personal statement for parent governor role

Understanding the Parent Governor Role From an Experienced School Governor

Have you ever wondered how you can be more actively involved in your children’s school and education? The parent governor role is vital in schools and can also be really worthwhile and make a positive contribution to the community. Read on to find out more about becoming a school governor and the impact that it can have.

Sending our children to school is such a big milestone to reach. For them and also for us as parents. They start a new chapter in their lives and one that you are less involved with. All schools are different and are now run in different ways with some being part of multi-academy trusts and others still not. Some schools will have apps and websites where updates and pictures are uploaded, some don’t have anything and you rely on your child telling you what is going on.

As parents we can feel lost in the school education system and becoming a school governor can be a positive way of giving back to the school and community whilst being actively involved in the school.

Nurseries and PTA’s

Private nurseries and childcare give you a chance to have a full rundown of what is happening, so the school can feel like you are totally out of the loop. Many parents like the idea of joining a PTA where they can help raise funds for the school and develop a great relationship between themselves and the school.

However, some schools don’t have a PTA, so what other options do you have to be involved with your school and make a real difference? This is where you might want to consider becoming one of the parent governors who work closely with the senior leadership team.

So what is a parent governor?

The definition of a parent governor is a person who is elected to become part of the governing board of a school where their child is in attendance at the time of election. They are voted in by parents of children who are registered and attend the school. You can become a parent governor in a primary or secondary school. Governors can come from all walks of life and they provide a variety of skills and experience to the governing board, which ultimately has a positive impact on the school. 

I have been a parent governor for about six years at my local primary school, I started off as a parent governor when I left teaching. I knew I had a great deal of value to offer the school and wanted to continue to make a difference in children’s lives in an educational setting and be active in school life. School governor is an important role and in this post, I’ll share my experience as a current parent governor alongside the legal requirements for taking up a parent governor role.

The governing body is made up of a number of representatives including a staff governor, the head teacher, parent governors and those who come because they have a specific skill set that the governing body needs. There is a clerk who takes the minutes , as the board meetings are a legal requirement.

If you like the idea of becoming a parent governor you may be wondering what is involved and how you go about being elected. It isn’t just as simple as calling up the school office and asking for a place on the governing board, there are processes in place. You also might want to ensure that the role is right for you, after all, it is a voluntary position that requires a fair bit of commitment.

So here is a complete rundown of what is involved in becoming a parent governor and how you go about becoming a candidate and being elected. 

You do need to be aware of the expectations around behaviour, for example, you will know confidential information and therefore you will follow a code of conduct.

What does a parent school governor do?

First of all, it is important to understand what is involved in the role of the parent governor. You may not realise that there is a requirement of your time to attend and participate in regular meetings, and also it is a voluntary role. When you apply to become a governor, you are making a commitment to attend those meetings and complete paperwork and analysis of processes and things going on in the school. You may also be asked to be part of specific committees where you are responsible for areas in the school such as finances, curriculum, safeguarding, and SEND.

It is important to recognise that this is an active role and your term of office runs for three years initially, although it is common to stay longer if you are enjoying the role. There may be training involved as well so that you understand the responsibilities. Some schools suggest that it is volunteering 20 hours of your time over the full school year, although to be actively involved is probably more than this! However, each school will have different requirements and expectations, so speak directly to your school if you are considering this. 

How do you go about becoming a candidate?

So how do you become a parent governor? It isn’t just as easy as calling up the school and asking to be appointed. You need to wait until there is a position available which can occur at any point in the academic year. Governing boards usually have 2-4 parent governor positions, so there aren’t too many but they approach things from a parent’s viewpoint. However, the truth is, not every parent wants to take on the role or the responsibility, so it may not be as popular as you might expect.

Once the school has advertised there is a position available you can enquire to fill out the application form to become a candidate. If there is more than one position and more than one candidate, you may find that it then goes to a vote. 

The local authority also recruits governors for schools – many businesses will encourage their staff to take up voluntary work and will even give paid time for staff to carry out their voluntary work. Have a look on your local authority job board for vacancies. I know my own children’s schools often are looking!

Filling out the application form and writing that personal statement 

The application form is relatively straightforward. You will need to put forward your full name, address details, and contact number. You may also need to commit to the time they are requiring and stating, so make sure you can do this before submitting your application. Within the application, you will need to write a personal statement that the whole school community will read. These don’t need to be too long, and your school may ask you to stay within a word count of around 150 words.

But this is your opportunity to share your experience, any special qualifications, why you will be a valuable and effective school governor, and also why you want it and how you will make a positive contribution.

Remember, if it does go to a vote, this personal statement will be what the parents read to vote for you, so keep that in mind. Keep it short, direct, and straight to the point. You want to cover who you are and your experience, but also why you care for the school and your reasons why. 

What if it goes to a vote?

So what if it goes to a vote? This can be the nerve-wracking part as you now are in the hands of the parent community. While there is no expectation for you to go canvassing for votes, speaking to the parents you are friendly with is a good idea. Letting them know it is you that has applied is also beneficial. Then it is down to a secret ballot. The school will likely give it a few weeks for the votes to come in and then if you do get the most then you will be appointed to the role of the parent governor.

Once you are voted in, what next?

If your parent governor application went to a vote and you have become successful in securing a place on the governing board you might be wondering what next? There are a few things that you will need to do once you are elected. There will be training involved that is delivered by the local authority and things you will need to complete before you may even be part of a governing board meeting.

There is a lot of information, and you may even be placed on specific committees which take care of certain areas of the school such as curriculum, finances, health and safety, etc. This is usually decided after a conversation about your preferences and what is needed for the school community.

