School governor? I need a sense check...

[Wigeon]

If you are a school governor, do you make specific suggestions about how the school might improve? Or do you just fulfil the "critical friend" role by just asking questions?

I am a parent governor, and at my suggestion the school recently surveyed current Reception parents to see how they found last year's induction process into the school (which personally I thought was pretty poor). I analysed the results of the questionnaire, came up with two main areas for improvement arising from the answers, and in a paper to the governing body I suggested a couple of ideas for discussion, for how the school might address each area. Pretty straightforward, practical things designed to include parents a bit more.

The Head and Deputy told the chair of governors that this was completely inappropriate, and that governors should not be suggesting things - they said it is for the teaching staff to decide what, if any, changes to make. Apparently they were very cross (I was not at this meeting).

AIBU to suggest some things? Or am I completely overstepping the mark, and as a governor I should not be suggesting specific things? I am genuinely worried whether I have got completely the wrong idea about being a governor.

I'd be very interested in hearing others' experiences.

NyaevesSister - We don't have a PTA. Because the HT doesn't want one...she says that it is too much work for the committee, there's too much bureaucracy (doing the accounts etc) and it's difficult to get volunteers...So there is very little alternative outlet for parents' ideas and I think I have ended up channelling my ideas (wrongly) through the GB...

I think the discussion was had with the Chair rather than me because the HT and DHT find it impossible to communicate with adults, particularly when they need to have a difficult conversation - they are lovely with the children, but the HT particularly is like a terrified mouse with parents!

DewDr0p - I do think quite carefully about how I communicate (my job is absolutely full of instances when I need to tread carefully!) but I agree it's possible that I have underestimated the need to be totally on top of the way I put the message here.

I have posted before about the GB -Teagate here.

Oh, and admission - thank you for the offer! I am still thinking about the issues and will get in touch.

hmmm that's really odd! Too much work for the committee? How much work is involved is entirely up to the PTA, and yes it is always difficult to get volunteers but again that's up to the PTA not the school. The PTA shouldn't really be anything to do with the school, other than working with it to help promote a sense of school community, and to fundraise.