School governors
All of the Royal Borough’s maintained schools are required by
law to have a governing body. The size of these governing bodies
ranges from 13 to 20 and there are some 560 governors in total,
falling into five categories:
- Parent governors - elected by the parents at the school
- Staff governors - elected by the staff at the school and
including the head teacher ex-officio
- Community governors - co-opted by the governing body
- Local Authority governors - appointed by the local
authority
- Foundation governors - appointed by the church authorities
What do governors do? Why be one?
Governors are unpaid volunteers responsible for the oversight
and strategic management of their school. That responsibility
covers all aspects of the school and includes the curriculum,
finance, premises, staff and pupils.
Why are governors needed?
Governors are needed to give or maintain the school’s ethos and
vision and to ensure that it is accountable to its community.
How are governors appointed?
Governors are elected by the parents or staff at the school or
are appointed by the Council, the church authorities (in the case
of church schools) or by the governing body itself. The Council
makes its appointments to governing bodies by seeking nominations
from the political parties represented on the Council.
What training and development is offered?
The Council provides information and training for governors,
free of charge, to assist them in carrying out their duties.
See also