At this point, you may have a conversation with the headteacher of the school and the chair of governors to find out more about you and how you can help the school move forward with the school improvement plan and its strategic direction.

For example, if you come from a finance background you may be asked to sit on the finance committee, if you come from an educational or teaching background you may find you are best suited to a standards and achievement role. Becoming a parent governor is a really important contribution to the school, you will have a parent’s perspective and this is important and valid.

But what does a school governor actually do?

The parent governor role will include a number of responsibilities, in the past, it has been described as a critical friend to the headteacher. However it is more than that, essentially you are monitoring the educational provision at the school and ensuring that it is robust and supports the learning of all pupils.

In my experience as a school governor, I sit on the full governing body meetings and also the standards and achievement committee but the real work comes in supporting the teachers strategically. As governors we don’t get involved in the day to day running of the school, that is the senior leader’s responsibility but we meet termly with the teachers we are linked to in order to ask questions about their area of responsibility.

For example, I lead on pupil premium and SEND therefore I also have meetings to look at the data and provision for those students. This can include observing them in the classroom, looking at their books, discussing the intervention and policies in place to support their learning, even talking to the children about their experiences of school.

I also have meetings with local authority representatives and spoke to Ofsted during a recent inspection on specific issues that I have responsibility for. If there is ever an appeal to a decision that the headteacher has made maybe about an exclusion or a behavioural issue governors can also be asked to make up an appeals panel along with a couple of fellow governors to ensure that the policy has been followed appropriately. This is an interesting part of the parent governor role and

The parent governor role is a vital role in the local community as we have a collective responsibility for the education of children. School governors help drive continuous improvement and look the best outcomes for a child learning.

Once you have gone through the basic training you then just need to be on hand to attend meetings and complete paperwork. Remember, you have been elected to be there, so always speak out if you have an opinion on something, and offer your expertise. After all, this is to help the school thrive, and will ultimately help your children and young people in the long term. 

What you get from the parent-governor role

Being a parent governor has given me new skills and helped me understand the ethos of the school. It is a great way to get involved and work in the best interests of the school and child. It also offers great career opportunities for the individual as you can use this on your CV to show your wealth of experience in the wider community and it demonstrates a number of important qualities that you hold.

Hopefully, this guide will help you to become a parent governor in the school your child attends if not maybe there is another way that you can get involved in your child’s school life .

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Ask A Clerk

Advice For School Governors and Clerks

What should I write in a parent governor statement?

If you are applying to be a parent governor or trustee you will be asked to write a short statement saying why you are interested in volunteering and what skills you would bring to the role. If an election is needed this statement will help other parents choose between the candidates.

In many schools volunteers are thin on the ground so the statement may not be vital, as you will be elected unopposed if you are the only volunteer. However, it is still a good idea to show you understand the role of governor/trustee in your statement.

This page provides guidance on what to include in your statement and some parent governor statement examples of 50, 100 and 250 words you can adapt for your circumstances.

Your Connection To the School

Say how old your children are and their current year. If your children have just joined the school you have a reason to want it to succeed for years to come and the same applies if you have more than one child attending.

Mention any other ties you have to the school such as previous volunteer work, helping out in classrooms or on trips, or supporting the PTA; anything that shows your commitment to the school and your reliability as a volunteer.

You could mention how long you have lived in the area and what the school means to you. If it is a church school talk a little about your faith and show you understand the aims of the school in this respect.

Your Understanding of School Governance

All school governors have three main roles.

• To ensure the school has a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school.
• To oversee the budget and finances and make sure money is well spent.

Write about any aspects of governance you could contribute to. Governor responsibilities are wide but include scrutinising budgets, approving policies on all aspects of school life, planning how the school will improve, discussing why some groups of children are not achieving as well as others, making sure children are safe and dealing with staffing issues.

Governors are often described as being a “critical friend” to the school. They are there to support the school and help it improve, but they must also be willing to challenge the headteacher and senior leaders when necessary, ask why the school is struggling in a particular area and what can be done to improve it.

Search for the school’s latest OFSTED report and look for any remarks about governance. Are there any weaknesses of governance you could help to improve? Do you understand the challenges a school might face in terms of catchment area, budget restrictions or high levels of children with special needs?

If you are volunteering at an academy within a multi-academy trust show that you understand whether you will be governing as a trustee on the main governing board or a local governor on a local governing body.

What skills can you bring to the role?

Any of the following skills will be useful on the governing body:

• accounting, budgets and finance experience
• management of buildings
• health and safety
• data analysis
• human resources experience
• interpersonal skills, working in a team
• knowledge of education, the curriculum, special educational needs and safeguarding or child protection
• managing staff and hiring employees
• work where you had to keep things confidential.

You could also write about your commitment to undertake training and show that you understand governors need to attend regular meetings and visit the school.

What Not To Include!

If you mention any of the following items you will show that you do not understand the role of the governing body. Parent governors do not :

• fundraise – this is usually done by a parent teacher association (PTA)
• represent parents – this is a common misunderstanding but parent governors are not the voice of the parents. They have the same role as any other governor on the board
• vote in favour of whatever the majority of parents want – if there is a controversial issue that parents are angry about it is any governor’s job to vote for whatever they believe is best for the school as a whole
• discuss individual children (in most cases) – governors take an overview of the school and make strategic decisions about budgets, policies and development plans (although one exception would be if a child is at risk of exclusion)
• interfere with the day-to-day running of the school – the headteacher runs the school, governors hold the headteacher to account
• rubber-stamp everything that comes their way – you will need to be confident enough to ask some difficult questions if results are disappointing or mistakes are made

Parent Governor Statement Examples

Here are some example statements you can use as a starting point. I have written these with the assumption that you are a new parent governor, but if you are already on the board you should also include details of your governance work, eg: feedback from OFSTED or external advisers about how the board is run or what contributions you have made in a link role .

