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?

There are lots of ways you can be visible. At my school patents don't go to the school to drop off their children (it's a special school so most children get transport), so I go to the parents coffee morning that's held twice per month.

I also go to the new parents' information morning and have a 'slot' where I introduce myself and explain the role of governors, what we do and (crucially) what we don't do. At that meeting I always say 'I'm often in the school, so if you see me and you need anything, feel free to ask'.

We always send out a parent questionnaire each year, to find out parental views.

As governors we are one of the 'faces' of the school. So it's important to be open to parent interaction. Its just vitally important that we don't slip into being a 'sounding board' for parents who have gripes about teachers, lunch box policies, absence policies, the HT's personality, etc.

We need to stay strictly strategic in our involvement in the school. We're there to ensure: that the policies and procedures of the school are fit for purpose and that the evidence we see of their implementation demonstrates that they are being effectively applied; that there is evidence of good progress in pupils (in a broad sense -we should never be aware of the grades of a named child) and that where progress is less than good, measures are being taken to support those children; that financial policy is robust, finances are in order and there is not a huge over spend nor a huge under spend -the funds are there to be spent on the children and huge under spends tend to be clawed back by the LA; that personnel procedures are rigorous and applied well, seeing evidence of the quality of teaching (again, broad strokes -you should never know which teacher has achieved what standard), as well as measures taken when teaching is below standard; that pupil premium funding is being maximised and used to benefit the qualifying cohort, with evidence of the impact it is having.

So, you can see, being a Governor should never be about discussing that Mrs Matthews is upset that her child can't have two weeks off to go to Cyprus. That's for the HT to deal with.

Update (because I get emotionally invested in a thread and then annoyed when the OP never comes back) - I am now officially a parent governor!

Sadly by virtue of being the only person that applied, but still, thank you everyone that commented for your advice.

A parent Governor is NOT a representative of Parents. You are not mandated by the parents, even if they vote for you. I can see where the temptation lies, but in that direction lies big problems with the Head!

I agree that you should put forward your skills as being useful but I would include your willingness to train and embrace new ideas, your ability to work in a team and develop the role of the Governors. If they are not doing the things Wigeon suggests I think the next Ofsted visit will not be too good either. If Ofsted have found the school academically wanting, there will be pressure on the Governing Body to improve the school. This may be hard and by the sound of it, the Governors are not that good at school improvement. Your job is to hold the SLT to account, not be their friends, and Ofsted will not wait too long for improvement, new SLT or not. You will have to make sure progress does happen so it is not about being available to parents at the school gate, it will be about improving the school.

Well done!!! You have done it! All the advice here will stand you in good stead.

Congratulations. I'm currently going through this process. Applications closed today so I guess I'll find out in the next couple of days how many other applicants there are

Congratulations. You will be a real asset. Get the lie of the land and don't be afraid to ask dumb questions. Ask to see the raise on line report about progress of kids. Good luck!