How are LEA governors chosen?

[AdventuresWithVoles]

I know they are appointed... but how? Why would the LEA choose person X instead of seeking alternative person Y? What qualifications or experience would LEA want? Does LEA advertise for governor applicants, or is there an old-boys network who-you-know aspect to it?

I think it depends where you are. Locally here they usually have no names, and so we have put people forward. Other schools aren't always so lucky. My LA is putting an ad campaign together at present.

In other areas they have waiting lists of people wanting to be a governor

Quite often LEA governor slots are filled by parents if the vacancies are long standing and there are no community applicants. I was one.

From experience in this area, it tends to be people active in local political parties, especially the party that has a majority on the council (normally Conservative); at one of my DDs schools l recognise the names of local business people and at least one very affluent parent with children currently at the school. Quite a few LEA governors are retired and looking for something to do. I know at least one regards it as a sort of hobby, no insult intended she is excellent. The parent governors tend to be more "ordinary" people.

I get emails regularly at work asking for volunteers in my workplace area which is several miles from where I live (I work in a profession in the public sector). I would like to volunteer as I am interested in education but no time at the moment and would prefer an area I know.

I think there is an application you do online (might be a link via YouGov), which takes you direct to a page where you can apply to be a Governor anywhere in the country - I don't know who makes the final selection though - assume it is the LEA, or what happens with regard to academies.

Ta 4 replies.
I have an unpleasant impression of one set of governors (trying to be vague on details!) and I often wondered why they are like that, then I wondered if that's because chair + VC are both LEA governors. Could LEA representation mean that they tend to have little respect for others? Both also have/have had DC at the school, so I can't tell what path they followed to end up as LEA govs.

I feel really uncomfortable about an LEA governor being a parent at the school for some reason; I feel that there should be a balance of power between the school, the community and the parents. I also don't like serving councillors being governors, if in opposition they use the school as a political tool and if the party is in power they seem to toe the party line, which is not particularly in the interests of the school.

LA governors are appointed by the LA. The LA either has a list of suitable people to deploy (suitable meaning 'with the support of the councillor for the area') or the school approaches the LA with someone they feel would be useful, and seek the appointment.

Sometimes, if previous parent governors would like to remain after their child has left the school, they will ask the LA to convert their post from parent to LA or community. The LA would have to agree a normal.

Round here, LEA governors are appointed by association with the political parties. Each party has a number of governors pro rata'd based on majority in council elections.

Having said that, there's at least one LEA governor I know of who is a member of the Labour party but has officially governed as a Lib Dem governor, and is now technically a Conservative governor, just because he's so good at it and Labour have basically no council seats here, but he doesn't want to give up.

I became an LEA governor because I knew local councillors through a local project and so they approached me as someone active in the community. Now, though, the LEA advertises and interviews for the vacancies.