Any Parent Governors out there?

[EliandmE]

We've had a letter from school today asking for nominations for parent governors. I would really like to do it (I will have DC at this school until 2023 so I've got a real vested interest, the last Ofsted report was pretty damning) but I wouldn't consider myself a popular parent or a member of any the school gate cliches, is it worth putting myself forward? If so what do I put on the form to 'sell' myself - you get literally 5 lines to present your pitch. I've been a Trustee of a charity, I'm currently a Non Executive Director of a Community Interest Company I helped set up, I'm secretary for a local community group, I've been to every school fundraising meeting and event since ds1 started in reception, I've been the face painter at the summer fair, I am a well respected professional in my field, I have a Masters Degree, I am nice and approachable and I care about the school and the community... I'm struggling to get that across succinctly whilst still sounding likeable! I keep thinking of Reece Wetherspoon in Election, is it just a thinly veiled popularity contest?

What can you offer the school? You don't need to include your cv, just get across what you can give and your passion for the school.

It isn't a popularity contest in our school. It is now an extremely time consuming volunteer role and we struggle to find people to stand with all the changes over the last year or so.

Good luck

Thanks EnchantedForest - I can offer the school my time and commitment, governance experience... Er, what else have I got?

I am a PG. You sound as if you have loads to offer and I wouldn't assume the elections will be hotly fought. Mine was five candidates for four places and last time, we had five for two but that was unprecedented. Before that they were having to twist arms
I would emphasise your experience in running the CIC etc. professional field if relevant. But suggest also say why you want the role and what you would want to do for the school.
Don't underestimate the workload - if you've had a poor ofsted the pressure will be on and you might have a lot to do. But good luck!

Governing bodies are changing and the future will be all about what skills you have - coupled with being willing to learn, having the time to offer and, of course, being committed to all pupils reaching their potential.

It sounds as though you are very skilled, want to do the job and care about it so I'd say go for it! In your pitch link your skills to the school needs and emphasise your commitment (to all children) and I'm sure you'll be an impressive candidate.

One word of warning - it can be hard work, it can feel thankless and it's a lot of responsibility. On the other hand it's a really important role and worth doing for someone community minded. You can make a difference.

Good luck!

You should certainly put yourself forward.

You should definitely apply as your experience would seem to be appropriate. You do need though to understand that whilst you are termed a parent governor, that is only the route through which you were elected. You are not a representative of the parents, you are a representative parent.
If you are not a school gate parent then that is a big advantage as it will mean that you are not going to get collared every day with the latest moan and gripe.It is also quite clear that your role as a governor is about the strategic decisions to be made about the school, not the day to day decisions, which are for the head teacher. It is also true that when you go into the school for face painting etc that you will not be going in as a governor, you will be going in as a parent / volunteer helper.

Am a parent governor. Do you know if governor vacancies are usually contested at your school? At my school, we pretty much always have a vacancy and there is never an election...

And you sound ideal, by the way...

I'm a PG, you sound ideal to me.
Don't think you need to be a "popular" parent, it fact it would probably better if you weren't. A few years ago our Chair was also very very visible in the school community, and trying to be both almost broke her, in that she was constantly badgered about school operational issues which she really had no control over. She was eventually ostracised by parents that she wouldn't help sort out minor problems for.

It is not a frontline role. Strategic planning, and big picture stuff. If you are a long term parent, you will reap the benefits.

Don't just look at the hours you will be in meetings. I need half a day to read the meeting pack!

Most parent governor statements would say something like "I have 2 children in Y1 and Y3 and one at pre-school". The fact that you are there for the long term is a definite advantage, many parent governors only manage 2-3 years. You don't need to have a degree, I would highlight your recent involvement with the school and your professional experience.
As well as attending meetings you need to allow time for governor training. For new governors this usually involves 3 to 4 evening sessions on the role of Governor. There may also be specialised training e.g. finance, buildings, interviewing staff etc.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I've arranged to have a chat with the HT about what the role involves.

In the meantime I've been really struggling to get my statement down to 5 lines (I'm not sure being the awkward parent who asks for an extension sheet will get me off to the best start ).

So far I've written:

I have 3 children, Ds1 (year 3), ds2 (reception) and ds3 (due to start next year). I've lived in xxxx all my life, I care deeply about this community and our school and I'd welcome the chance to give something back. I can offer a positive, common sense approach, a determination to make a difference and practical skills from 15 years experience in the public sector and leadership roles in charities and community groups. I am in the playground every morning and will always be happy to listen.

And that's still too bloody long (without even mentioning my face painting skills), I'm having to write in tiny letters to fit it in the allocated space. Would you vote for me?