Don’t worry if you don’t have a job that particularly fits in with governance (or you’re not working at all) as people from all walks of life can do the role – just show your enthusiasm and demonstrate your understanding of school governance.

Parent Governor Statement – 50 words

My son Tim has just joined the school in Y1. I work as an accountant and would like to use my financial skills and experience analysing budgets to give back in a volunteer role. I am keen to attend training and get to know the school.

Parent Governor Statement – 100 words

I am keen to join the governing body as many of my family members have attended this school. My two older children attended and my daughter Sarah is in Y9.

I have volunteered for many school trips and I would now like to become a governor to help steer the school in the right direction and retain its excellent reputation for academic success and happy, friendly children.

I have been in retail for 10 years where I have worked well with people from all backgrounds and gained knowledge of health and safety. I understand the need for governors to be demanding but fair.

Parent Governor Statement – 250 words

Malory Towers Primary is a terrific school with an outstanding OFSTED rating and I would like to help the school continue to improve and develop.

My name is James Mallow and my twins are in Y4. My day job is in data analysis and I believe these skills will transfer well to the work of school governance, helping the school to analyse the attainment gaps between groups of pupils and pinpoint where the school needs to be doing more for our children.

I am lucky enough to have the time to commit to a demanding volunteer role as my firm provide time off for school governors. This means that I am able to attend meetings, governor training and visit the school during the day.

I am particularly keen to ensure that all children are safeguarded well and can fulfil their full potential whatever their background, special educational needs or disabilities.

I am not afraid to ask difficult questions if necessary on behalf of all the children this school serves. I am also keen to support the school and all of its dedicated staff who work so hard to keep this place running smoothly.

Although I have no experience of school governance specifically I have served on the board of a small charity which had responsibility for a modest budget and made tough decisions about which projects to fund and how money could be best spent.

I hope that you will consider voting for me and thank you for reading.

Related posts:

• Can a parent governor continue if their child leaves the school?
• Who can be a parent governor?
• Must school governors write an annual report to parents?
• How do we hold a parent governor election?
• Can the board stop an unsuitable parent governor being elected?

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Stanhope Primary School

Strengths recognised. achievements celebrated..

• Head Teacher’s Welcome
• Ethos and Values
• School Staff
• Annual Governor Statement 2023

Personal Governor Statements

• Governor Information
• Impact of Governor Training
• Ofsted Reports
• Schools Financial Benchmarking
• Ofsted Parent View
• Stanhope Brochure
• Stanhope Nursery Brochure
• Rainbow Flag Award
• Spiritual,Moral, Social and Cultural Education and British Values
• Culture Capital
• Forest School & Early Years
• Out of Hours Clubs
• School Council Pupil Statements
• School Council Constitution
• School Council – Recycling Assembly
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• Healthy School Award 2017
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• Visit to South Shields Town Hall
• About Our Curriculum
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• Nursery – Key Information
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• Year 6 – Key Information
• Early Years, Phonics and Key Stage 1 & 2 Results 2022/2023
• Early Years, Phonics and Key Stage 1 & 2 Results 2021/2022
• Early Years, Phonics and Key Stage 1&2 Results 2018/2019
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• Why Agressive Behaviours Guide
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• Online Safety – Remote Learning
• National Online Safety – Top 10 Tips for Parents
• Learning@Home

Personal Statements:

John Hetherington (Chair of Governors)

I attended Stanhope Primary school as did my daughter so have a great affinity and passion for the school. I joined the board of Governors in 2014 and I am proud to have been elected as chair of Resources.

I work closely with the Head Teacher and my Governor colleagues to make sure that the finances are well managed for the benefit of the children.

I have also worked with the Local Authority to, Head Teacher and Governors to achieve a balanced budget.

Douglas Mather (Vice Chair of Governors)

I volunteer as the Secretary of the Durham light Infantry Association (South Shields Branch), this entails the day to day administrators and record keeping of the branch.

I am also on the executive committee of the D.L.I. Association which meets in Durham City. This committee runs the D.L.I. Association throughout the North East of England.

I also volunteer as a member of the Scrutiny Panel of South Tyneside Homes. The Panel scrutinise the services that South Tyneside Homes provide to the tenants of South Tyneside Council.

As the Secretary of ‘The Friends of the West Park, South Shields’, I maintain the minutes of all meetings also the financial records and the daily running of this group of volunteers.

Cllr Anne Hetherington (LEA Governor)

I have been associated with Stanhope Primary School since 1977 and joined the Governing Body shortly after that firstly as a Parent Governor, and then as a co-opted member and now LEA Governor.

I am passionate about Stanhope and will continue to strive with my colleagues and the staff to make sure all our children reach their full potential and feel safe and happy during their time with us.

Harriet Judd (Co-opted Governor)

I have been a governor at Stanhope Primary School since 2015 whilst my daughter was here in year 3.  I was here initially for 4 years as a parent governor and then stayed on as a co-opted governor ever since.  I have worked at Northumbrian Water since 1999 and have been lucky to have a variety of roles there. I bring lots of experience in data analysis, people management, asset management, health & safety and even workplace mediation.

