Anyone a Community School Governor?

[FeelingLucky]

One of my local schools are looking for a Community School Governor. I'm thinking of applying as a way of putting something back into the community, as well as a way of checking out a school I'm potentially thinking for DD.
I just wondering what exactly the work will entail before I go ahead.

[FeelingLucky]

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[FeelingLucky]

final bump

[sinclair]

Not a Community Gov but a parent governor. Lots of threads on here about work load and kinds of things governors get involved in generally.

AFAIK the Community Govs are supposed to in some way represent the local community - ours work close to school and/or run businesses in the area. You may have a non-business role like be the local vicar.

I would have a think about what you can offer - do you have experience in one particular area eg HR/Finance or maybe have involvement paid or voluntary in an area of the curriculum like music or sport. Generally when schools are looking to fill a Community Gov position they will have certain skills they may be looking for - usually what they lack as a GB - and trying to find a match.

Do hope you have a go - good impartial governors are like golddust, and you do get to find out the nuts and bolts about how the system works!

[ManicMother7777]

Hi

I've been a community gov for about 6 years. I moved to a different school a couple of years ago and was quite taken aback at how the role can vary at different schools, also I know this from attending courses with govs from all over the place.

Worst case scenario is that meetings are really long with lots of boring (meaningless?) stuff going on! However at its best being a governor is about ensuring the school does its best for children, so you'd be thinking about ways to improve results, the curriculum etc, also things like PR to make sure parents are choosing your school.

You can also get called upon to sit on small panels eg to consider complaints against the school, pupil exclusions, staff grievances.

Overall I think it's really interesting - go for it!

[islandofsodor]

I used to be one before we moved areas. A friend who was on the committee of a community association which I was also on told me of the vacancy (she was a parent governor). The school were very eager to get an non parent on.

I had to write a statement detailing why I was intersetd in being a governor (I mentined the other group which did stuff with schools also my involvment with music).

One elected I had to attend a meeting every 2-3 months, plus a sub committee.

Unfortunately I had to resign before I really got into the swing of things, we unexpectedly had to move away but it was enjoyable. I had no children at the time.