What does a Parent govener do?

[jules12]

There is a parent vacancy at my daughters school and I am interested in applying. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this role and what it entailed. I would like to be actively involved in the school and helping it to grow and improve and thought this role might help me to do this.

[Elasticwoman]

I am a parent governor at our local primary school. There is governor training, and you need to attend meetings of the full governing body once a term. You will be expected to join at least one sub committee, eg premises, finance, personnel, curriculum, marketing. I had to take the minutes at the sub committee meeting last week and that meant typing them up afterwards. Governors are also expected to go in and help in school in some way. In our school the usual term of office is 4 years, although you can't be prevented from leaving before that if you want.

[Mercy]

good question

Which aspect of school life are you particularly interested in jules? Do you have any experience from your employment that could help teh school?

[jules12]

Yes I worked in HR for 10 years. I did not realise I had any replies to the post, so sorry for not responding sooner. I have applied for the position. There is another candidate also, I will find out next week if I am successful. Elasticwoman, how do you raise issues that parents have bought to you and handle which ones are appropriate to raise and which ones would go through to the HT channels or does this become clear once you've done your training. I have read on some boards that some pgs have felt sidelined or put off from raising matters. I guess it dependso on the individual committees, but have you experienced that.

[Hassled]

Good luck with the election!
I'm a PG and my approach is to pursue every issue that a parent raises with me, regardless of its "importance". That's what I see my job as - some are very trivial, some quite significant - but I always ask for it to be on the agenda of the relevant sub-committee and try to get back to the parent with some sort of answer/response. I've never really felt sidelined as a PG - it's mostly very enjoyable.

[singersgirl]

I'm a parent governor at my DSs' primary school and most of the parent governors are very active. I think everyone is listened to, particularly in their sub-committees, where much of the true business gets done.

I don't feel at all sidelined and am very grateful for the chance it's given me to understand better how the school works - pedagogically (one of my new favourite words!), administratively and financially.

[hatwoman]

according to dd they do rather a lot. she reliably informed me the other day that "Milly's dad is the government". so be careful...

[jules12]

Thanks for all the useful information. Its all very exciting, keep everything crossed for me. Should find out next thursday.

[jules12]

Hi All

Just to let everyone know who responded to my post. I lost by 2 votes. Was gutted but then thought well I was up against chairman from the pta who had been in the school for 4 years so I didn't do too badly!

[Phraedd]

a it of a hijack but how much influence do governors have?

I work in a school and i am leaving as another member of staff has made things very difficult for me. Her husband is one of the governors and i just wondered if nothing was done about her bullying me because of who her husband is (if that makes sense?)