I had no previous experience as a governor but I am still enjoying the challenge of development and learning from the training courses that have been provided by the council and school. For example, these courses have enabled me to understand what is expected of a governor and how a school should adhere to policies and run effectively.  I feel that as a governor I can cast an independent eye over the workings of the school for example, through my link visits and I can bring additional challenge to decisions made within the governors meetings.

I am very proud to be a governor here and just like every parent at Stanhope Primary School, I want the very best for our children and I can always bring a parents perspective to every meeting. I feel it is important that every child at Stanhope is happy, safe, confident and strive to become the very best they can be. As parents and associates of the school we need to support it in its journey to become outstanding and when necessary we should also put the school under tough challenge. I am not shy to ask difficult questions and I am able to speak out and up for what is important.

I’m always happy to have a chat so if you see me around and want to ask me anything, feel free (alternatively you can contact me via the school office).

Abbi Adair (Safeguarding Link Governor) 

I have been a co-opted Governor since the summer of 2016.  I work as a children’s social worker for a North East children’s services, and have worked there for 17 years in a number of different social work roles.  I bring lots of experience in child safeguarding, people management, conflict management, multi-agency working, risk assessment and prioritising the needs of vulnerable children.  As the safeguarding link governor I have worked with the school to ensure policies are up to date with the latest guidance, and provide updates to governors at termly meetings.

The school and council continues to provide me with the opportunity to attend a wide range of training courses which supports my understanding of what is expected of me in my role as governor, and what policies the school must adhere to, to run effectively.  I am proud to be a governor of Stanhope Primary School, and want to strive to ensure every child who attends is safe, happy, and enabled to develop their full potential. In order to do this, I feel it is essential to support the school in its journey to become outstanding.  I encourage and welcome anyone who would like to ask me anything, to contact me via the school office.

Angie Ali (Staff Governor) 

Parent governor/trustee: role

Learn how to separate your role as a governor or trustee from your role as a parent, so you can manage your relationship with other parents and do your job well., the role: summary, communicate a parent's perspective.

• Parental perspective in practice
• Set expectations with other parents
• Separate your role as a governor or trustee from your role as a parent

As a parent governor or trustee, your role is:

• To bring a parental perspective to the issues discussed – you're not there to speak 'on behalf' of the parent body
• No different from other governors

Note: parents are elected to the board, not appointed (unless there are fewer candidates than vacancies).

Take a look at our governor and trustee role descriptions  to see all of your responsibilities and duties.

Take our parent governor/trustee training course  to learn more, including how to confidently handle situations that are unique to this role.

It's a fine line to tread, but remember that you're not there to speak on behalf of parents.

Use your perspective to help the board understand a parent's viewpoint. This will help the board make good decisions and maintain a link between governance and the parent community.

The Governance Handbook (page 20) Guidance from the

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• Governor categories in maintained schools
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Also in " The constitution of the governing board "

• Associate members: role and restrictions
• Co-opted governors/trustees: role
• Staff governors: role
• Terms of office for governors and trustees
• When and how to reconstitute the governing board of a maintained school

• old website content

Election of parent governor

Dear Parent/ Carer

The role of a school governor is extremely important and many essential decisions about this school are taken by our Governing Board.  School governors work together with the school leadership team to continually improve the education for every child at our school. 

I have received nominations from six parents who are willing to become school governors.  I hope you will vote in the election to select one parent governor. The parent elected by you will serve as a parent governor for four years.

Please read the personal statements carefully and bearing in mind the role of the school governor, choose the candidate you feel would be best suited to the position.  

Parent Governor Election Voting Instructions

Voting will close on Wednesday 21 October 2020.

In the event of a tie the returning officer will decide the election by the drawing of lots.

Votes will be counted on Wednesday 21st October 2020 the result will be announced by Thursday, 22nd October on the website and in the school newsletter.

 I hope you will participate,  the governing body plays a key role in keeping our children safe, supporting and holding leaders to account.

Please scroll down to read all SIX statements and at the end of the statements you will find the form where you can select our preferred candidate. 

Yours sincerely

Julie Newman

Clerk to Governing Body and Returning Officer

Candidates’ personal statements 

Personal statement for sabaa asim aslam.

What Can I say in a short snap that would make you think…Vote for her!

Like you, I have a child at West Thornton and am still trying to measure the impact this last year has had on my child’s learning and wellbeing.

As we adapt to the ‘new normal’ its fundamental the ongoing changes have a positive impact on the school environment. That means supporting new initiatives for progression, but also retaining consistency with what already works, to reduce the chance of overwhelming our children.

I’ve worked in higher education for nearly 10 years, & currently the treasurer of the PTA. If I’m voted parent governor for WT, I will endeavour to curate new ways of collaboration and cohesion between parents & teachers…because now more than ever we must work together!

Come and talk to me if you find me, I’d love to hear from you.

Personal statement for Rohina Ibrahim Aziz

I am looking to gain a career in this field. I have 3 children & have also brought all my nieces up which is where my passion comes from. I have the preamble skills to work as a part of a team and work on my own, I would love to see the school develop, as well as the kids’ curriculum and changes for the best.

Having kids of my own has made me realise the importance of being a role model.  Being young I feel I can relate to children at all ages and have more of an understanding of how kids are in this day and age. I would appreciate it if I could have the opportunity to put my skills into action and show we can all work together for the best, especially with how much disruption all our kids have been through this year with Covid.

Personal statement for Suregah Balachandran

Education is one of the best foundations that any child can receive in their lifetime. Being a full time working mum with two children, I am truly passionate and have a desire to ensure that every child gets the best possible education and opportunity to succeed in life. During schooling year, I myself had an opportunity to be nominated as senior student representative and have gained vast experience in attending regular meetings with governors, teachers and parents and was responsible for planning and leading meetings to communicate the vision of the society with local council.

