Being a school governor

[westernind]

Are any of you school governors? I've been asked to be a governor of a local special needs school. Apparently business knowledge and common sense are valuable, despite the fact I don't have kids.

Advice welcome.

[cross-posted]

Comments

[agentinfinity.livejournal.com]

I was a school governor at Sandy Upper whilst I worked there. There were different commitees (finances, staffing, curriculum) plus the general full governor meetings so it would depend on which committees you were on. There was an expectation at my place you would be on at least one. I was on curriculum. There seemed to be a lack of people who wanted to go on the finance one. Staff governors weren't allowed on the staffing one so I don't know what that was like.

I found the majority of governors were local counsellors or parents, plus obviously the obligatory staff ones and then the senior leadership attended as well. I was dismayed to find a lack of knowledge about current education practice amongst the governors I met which I don't think was very helpful. Some ofthe counsellors were really out of date. But I don't think that they were very good governors so I guess it will probably massively vary from school to school. They also tended to demand lots of random things of staff and then barely acknowledge when they were delivered, which was very demoralising.

Feel free to phone/email me if you want to know more about this. I don't think it matters at all that you don't have kids but I think some knowledge of current education practice (and a bit about special needs provision) would probably be helpful - though I'm sure there will be governors who don't have this on your governing body.

[westernind.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to say no until the new school year, when we recruit someone to take over part of my day job. (And hopefully I get a bit less manically busy.) I'll come and pick your brains over the summer. :)