Primary Governor and not enjoying it

[Honeywaffles1]

Due to a local council initiative to increase the representation of ethnic minorities on school boards, I had submitted an application to be a governor.

I believe that the school appointed me in an effort to appease them, but they haven't done anything to make me feel welcome. ignoring emails for weeks and failing to schedule meetings on the part of the head.

For more context, let me say that I run a successful business, am still relatively young, innovative, and outspoken about the challenges I face as a BAME woman in business.

I provide mentoring at nearby universities and aid the local government in its efforts to help young people from non-traditional backgrounds break into the workforce. So I know I have something to give.

I've offered to organise career days to increase aspirations or to use my connections with neighbourhood businesses to raise money through fundraising.

Over 50% of students receive free meals at school, and many kids live in unstable homes, making it a fairly deprived area.

Additionally, school governors are typically permitted to deduct reasonable expenses; however, the school business manager has stated that this is not the case, essentially telling me I must pay them for the after-school club. As a result, I am now spending my own money to volunteer at the school.

How would you respond? I was so eager to contribute, but now I just feel purposefully left out.

I now believe that's the reason you don't see faces like mine serving as school governors because I'm not wanted.

Being a governor is certainly a frustrating business, but the role is slightly different from what you describe.

Are you on a committee? It is in the committees that decisions are voted on / policies approved etc.

There should be training available to you from the LA and membership of The Key. It takes years to get to grips with the role, but you will be an asset to your board if you stick with it.

Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear this OP. It's really not a great impression for the school to be giving and it sounds like you have a lot to add.

What I will say is that I was really surprised when I took up a governor role. I thought I'd have much more ability to offer my expertise/informal events etc which wasn't what they were looking for.

IME, being a governor is fairly well defined and very structured - in the schools I've worked with, they don't really like you stepping outside of the 'expected' role.

I would really like to think there's not a racial element to this but sadly, it happens more than any of us would want. Someone else may have more experience on this point.

While I agree you haven’t been welcomed are you saying you should get free childcare from the school while you attend meetings?
Apologies if I have misread that

My daughter attends the school, so when I attend governor meetings, I pay for the after-school club to do so. I have no other form of childcare otherwise.

People might not agree with me wanting to claim this cost as expenses but I’m disappointed that I have to go out of pocket in order to fulfil my responsibility as governor of the school. Most schools do, in fact, reimburse such costs.

Others choose not to speak up, but this in itself creates a barrier for those who want to be governors but lack the resources to do so.

I am a governor and school pay for after school club so I can go to meetings; it is very unreasonable that yours does not - they are benefiting from your expertise you should not be out of pocket!

Are you in a maintained school? If so it’s not actually up to the School Business Manager whether or not expenses can be claimed - there should be a Governor Expenses Policy which the governing body agrees. Try to speak to your clerk and/or the LA. If an academy it’s a bit different but there should still be a governance clerk or similar you can talk to (not the school business manager - there should be someone whose job it is to work for the governors).

Also, whilst I don’t want to disbelieve or undermine your view that racism has played its part (and I’m so sorry that’s been your experience), my experience is that governor related admin and comms can be slow especially at this time of year, so waiting weeks for a reply may not be unusual if it’s not a priority/urgent issue.

IME, being a governor is fairly well defined and very structured - in the schools I've worked with, they don't really like you stepping outside of the 'expected' role.

Sadly, based on what I've learned thus far, it appears that we are merely decorations. Yes, the board discusses significant changes to the school, but it appears that our only purpose is to give the impression that we are being heard. However, the Archdiocese, which finances the school, ultimately has the final say.

The wrong noises are being made by anyone who disagrees with their desires, which, from what I can tell, are only intended to advance their religion and increase their wealth.

I always kept the community, the school employees and the children as my main priorities. Not what the church wants, which appears to be its top priority: to spread religion.

As I understood my role (maybe in a similar school) it was to be above all else a 'critical friend' to the headteacher. This meant scrutinising budgets, plans, looking at goals for attainment etc. and seeing how the head met them, and supporting them in this. It was much more about this than bringing new ideas to the table. I also attended a training day by the LA around being a governor which helped explain the role. You may well have lots to offer but I don't think that is your role, especially at the beginning when you have just joined the board. Also governance moves very slowly in my experience so unanswered emails etc. are not great but could be run of the mill. Have you spoken about your issues with the clerk of governors? I found ours incredibly helpful in guiding me. Regards, the expenses, I do actually think you should have these paid and again would speak to the clerk about this.

The school's business manager, who also records meeting minutes, works for the board of governors. I was cut off when she abruptly told me they wouldn't accept the after-school club fees as reasonable expenses and she didn’t elaborate further, quickly ending the call. No friendly small talk with me, which is normal behaviour IMO.

it isn't an academy yet, everything is headed in that direction.

Although I understand that the admin is busy, etc., I find it difficult to understand why an email response takes two to three weeks.

For instance, since our last board meeting, the head teacher suggested we talk about my role and the things I will be overseeing as it hasn’t been decided. Since this has not yet occurred, I find it difficult to believe they are so overworked that they can't even get back to me. We still haven’t had this discussion and I just feel like I’m hanging…

I’ve even gone to the office to follow up, sent emails and tried to be respectful and ensure the head got my messages.