If successfully nominated as a parent governor, I promise to fully support the school needs during the transition to Inspire Partnership Trust. I will take an approach to raise questions and challenge not only to achieve targets for every child but to also continuously strive to exceed to give the children a good learning experience.

Personal statement for Maria Chiara D’Argenio

I would like to become a Governor because I am passionate about education and because I want parents to play a more active role in supporting West Thornton Academy. I am a teacher and lecturer, and the mum of Fabrizio and Arianna, both attending the school. My primary aim as a Governor would be to follow closely the changes the school is undergoing and promote a new relationship between the school and the parents. Given the current circumstances, it is crucial that all of us parents are supportive interlocutors of the school and voice our suggestions and concerns. I have already been quite active in this. Thanks to my feedback on the zoom lessons and my formal letter to the leaders regarding the September closure, the school changed its initial decisions; this is a sign that parents’ proactive and constructive attitude can be beneficial for the school and our children.

Personal statement for Cherise McDonald

My daughter is currently in year 2 at Canterbury Road. I work full time as a co-director at an estate agency, as well running my own cleaning business. I gained experience in working as a team, supporting others, and being involved in monitoring the standards of staff for the team to succeed hopefully being a transferrable skill to monitoring the governing board.

I would like to be a parent governor I have a strong belief in giving all children the maximum opportunity to discover their full potential through education as well as extra curriculum activities, whatever their background.

I now have the time to devote my skills to an area I feel passionate about with the required commitment and enthusiasm  as well as being prepared to learn new skills I would like to be given a chance to help develop West Thornton at such a crucial turning point.

Personal statement for Sarah Mckenzie

I would like to be elected as a West Thornton Primary School Governor to offer my unique skills and insight and help steer the direction of the school for years to come. 

I am a dedicated Civil Servant currently delivering the school values in my professional life. I have extensive experience working with schools as a Pastoral Lead, Social Services supporting Looked After young people and Charities working to send at risk children to summer camps, children that would not have been able to have a holiday otherwise. I strive to improve the opportunities of children and young people believing engagement between home and school is invaluable. 

My daughter has recently started reception here and I have another in nursery eager to follow so I have a vested interest in supporting the school to provide an excellent and well-rounded education for all pupils (both present and those still to come).

Complete the form on the link below  and select the button against the name of the candidate for whom you wish to vote

• Election letter

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The role of governors in schools – and how parents can get involved

We have been thrilled to collaborate with National Governance Association on the new guidance — Engaging with parents & carers: a guide for governing boards . The guidance gives crucial advice on effective governance when it comes to engaging with parents and carers. It presents stakeholder engagement as integral to school success and parents as key stakeholders who offer valuable insights, additions and benefits. With this resource and support, governors can consider how to effectively implement a policy and strategy in their schools. In so doing, they will reap the enormous benefits that a diverse, included and engaged parent voice will bring to education, to school and community life and to meeting the full potential of all young people.

Senior Policy and Information Officer, Nina Sharma from the National Governance Association talks about the role of governing boards in schools and how a positive parent-school relationship can add to the success of the school.

As a parent or carer, you are hugely important to your child’s education and personal development. Engaging with your child’s school will benefit their education and provides the opportunity for you to share what’s going well and what needs to be improved.

What governing boards do

Governing boards form part of the leadership team of the school. Their role is to set the long-term vision for the school – what your child will leave the school knowing and having done. They support and challenge the headteacher to make sure that the school is successful for all pupils. This includes ensuring that the staff, money and premises are well cared for and best used.

The board is made up of local people – including parents – who come together to oversee the school and to keep it on the right path. Think about their role as being ​ ‘ eyes on, hands off’.

You may not see the governing board as often as you see teachers, support staff or the headteacher but their role is still important to the success of the school.

At the National Governance Association (NGA) we’re keen for parents and boards to engage more with each other. Through our visible governance campaign we’re shining a light on the contribution that governors make to schools.

The importance of listening to parents

We think that boards engaging with parents is vital to the success of the school and we encourage boards to ensure the voices of parents – as well as pupils and staff – are heard.

There are lots of benefits to parents engaging with their child’s school and developing a positive relationship with governors can be a key part of this. By getting to know parents, the board gets to know the school’s its strengths, weaknesses and its community.

Engaging with governors isn’t about who does what or how they do it. Instead, it’s about helping the people who make the decisions to shape the what and the why of the education and experience offered to all children.

You can talk to governors about things like:

• Your views on changes that have taken or are taking place
• Challenges and opportunities facing families and the community
• Your views on what the school is doing well or needs to do better
• How topics like mental health, behaviour or the curriculum affects your child

Governing boards can often be seen as somewhere to raise a complaint or an anonymous group of people but so much more can be achieved by parents and boards positively working together.

How do boards engage with parents

How the board engages with parents will be different from school to school. Schools depend on the rich and diverse parent voice to ensure that children and young people can flourish.

We recently asked governors across England how they engage with parents. We found that boards mostly:

• Look at the results of parent survey – this provides essential information about parents’ views
• Update parents about the board’s work through the school website
• Provide support for parents in engaging with their child’s learning at home

The pandemic has affected so much of the education sector and unsurprisingly, the way boards have been able to engage with parents has been impacted. Some of the governors we surveyed said they would have attended parents evenings and meeting with the parent forum or council, if not for the pandemic.

