life around them. You should attend the training sessions that your Local Authority provides.

School Governors are the biggest volunteer organisation in the UK. We estimate that it takes up about 35hrs per year although, of course, it depends on how involved you want to be.

I hope I haven?t interpreted spanieleyes?s post incorrectly but your duties as a Governor are to see that the financial side is run properly, not to do the work yourself. Governors deal with things which are 'a step away' from the 'day to day' running of the school.

I?m sure you can google ?being a school governor? yourself but:-

Being a Governor can be extremely rewarding and interesting but for most people there is a steep learning curve before they feel that they are doing something worthwhile. As the Governing Body operates at a mainly strategic level there is a fair amount of paperwork that comes our way that at times can seem daunting.

The Role of a School Governor

1 To Provide a Strategic View
2 To Act as a ?Critical Friend?
3 To Ensure Accountability

Good Luck

spanieleyes · 12/02/2011 19:28

Sorry, didn't mean to suggest you would be doing the school accounts! As other's have said, the role of the governor is advise and inquire, not the day to day work of the school. It is however very rewarding but can be time consuming!

IndigoBell · 12/02/2011 19:29

I'm really enjoying being a parent governor. Have learnt lots, and made friends.

It doesn't matter what experience you have. Everyone brings diff life experience and skills.

I've been governor in 2 schools and they were both very diff. One HT wanted help and we gave it, the other HT didn't want help, and then the experience was less good....

Original poster

annieshaf · 12/02/2011 22:10

Hi
Thanks very much for all the comments. It is useful to hear peoples experiences. I think I am going to speak to someone at the school on Monday and find out how many people have shown an interest. I dont really fancy a big election but if no one else has volunteered then I am willing to give it a go.

Am also going to talk to someone I know on the PTA who I notice is also a parent governor just to see what our schools approach is.

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GnomeDePlume · 12/02/2011 22:19

It can be rewarding but it can also be very frustrating. Instructions from county hall can be barking mad. Some heads are good others just want the governing body to rubber stamp their decisions.

The more time you give, the more they will take.

FoiledAgain · 12/02/2011 22:28

Can I just ask - I applied to be a Parent Governor two weeks ago, having been rung by Chair and asked to consider it.
Not a sausage from the school since, not even an acknowledgment of receipt of forms.
When might I expect to hear something from someone?

stoatsrevenge · 12/02/2011 22:53

profound I wonder how much you'll be relying on people like anniehaf for financial advice rather than the LEA in the near future!!

DanFmDorking · 12/02/2011 23:23

FoiledAgain ?Parent Governors? are elected from the parent body. There is a formal process for this (see Parent Governor Elections).

All parents must be informed of an impending election, with an invitation for nominations.
If there are more nominations than vacancies, then an election must be held, otherwise those candidates will be duly elected unopposed.

So, to answer your question, it depends on how far along the process your school is.
Has a letter gone out to parents seeking nominations? Has an explanatory letter gone out soliciting votes?
Sorry I can?t be more precise ? good luck.

Elibean · 13/02/2011 09:01

Just wanted to wish you luck! I am a parent gov and enjoying it very much. It helps that the other governors are all passionate about the school, and lovely people.

I put myself forward thinking there would be no election, and then found there were 7 applicants for 3 posts Hated the process, but was worth it!

FoiledAgain · 13/02/2011 14:39

Thanks DanFM.
I have no idea where they are in the process. They called for nominations to be in two weeks ago and there has been no word of whether or not candidates need to prepare for elections, or whether indeed more than person has put themselves forward.

DanFmDorking · 13/02/2011 16:57

It may be that the Clerk to the Governors is overwhelmed with work or sick or that they are just waiting until after half term. Whatever the reason, get your personal statement ready in case an election is needed.

FoiledAgain · 13/02/2011 17:07

To be honest if it comes to elections I think I'll withdraw. I'm not really interested in a popularity contest, and I don't have any particular axes to grind.

IndigoBell · 13/02/2011 18:15

Could be you are the only one that applied and so you're in - but no one has informed you yet. Sometimes everyone assumes some one else has.

Just have a quiet word with the HT and ask what's happening.

DanFmDorking · 13/02/2011 20:21

... I think I'll withdraw. I'm not really interested in a popularity contest ...
WHAT!
Oi! You! - sit up straight - pay attention

It?s not a popularity contest; it?s the selection of someone to do a job effectively.

Consider yourself rebuked.

FoiledAgain · 13/02/2011 20:38

Haha!

But how can it be? Given that I am a working parent I am not highly visible at the school gate, do not have a social network with people at the school particularly...

Apparently the personal statement you write is just a couple of lines saying what you can bring to the governing body. Well I'm sure all the applicants will sound just fine.

And actually I really am not at all sure what to put in a personal statement.

Talking myself out of it now, aren't I!

DanFmDorking · 13/02/2011 21:19

Well, OK, I can?t force you but from your original post you have 'life experience' from outside the school that would be beneficial to the governing body.
Make a decision.
(Governors have to make decisions!)

FoiledAgain · 13/02/2011 21:30

Sorry I am not the OP - I have hijacked the thread.

DanFmDorking · 14/02/2011 14:57

annieshaf - good luck, let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Original poster

annieshaf · 14/02/2011 22:31

Hi all
Thanks very much for your comments about your experience.

Foiled again - I too do not really want to be part of a popularity contest. I do drop off and pick up almost every day though and have helped out a bit with the PTFA so am starting to get to know a few more parents and I suppose that might help as at least people will know my face.

I did go into school this morning and have put my name forward so will have to see what happens next. I think they are giving it until half term to see if anyone else puts their name forward or not. There may already be others but there are 2 vacancies apparently.

Thanks for wishing me luck and I may be back soon for a bit of help with my personal statement!

OP posts:

Original poster

annieshaf · 14/02/2011 22:36

Thanks DanFmDorking for the link to the governors website that looks really useful for a novice like me!

OP posts:

Helenagrace · 14/02/2011 23:49

I'm a parent governor and enjoy it. I have a public sector management background, although I now run my own companies.

One caution I would offer is that people with a commercial background can find public sector practice rather slow and inefficient and some attitudes are frustrating. Some things we take for granted in the commercial world are quite alien to the education world.

On the other hand I've been really impressed with the passion I've seen amongst the teaching staff and I've learned things along the way which I've used in my working life.

Good luck!

DanFmDorking · 10/03/2011 21:11

annieshaf and FoiledAgain - what news have you?

FoiledAgain · 10/03/2011 21:25

Have joined the jolly band as associate governor.

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