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.

Most governors can leave at anytime. The Head would have to give up their job! No one is shackled. The role isn’t for everyone.

Why is it such a big deal if we claim expenses for attending a meeting? I don't have any experience with the public sector, but most organisations are conscious of people's financial limitations and offer assistance to lower barriers to entry.

Because schools have no money, their costs are going up, their funding isn’t. They are in a deep financial hole and there is no light at the end of the tunnel so governors don’t claim, because they’d rather the money went to the children.

@LittleBearPad
Schools have a duty to ensure their governors are diverse if the school population is diverse. This can mean single mums, or dads, and others who might need childcare. Paying this is not seen as excessive as you gain their expertise. Governors can claim in line with policies. If a school says no one can claim anything, they get a less diverse governing board. In many schools that’s not acceptable. Also, money claimed is chicken feed! It’s next to nothing. It is also important training is paid for too. Having trained governors also costs money. You don’t get something for nothing. It’s about time governors were valued!

Exactly right, @TizerorFizz . I'm a governor in a school where a high number of children qualify for pupil premium, and and awful lot just miss out. There's no way you could ask parent governors in that kind of financial situation to pay childcare costs if they had no other options. People quickly pick up on the prevailing culture and write off expenses incurred when they can afford to do so. Where they cannot, it's vital that they can be reclaimed in an unobtrusive way that follows the expenses policy which is undoubtedly in place.

I also think a good way for a new governor in the Op’s circumstance is to see if they can be PP governor. Drill down into data about this group of DC and see if they get value for the pp money they attract to the school. In fact some schools need to try and make sure those who qualify for fsm actually claim it. This generates pp and schools should spend it on these DC to improve attainment and progress. It can make a real difference and ensuring Dc aim high is part of the mission!

I said don’t rather than can’t. Rather different.

@LittleBearPad
Well yes but it’s a culture of doing the work
for free and making people feel ashamed for needing some money. That’s really a form of bullying and it’s not acceptable.

Paying for childcare is absolutely a valid expense and something the school should do in support of their commitment to ED&I. They're basically saying they don't want parents with no other childcare to be governors which is indirect discrimination of two protected characteristics - sex and parental status.

I agree it is unacceptable for expenses not to be available and this is exclusionary. Am shocked to hear women supporting this, it makes it impossible for some to engage.

There is a well developed culture within many middle class governing boards that you volunteer your time and don’t claim 1p. I’ve seen it for decades!

Obviously this is countered by having a policy for expenses. Many governors won’t claim but should accept others need to. On balance it’s a tiny amount. As a governor I’ve never accepted the argument that all governors must be out of pocket for doing the work. Your time is free, but the unavoidable costs making this happen, should be paid to ensure GBs are diverse and have all the talent they need.

Working governors often find it difficult to meet teachers and visit the school during the day. Some governing boards end up with too many retired governors. Yet, it’s expected that all types of governors are recruited with specific skills and attributes. To make this happen, we need flexibility of attitudes and payments where necessary.

Ouch.

The thing is, your job also pays your rent / mortgage dies it not? Puts food on your plate?

Being a governor doesn't put food on my kids plate, doesn't keep a roof over their head, doesn't contribute in any way to their education. Yet there's a way to me me as a parasite for volunteering.

I was in a fgm where we had two weeks to do safeguarding. I have FOUR kids, three have ehcps. I couldn't finish the training in time. It was said that doing the training was absolutely top priority for everyone. Yes of course its the most important thing in schools. But there seems to be this expectation that for 40 hours if my week, I'm also putting the school first. We are all volunteers and if I ever got the wiff that I was doing harm ( like using money for childcare that could have on hlue sticks and that was parasitic) I'd leave. I'm there to benefit the school not harm it and occasionally like in the meeting, I'm not sure I am a burden.

The absolute best people to be governors are retired people. Not mums with four kids in school with sen like me. That's a fact. I can't give the same amount if time

For heavens sake! Everyone is welcome to be a governor! Such outdated views on here!