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.

OP being a governor is not about you and what you want to do. It’s about the long term stability of the school.
You are far too concerned about your needs and not the school’s needs.

Surely this was have been agreed prior to accepting the role? I wouldn't accept anything without clearly set out role, responsibilities, commitment (eg time commitment, number of meetings per year), terms of reference for the board/ meetings and finally the expenses policy

So many of the responses, while I appreciate them, basically say I'm probably being a pain in the neck, and I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't bother because I'm clearly not being particularly useful, and perhaps I should focus my energies elsewhere.

I used to believe that because there was such a big push for ethnic minority governors and diversity training for governors, having us at the decision-making table was important, but now I feel like I have to keep my opinions to myself.

I'm starting to get the impression that a lot is done for show, which is disappointing.

@Councils I really disagree with you that taking on a voluntary role should mean you are out of pocket - voluntary means not paid; that doesn’t mean you pay to do it. We should want to increase the diversity of our volunteers and that diversity needs to include age & job type - if we make it impossible/frowned upon for people to claim legitimate expenses then we make it impossible for some people to volunteer.

I have been a governor for eight years and not had any expenses covered ever. Money is tight I feel like we're always a few steps away from collapse so I don't want to add to that

Apart from that, I think you need to find a new school. My school would bite anyones hand off if 1) they was literate 2) had any type of socail skills.

So you have a lot to offer as a proactive person.

OP it’s good that you have offered to volunteer and you sound really enthusiastic. Given your skill set I think you would be great on the PTA and that is what the school needs. Why don’t you try and start a group up - your energy could really make a difference there.

Governance shouldnt just be done for show although its fair to say some govering boards arent very effective.

It is a clearly defined role though and you cant act outside of it, but its not your fault you havent seemed to have had a good induction to point you in the right direction and harness your enthusiasm.

I think a lot of governors feel like you in the early days and fair feww leave and do something else with their time, a lot seem to get it after a year though.

You might be better in a fundraising role if you have the right connections

You have totally not understood the role of a governor and it sounds like you are being/will be a nightmare. Please, please do the training that is being offered (on zoom is absolutely fine and has become the norm) and then decide whether this is the role for you or if you should be stepping down in order to volunteer what you can offer where it will be a better fit (and not create a headache for already overstretched school staff).

@Squirrelonwheels exactly. There should not be any barriers that can be easily removed. I wasn't asking for anything that would deplete the school's resources; I just wanted to be able to use the school's after-school club while attending meetings without having to pay a fee.

Losing £10,000 per year and spending thousands of pounds to serve as a school governor to provide strategic feedback is an outrageous decision, but ok, do you.

I was discussing this with a few other mothers who were pleased that I had been appointed, one of them, a normal young mother.

We have more than enough elderly and retired people volunteering, so this should be a good thing.

It should not be the case that a mother who runs a business is ruled out of running for governor because I have childcare responsibilities.

You are making this all about you again OP and failing to see that whilst diversity around the table is important that cannot be at the expense of the proper functioning of the governance structure - all governors, whatever their characteristics, need to understand and discharge their role.

It is important to have a diverse set of governors, but the things that you’ve suggested should happen are operational and not strategic. It would usually be the chair who sorts out roles/responsibilities - it’s not the head’s role. I would drop the chair an email. There may be a good link role in your structure that suits you. It also takes time to get to develop as a governor, I would see how it goes when you’ve joined the committees and done some visits. There is a bit of rubber stamping to be fair, statutory policies etc. and at the moment lots of finance to discuss.
There has to be a policy on governor expenses, I would find it.

My school never paid for my after school expenses

This. Completely. Get yourself on as much governor training as your LA offers asap. You have completely misunderstood the role.

I was a governor at a primary school for five years and not even a school my own kids were at and never asked for or expected expenses. No one asked for any.
The school ( inner London state primary) had no budget for this at all and I would not have wanted to take from any budgets to recompense me in any way.
we did get sandwiches and a cup of tea at meetings which I was grateful for as often went to them straight from work.

You have totally not understood the role of a governor and it sounds like you are being/will be a nightmare. Please, please do the training that is being offered (on zoom is absolutely fine and has become the norm) and then decide whether this is the role for you or if you should be stepping down in order to volunteer what you can offer where it will be a better fit (and not create a headache for already overstretched school staff).

I literally have all of the necessary connections and skills to assist the school in obtaining sponsors, raising funds, and providing assistance in any way I can.

All of which I would have gladly done with pleasure.

But what about me, a nightmare and a headache?

This is a problem for a lot of people these days they just want to sail on by; I'm literally offering to help them gain access to more resources and open doors for the kids, and I'm told I'm a pain.

You can't win, can you? 😂

I'm a governor.

I think you need to attend some training to properly understand the strategic role of a governing body, OP, if you want to continue in your post. Much of what you seem to think is in the governance remit is actually operational and, therefore, not at all for governors to be involved in.

Some decent new governor training, and also much observing and listening, should clarify this over the first year or so of experience. You are not blindly rubber stamping (and I very much doubt the governing body are doing so), you are absolutely there to challenge when appropriate, but that doesn't mean you can make suggestions to the head about how to run the school.

I would just leave the role. You've offered your help and experience and it's being ignored or chucked back in your face with rudeness to boot.

I was a governor at a primary school for five years and not even a school my own kids were at and never asked for or expected expenses. No one asked for any.
**
The school ( inner London state primary) had no budget for this at all and I would not have wanted to take from any budgets to recompense me in any way.

Let me clarify further, I’m not even asking for money here I’m asking that my child can sit in the after school club and draw/play etc whilst I have the meetings without me paying for the pleasure of doing so… if that is asking for too much then what can I say 🤔

@iekanda 😂 That's how I feel as well. And also understanding why some people are where they are in life.

I’ve never been one who didn’t go all in, if that makes sense.

Money can also be found everywhere. Everything can be worked around. But perhaps my thinking exceeds what is expected of me! Sorry.

I agree that you aren't understanding the role of a governor- you talk about being at the 'decision making table' but that's not what you're there for. However, given your enthusiasm and connections I feel there must be a valuable role for you, either on the PTFA or as a mentor/volunteer/speaker at assembly etc

I literally have all of the necessary connections and skills to assist the school in obtaining sponsors, raising funds, and providing assistance in any way I can.

This is the issue, that’s not part of being a governor. We’re not there to find the school sponsors, nor raising funds. We’re there to provide strategic vision and challenge. Lots of us who are governors are telling you this. Sponsors and fundraising is something you might discuss with the head as an engaged parent/volunteer, it doesn’t come under your remit as a governor.

@Ionacat I guess it was something I felt I could offer that went above and beyond the other expectations. I felt I could give back a lot because I had come from humble beginnings myself.

The after school club is probably separate from the school, this means that it has to be paid for. Do you not understand this?
Do you expect the school to pay for your child when they need every penny for the very children that you are talking about helping?

I literally have all of the necessary connections and skills to assist the school in obtaining sponsors, raising funds, and providing assistance in any way I can

And that’s brilliant. But it’s not the role of a governor. A governor has a specific remit, and fundraising or sponsorship aren’t part of that. Absolutely excellent for the PTA (or equivalent) though.
Ive been a governor for 4 years now and I would say it took about 18 months to find my groove and understand my role properly.
Meetings at our school start at 6pm so I have to arrange childcare when DH is away.