Is anyone Chair of Governors?

[Hassled]

I've been a Gov for nearly 3 years - really enjoy it. Current Chair, who was great, has quit due to lack of time and Head has asked if I would consider standing. This isn't quite as flattering as it sounds - 2 First schools have merged to become 1 giant Infant school, and the Governing Body is quite new (school is 1 year old), so at this stage I'm the most experienced Gov.

I have the time at the moment, and I sort of have the inclination - biggest block is the fact I have literally zero experience at chairing meetings and tend to get very nervous and flustered in public speaking scenarios. And the other Govs are a chatty lot - meetings can drag on in pointless tangents - so I'd have to be quite assertive.

Does anyone Chair and love it? Or should I avoid like the plague?

Dh is Chair of school of c.500 students and mostly enjoys it. But it is very demanding on time. The HT has had some extended sickness absences and AHTs have required far more support/back-up/input from him. He generally spends about 1 day per week physically in school usually over 2-3 days and sometimes far more. On top of this there are meetings and so on.

You have to be quite a strong personality and willing to stand up to confident HTs and so on, and sometimes tell them that they are wrong. You also need to be a good diplomat, able to influence and persuade, inspire and motivate, delegate well ...

It's also a very big responsibility when you look into the various ramifications.

Does the CoG have to chair the meetings? I hate being at meetings with ineffectual Chair - it drives me batty.

Thanks for replying - useful to get some sense of the time involved. Yes, it's the fear of being an ineffectual Chair that's really putting me off; I can't stand them

As for your checklist - willing to stand up to HTs, diplomatic, able to delegate - all ticked (on a good day). No ticks for able to inspire, motivate and persuade. Ability to cope with huge responsibility - really starting to doubt it.

Shameless bump - meeting tonight and a decision will be called for. Panic!

I am chair of Governors at a primary in N London, happy to discuss if you want, I am on 020 7272 0826.

YOu brave, brave man; posting your number!

You do not mention the vice chair. This is, in my view an often underused post.

I can see no reason, legal, or practical, why you could not recruit a vice chair whose sole job it was to actually chair the meetings leaving you to do everything else.

As for time committment, slightly how long is a piece of string. If you have a good head, then your time input should be small particularly if you encourage other Governors to be active as well. Make a virtue out of NOT doing everything.

For example I do not chair any commttees.

Do ask the outgoing chair what current issues are.

Also, how is the meeting clerked? Do you have a good clerk?

Thanks nlondon - yes, we have an excellent clerk and an enthusiastic (albeit in a slightly "Tim Nice But Dim" way) Vice-Chair. The idea of getting him to actually Chair the meetings is a good one - will pursue. I really think I might go for it. Blimey.

PS - A slapped wrist though for posting your phone no - I could be any random psycho for all you know

good point london dad - I am vice chair and do a lot of the chair's stuff mostly because he is inefficient