Here are some ways you can engage with your child’s school when you have the opportunity:

• Respond to the surveys that are released
• When attending parent’s evenings, school performances and other events that invite parents to attend, take the time to speak to school governors
• Consider putting yourself forward for election as a parent governor
• Let the school know what support would be beneficial to help your child’s learning, wellbeing, and experience

Parent governors

Parents can also be part of a governing board as a parent governor. Parents are an important part of boards because they add different views and experiences to the board’s discussions. Because you have a child at the school you have knowledge and an insight on the school which others without that experience do not.

An elected parent is expected to use their own judgement to govern. Parentkind’s page on parent governors provides information about how you could make an impact on a governing board.

Working with Parentkind

Parentkind’s Blueprint for Parent-Friendly Schools emphasises the positive links between the parent and school relationship. Parentkind’s research has found that because of the pandemic, parents are more confident in understanding what their child is learning and have an improved level of communication between the home and school relationship.

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Personal Affirmations:

John Hetherington (Chair of Governors)

I attended Stanhope Primary college how did my daughter so may a huge affinity additionally my for aforementioned school. I joined the committee of Presidents in 2014 and I am proud to have been elected as chair of Resources.

I work closely including the Lead Educator and my Governor colleagues to make sure that the finances are well managed for aforementioned benefit of the kid.

I have also done with the Local Authority to, Head Teacher and Governor to achieve one sensible budget.

Douglas Mather (Vice Chair by Governors)

I volunteer while the Secretary starting the Durham light Infantry Association (South Screens Branch), this entails the day to full administrators real record retain of the branch.

I my also on the executive committee of the D.L.I. Bond which meets into Durham City. This committee runs of D.L.I. Community throughout which Heading East of Blighty.

I also volunteering as a component of the Scrutiny Switch to Sw Tyneside Homes. An Panel scrutinise an services that South Tyneside Homes provide to an renters of South Tyneside Council. Federation of Daubeney, Sebright and Lauriston Primary Schools ...

As the Secretary of ‘The Friends of the West Park, South Shields’, I maintaining the minutes of all meetings also the financial playback and the daily running of this group of volunteers. How to Write a College Essay Step-by-Step

Cllr Em Hetherington (LEA Governor)

I have been associated with Stanhope Primary School because 1977 and associated the Governing Body shortly before that firstly as a Parenting Governor, and then as a co-opted member and currently GRASSLAND Federal. Federation of Daubeney, Sebright and Lauriston Primary Schools. Parent Governor Candidate – Jean Balon. Personal Account.

I am passionate nearly Stand and will continue to strives with my partners and the collaborators to making sure all our children reach their full potential and feel secured and happy during their time with us.

Harriet Judd (Co-opted Governor)

I have been a governor at Stanhope Primary School since 2015 whilst my daughter was here included year 3.  I was here initially required 4 years than a parent governor and then stayed on as a co-opted governor anytime since.  I have worked for Northumbrian Water since 1999 the have been happily to have a diversities of roles are. I bring lots of experience in data analytics, people leitung, asset management, health & safety and smooth workplace mediation.

I had no previous suffer the a governor but I am still enjoying the challenge of development and learning from the training courses that have been submitted through of council and school. Forward example, these courses have enabled das to understand what is expected of a governor plus how a school should cling to policies or run effectively.  I feel that as a governor I can cast an independent eye over the workings a the school fork demo, through my link visits and I can bring additional challenge to decisions made within the governors meetings.

EGO am very proud to be a governor here and just love either parent in Stanhope Primary School, I want the very best for our our and IODIN can always bring a parents perspective to every meeting. I feel it is important that every kid during Stanhope be lucky, safe, confident and strive to become the very best you can breathe. As parents plus associates of the school we need to support items in their journey to become outstanding and when necessary we have furthermore put the school under hard dare. I am not coyness to ask difficult questions and I am able go speak out and up for what is important.

I’m ever happier to have a chat so if you see me around and want for ask me anything, feel free (alternatively i ability contact me via the school office). ... Personal Statement in support away application to become Go District ... variety of issues relating to their premises (a recent example being non-fire.

Abbi Adair (Safeguarding Link Governor) 

I have been an co-opted Governator since and summer on 2016.  I work like a children’s social worker for an North East children’s services, plus have worked there for 17 past in a number of different socially work roles.  I taking lot of experience in child safeguarding, people management, conflict management, multi-agency working, risk assessment and prioritize the needs of vulnerable children.  As the safeguarding link governor I have worked on the school to securing policies are up to enter with the most guidance, and provide updates to governors at termly meetings.

The school and council continues in provide le are the possibility to attend adenine wide range of training courses which carriers mysterious understanding of whatever is unexpected of me inches my cast as leader, and what politisch one school must adhere to, toward run effectively.  I am pride in be a governor von Stanley Key School, additionally to to endeavour to ensure ever child who attends is safe, happy, or enabled to develop their full potential. In order to do this, I feel it is essential up support the school in is journey to become outstanding.  MYSELF promote and welcome anyone anybody would enjoy to ask me anything, to contact me via the school office.

Angie Ali (Staff Governor) 

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Top tips for effective governor-parent engagement

How can governors interact positively with the school community?   

We few, we dedicated few, we board of governors

The National Governing Association (NGA)   recognises governance as those who have the power, make the decisions, share others’ voices, and ensure accountability of school leaders. In this article, we unpick what effective governor- parent engagement really is, what Ofsted look for and how to increase governor-parent interactions in your school.