By no means am I implying that they are acting in a racist manner, but I feel that my treatment has been a bit hostile and that this is all happening, so I naturally back out and it appears to be my decision rather than theirs.

The lead at the local authority who oversees the campaign to increase the number of ethnic minorities serving as governors forwarded my application to the head. Since the LA funds them and having my ethnic name on the governors obviously "looks good" as long as I keep it shut, I don't think the school could have rejected it.

They don't seem to like the fact that I genuinely want to lift the kids up and out of their circumstances. To let the kids know that they can be more. Like I’m hoping for too much?

There is no PTA, nothing promoting diversity, for example PRIDE books displays representing different families or Black history.. no establishing of local business connections.

All things I want to discuss because it would make a huge difference.

You have totally misunderstood the role of a governor.

I’m a governor and what you’re describing isn’t really part of the role. It’s not our job to say that there should be a Pride display etc. Our role is a critical friend and whilst we might comment when the relevant policies come up, or give opinions on the school improvement plan, or going into school to do a visit and checking what we’re being told is true.Thing like setting up a PTA needs to come from a group of parents coming together and offering to try. Offering to organise career days needs to go to whoever in the school is responsible for careers.

Governing bodies seem to vary, we’re supportive of the head and SLT, but we’re happy to challenge as well. Others seem to be more rubber stamping the head’s decisions. With the expenses that has to be set out in a policy, we have a maximum we can claim per hour for childcare, but I’ll be honest and rightly or wrongly no one has claimed whilst I’ve been there, our expenses are usually zero.

I think that if you are a governor you give up your time for free. I was one for years. I had a 90 min round trip to get there. I also did visits during the day and did countless reports. You seem to expect the school to work to help you accomplish your goals. It is meant to be the other way round! You can offer ideas but it isn't down to the school to prioritise these ideas. Their priority may be something else. I think you are looking at it in the wrong way.

Interesting to hear because when I initially discussed it with them, the LA and the head seemed pleased that I had a passion and wanted to be involved. I had applied for the position because they specifically requested minority parents, so I had assumed that our opinions would be heard.

Look it's great that you are interested and want to help.

1. The head is busy running the school. They have a 101 things to do. Meeting with you and making your passions a reality is not their top priority. This doesn't mean that they are not interested. It just isn't top priority.
2. You are new to the role. Most people spend some time listening and getting to know what the schools' priorities and needs are. You don't jump in with what you want to do.
3. Expenses for your childcare is not usual. Most governors give up their time. If you can't make a meeting, you send your apologies. I think asking for money for this would be seen as odd.

You seem focussed on what you think, your expectations for contact and discussions of your role. You need to take a step back.

I think you also have the idea that you are in some way representing other minority parents. A parent governor does not represent the views of other parents particularly.

I think what you are trying to achieve is admirable but it’s not really my understanding of what a Governor does.
Also, you seem like an ambitious and successful Business woman but this is a school rather than a Business and while your approach works in some environments it may just rub people up the wrong way here.
I actually get it, I had to drastically change my approach when I was involved in a voluntary work at school in order to get things done

It's a tough role so well done for taking it on. As others have said you should be getting an induction from the board and training offered, our LA doesn't offer training but we have the NGA package and I do induction training for new members and tell them about the role. I also warn it takes about a year to really get into it so to keep asking questions. I think career days etc are outside the scope of a governor but I think lots of schools might appreciate that support from a volunteer with a different hat on, weve certainly visited career days at our primary in the past but not as a governor just as an interesting adult.

I agree childcare is a reasonable expense and you should be able to claim if in line with your policy. None of our current board claim expenses but I would support a member who needed to.

Have you had any training yet?

What I don't like is that I was actually told we would challenge the school and its decisions, offer suggestions to Improve aspirations, and be a critical friend to the head in order to "improve the school," in her words.

I had no idea that it was all about being more of a "yes man" for rubber stamping, even though all significant decisions were made before meetings already. Why would I need to waste my time if not?

Thank you all also for your responses as this has all been really useful to know.

I’m a community governor.

Schools are under absolutely insane financial pressure right now. I can see why the business manager is a bit upset by the idea of paying you expenses (no one on our governing body claims them).

As for the intitiatives, those aren’t really governors role - which is a lot more finance, fabric and scrutinising data (plus if you’re any good at all, telling the staff to keep going, you’ve got their back and you’re thankful for them!!).

I wonder if you’d prefer instead to volunteer as a mentor at the school? You might prefer it and be more suited to your interests.

Just to respond on your latest point governors should absolutely not be rubber stamping strategic decisions, it is about support and challenge but only within the remit of governance, not on operational matters.

I was a BAME Governor at our local Primary School for 4 Years. I thought I would go in and 'change' the School for the better with my expertise. This was far from the truth. I found my role was mainly being a critical Friend with regards to checking policies etc. And mainly recommending Services which would benefit the School e.g Maths sessions for parents.
I volunteered knowing all of my 5 Children would need looking after by my Family when I had meetings. We were not offered anything and I was fine that.

I also warn it takes about a year to really get into it so to keep asking questions.

How do I keep asking questions when not much is happening? So basically just step back and not bother and just go to the meetings and sign stuff off. Fair enough, I’ve been doing too much then.* *