As a parent, and an immigrant, I have only been living in this country for 3 years and I also care deeply about my community and school where my children go to. I don't like the tone of the first part of your statement, because it is my opinion that you can care just as much about your community even if you are 'born and bred' here. What I'd like to know is have you got any experience managing a budget? In early years? Education? Human Resources? I would put: Hi, my name is _ and I have two children at _ school. I have 15 years experience in public sector, managing people, budget, whatever is relevant and have been involved in charities and community roles for the last X years. If elected, I will offer a positive, common sense approach, aim to support to the school's management team and teachers in their effort to provide excellent education to our children. Thank you.

English is not my first language so my grammar is poor, but hopefully this will be helpful to you.

Also I am not too keen on the last part of your draft as I know some of the governors at our school work full time, are rarely in the playground and still offer an excellent representation for parents. And there should be channels in place for parents to communicate their concerns to the governors, not playground chats.

Thanks Rocketjam that's really helpful - clearly I've not got the tone right on my first attempt! Of course I didn't mean to suggest that people who are haven't spent their whole lives in the area don't care about the community or their kids education (it's a really diverse school and all the better for it), I was trying to explain my personal relationship to the place but I can see how that could come across wrong.

I do appreciate that there are many hard working and effective governors out there who don't do the school run, the last line was a bit of a cheap vote winner I guess, looking at it from the other side I would like a parent governor who was accessible, of course that doesn't have to mean in the school playground as the bell rings but it's factually accurate to say I will be there every day! If MN Jury says no then it goes...

I do have experience in project management, recruitment, managing budgets, governance, Early Years intervention etc, I think I was trying to emphasise that I am a representative parent rather than qualified professional (although ideally I'd like to do both).

Thanks for the feedback.

I know from experience that many of the roles on a school governing body has to do with approving/questioning budgetary decisions, and also I believe that there has been more performance related pay for teachers and experience in managing the key performance indicators would be very useful. If you have experience with any PTA events, I would put something like 'I also get involved at fundraising events for the PTA' or something like that.

Hello, I think it's looking really good.
I agree that the first part would be better used to express what it is about the school you value and want to support.
About the playground - you are, of course, a parent, but you're not in that sense there to represent the views of parents. If a parent wanted to raise issues with the governors they would write to the Chair of the corporate body of governors of which you are one. (Of course if someone collared me in the playground as a governor I would facilitate their concern getting raised with the Chair).
I may not be expressing myself too well but I don't think accessibility for day to day issues is a key part of the role so I wouldn't raise expectations you won't be able to meet.
Your skills on the other hand sound fantastic! Good luck.

"Of course if someone collared me in the playground as a governor I would facilitate their concern getting raised with the Chair"

No, no, no. As a parent governor you would do what any other governor would do and you'd politely tell the parent that governors do not have any control over the day to day running of the school, so if the parent is unhappy with some aspect of the school they must follow the complaints procedure, which is available from the school office/the school website.

I'm a parent governor. I would agree that you should remove the last line about being available to chat - I would usually direct a parent to write to the governing body or headteacher if they want to raise specific concerns with me. Otherwise, I think you sound a great candidate!

Thanks Jennifer and Rocketjam.

What I value about the school is the lovely nurturing environment and the fact they really care about their pupils. The Ofsted report slated the school for its academic performance, particularly teaching standards. It also commented negatively on the SMT - they are very new and very inexperienced but from what I have seen have the potential to be brilliant once they find their feet.

The accessibility issue is interesting - in 4 years I have never met or heard from a governor. I have no idea who the governors are - although in fairness I have never needed them so I've never actively sought them out. There is no PTA.

Sorry cross post, on advice from wise MNetters the sentence about chats in the playground has bitten the dust! Thanks for the feedback

Lougle, poorly put I agree. It hasn't happened yet!
What I was trying to say is that if a parent collared me and said I am really unhappy with X I would say, you need to raise it with the head / class teacher/ and if you want to take it up with governing body this is what you do.
Off on school run, happy to clarify, but I do agree! Point is you're not a mouthpiece for parents in that way.

If you care about the school, feel you have time to offer (it sounds like you undoubtedly have skills to offer), so submit your nomination. Even if you don't get elected this time, there's more than one route to becoming a governor.

Good luck!

Even if I don't get it Blue, I am definitely a lot more knowledgable thanks to this thread!

Even if you aren't elected as parent governor OP, schools often have vacancies for a Community governor usually a local business person. Sounds as if you would fit the bill for being this type of governor as well.

Agree with others that you should emphasise your skills over your availability to parents. You are absolutely not there to represent the views of parents, or to feed in the views of parents to the GB. There should be other ways of that happening, eg year reps, a parents' council, a suggestion box, an annual questionnaire. IME, schools can be v defensive if they think that you might be doing that!

If you get elected (or even if you don't!), you could suggest some ways the GB could be more visible, eg a termly or annual newsletter from the governors, a noticeboard with their photos and roles ( eg link governor for x or y), more info on the website, inc role of the GB, names, photos, main way of contacting the Chair, attendance by governors at parents' evenings or other school events, with a badge on in orders to identify them. Etc!

Our governing body are due to be serving tea at parent teacher evening