The national picture of governors

The number of parent governors required on a maintained school board is a minimum of 2, this can be different in single trust or multi-academy trusts (MAT). From the   annual governor survey   undertaken by the NGA, there are growing concerns about the recruitment and retention of governors to the boards. With the numbers on boards shrinking to commonly below 10 people. Schools rely on the retired community along with parents and those working in the educational sector to make up the majority of their governing boards or trustees. With an overwhelming majority representing white British members. With so many recruits coming from parents of those with children in school, positive and active conversations with parents are vital for an accurate finger on the pulse as well as the larger recruitment picture.

Why are governors so important for school success? 

Governors or trustees are crucial to the effective running of the school, championing their specific link area as well as having the wellbeing and progress of the pupils at the heart of each decision. These voices of reason and question can be essential in important decision-making. The governing board should have the same goal at heart, the positive outcomes of all  the pupils in the school, whilst bringing a selection of different skills, life experiences and knowledge to the table. A governor shouldn’t be appointed for their professional skill set alone; skills should be paired with the driving motivation to improve the school’s offer. The governors are the voice for the parents, pupils and school community; not mistaking this voice as being the  only  voice, but a spokesperson.

Why are parents so important to school success? 

Studies and statistics  show us the increase in positive outcomes for pupils as well as the impact on self-esteem and relationship building when parents are actively engaged with their child’s education. Interacting regularly with the school from home via their communication system support as well as engage with school-based tasks. Parents are a significant influence on a pupil’s attitude to school, resilience, and ambition. Having parents onboard with school interactions can create a solid support network from both influential avenues: home and school. With the adaptations schools and governors have adopted due to the change in learning methods, the opportunities to interact with parents are more possible than ever: simple messaging functions over an easy-to-use app, absence reporting functions, and even tailored newsfeed content. The shared goal is the holistic progression of their child, a strong home-school communication is vital for this.

What does Ofsted look for in governor-parent engagement?

Ofsted will consult with the parent surveys on  Parent View , which is a survey accessible to parents continually but is reviewed during an Ofsted inspection. Ofsted will assess governors' awareness of their roles and responsibilities and evidence they are performing their link roles effectively. Evidence may be in the form of minutes and reports from meetings, the meaning and purpose of any school visits undertaken by the governors, attendance at meetings, and discussions during their inspection visit. They will meet with the chair and as many governors who are able to attend, assessing how effectively the governing board holds the school leaders to account. The governors are expected to have a secure knowledge and understanding of the school, both historic and current priorities. Positive governor-parent interactions through surveys, visits and keeping up to date with the events of the school are vital. Many schools that effectively engage their governors with the small and large events of the school do so using their communications system.  Weduc   has the tailored newsfeed feature which allows governors to see the safe stream of celebrations from each year group to the closed sharing network, giving knowledge of the large outcome improvements as well as sports day results.

What does effective governor engagement look like? 

The NGA advocates the  7 Nolan Principles  when discussing what effective governance looks like:  Selflessness; Integrity; Objectivity; Accountability; Openness; Honesty; Leadership.

Used by schools, and both private and public organisations such as the NHS, these principles underpin what effective governance looks like and can be applied easily to governor engagement.

Selflessness:   the focus is the to act in the interest of the pupils, to share information from the community back to the school with no self-motivation.

Integrity:  to stay true to the purpose of the role, regardless of friendly-working relationships, the decisions made must not be of financial or material benefit to themselves.

Objectivity:   to make decisions impartially and on the best evidence found.

Accountability:   As well as holding school leaders to account, the governors must themselves open up for scrutiny on their own practices, via Ofsted inspections or Governance reviews.

Openness:   Transparency and open methods of communicating with the parents, through regular surveys and annual reports to share information found and next projected steps.

Honesty:   Whilst maintaining professional boundaries, those who are parent governors with children at the school must recognise the boundaries that apply when discussing school matters on the playground with other parents, the NGA suggest appropriate routes to take for any uncomfortable parent discussions.

Leadership:   Championing link areas during meetings is key, as is the active challenging of leadership decisions or actions if you feel this is ineffective to meet the priorities of the school.

Relevant questions to ask parents

Having a purposeful parental engagement strategy is essential, to focus on priorities and importantly measure impact. A parent survey is the most common method of communication used between governors and parents due to the ease and breadth of questions that can be asked. To ensure your communication strategy is targeting the correct areas of engagement, an annual broad survey can be used to understand parental concerns and communication limitations. The   NGA have provided 7 initial questions   to ask to help you plan your subsequent surveys:

• Do we know how parents feel about the school?
• Do we know the opinions of all groups of parents or just some?
• Do parents know what we expect of their children?
• Do parents understand what and how their children are learning?
• Do parents know how they can best support their children’s education?
• How do we support parents who don’t know how to support their children’s learning?
• Are there specific elements of our school improvement plan that require parental engagement to be successful?

Purposeful visits to school

Ofsted will look at the visits that governors have made into school, the purpose of the visit and the impact that will have had on pupil outcomes and progress. The use of the school newsfeed and regular updates from class can be used to help inform visits, to coincide with themed learning weeks that are a priority for the school, to visit a class who are particularly shining with an innovative approach to engaging pupils with reading. There are no set number of visits a governor must undertake to fulfil their duties, understanding many of the governors are full-time workers or have other commitments. However, the opportunity to see in practice what is discussed during meetings can be invaluable.

Run regular surveys

Surveys are an effective method of gathering a large amount of data to then be analysed and future improvement steps taken. Governors regularly run parent surveys using well-known websites to create their surveys. As a school, your aim is to assist with the creation of surveys and independence of the process as much as possible. Using  Weduc surveys , there are no limit to the questions asked like other online websites, with the survey results available immediately and with the specific targeting available, UK-based help team, surveys for your governors become a doddle.

A range of voices

The   picture of the current governing body   is significantly underrepresented across all minorities with 93% of governing boards or trustees being white British. Only 3% of governors are within the LGBTQ+ community and even less from the Black, Asian or minority ethnicity background. The challenge surrounds motivating the underrepresented demographic of parents to become involved in the surveys, a discussion for the governor meetings.   Weduc   has the unique feature of language adaptation, to be able to translate all communications into a wide variety of languages, reducing the parental engagement barrier.

A digestible report

It is not a requirement that governors write an impact statement for the parents, although some schools do choose to do this. This can be used as a short summary to the parents about the focuses the governing body has championed throughout the academic year and the positive interactions that have occurred via surveys and use of the school communication system.   You can find examples of published impact statements online.

Champion a parent-friendly school

There are many barriers for parents wanting to engage with school, you can find tips on how to overcome these barriers here. The governors should be aware of the aspects that can prevent parents from positively engaging with schools and challenge the school leaders to prioritise these barriers.

We've shared more information on this topic in the following articles:

Ofsted's tips for better parental engagement

5 top tips for communicating with parents

Want to engage your governors further? Get in touch with one of our team today to see how  Weduc  can work for you.

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How to improve parent teacher communication

Parental engagement is key to attainment – but if you’re not reaching all parents, you can’t possibly engage them

Teacher parent communication tips

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How do you write a personal statement for a parent governor?

I feel that my professional skills, combined with my passion for making a difference to the lives of children such as mine, who need particular care and attention, would make me an excellent choice for the role of parent governor.

Table of Contents

Do parent governors get paid?

Do governors get paid? No. Governors are volunteers and do not get paid.

Can a parent be chair of governors?

Parent Governor – An individual who has a child of legal school age (5 – 16) and is elected by the parent body to serve as a governor. They are usually parents who have a child on role at the school, but it is not a legal requirement.

Can a parent be a co opted governor?

Parents are not restricted to serving only as elected parent governors, they can be appointed as local authority governors, co-opted governors or foundation governors.

What should I write on my school governor application?

I would hope to be an asset to the school, dedicating my time to be a proactive and effective school governor. I bring an honest and hard-working approach to my work. It is the same attitude I would bring to this important role.

Why should I be a parent governor?

Parent governors play a vital role on governing bodies, holding the unique position of having a parental viewpoint of the school. Through the children, they have a first hand experience of the delivery of the curriculum, and how the school is perceived from the ‘consumers’ point of view.

Is it worth being a parent governor?

Parent governors bring their wealth of experience and knowledge, contributing to the successful running of their child’s school. Being a governor is a “hands off” role – decisions made by the board influence the whole school, but governors are not responsible for, or involved in, the day-to-day running of the school.

How long does a parent governor serve?

four years Parent governors generally serve for four years unless stated otherwise in the school’s Instrument of Government.

What skills does a parent governor need?

To do this as a governor you would need: • a strong commitment to the role and to improving outcomes for children; • the inquisitiveness to question and analyse, and the willingness to learn; • good inter-personal skills; • appropriate levels of literacy in English • sufficient numeracy skills to understand basic data; …

What it means to be a parent governor?

The definition of a parent governor, is a person who is elected as a member of the Governing Board of the school, by parents of registered pupils at the school and who is a parent at the time of their election. Governors come from all walks of life and bring a rich variety of skills and experience to schools.

How many parent governors can a school have?

The minimum number of governors is nine, the maximum is twenty (although sponsor governors are additional to these numbers). Governors are appointed for a maximum of four years, this term is renewable.

How long is a parent governor term?

Parent governors generally serve for four years unless stated otherwise in the school’s Instrument of Government.

What skills do you need to be a parent governor?

What is the job of a parent governor?

What qualities make a good governor?

to carry out the role to the highest standards and, as the holder of a public office, to adhere to the seven principles of public life, which are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

What qualities make a good school governor?

The 7 attributes listed include some vital ‘soft’ skills governors need.

• Committed. Devoting the required time and energy to the role and ambitious to achieve best possible outcomes for young people.
• Challenging.
• Collaborative.

Do parent governors need references?

There is no requirement for schools or academies to request references for potential governors or trustees. However, some governing boards do ask for references.

What skills do you need to be a governor?

Social Perceptiveness – Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do. Coordination – Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions. Management of Personnel Resources – Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Why do I want to be a parent governor?

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Cannon Lane

Primary school, google services, google translate, google search.

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What is the Governing Board's Purpose?

The governors are the strategic leaders of schools and they have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. The Governing Board is the school’s key strategic decision-making body. It has a collective, legal responsibility for the effective management of the school, acting within a framework established by national legislation and the school’s agreed policies, and ensuring all statutory duties are met.  

The Education Act 2002 states that the purpose of maintained school Governing Board is to 'conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school'. IN all types of schools, governing bodies focus on three core strategic functions:  

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Governors are volunteers who bring knowledge, skills and different perspectives from their work and life experiences. They are not paid for their work. Many of them have full-time jobs and all have other commitments. They sometimes take time off from their work to visit the school or attend meetings, although most meetings are held in the evening.

Governors are not expected to take detailed decisions about the day-to-day running of the school. That is the responsibility of the headteacher - although the Headteacher will discuss most aspects of school life with the Governors. The partnership between the Headteacher, staff, Governors, parents, pupils and the wider community determines how well the school functions.

Who is Represented?

When Cannon Lane First and Junior Schools amalgamated on 1 September 2013 the Governing Board reconstituted to become the Cannon Lane Primary School Governing Board.

The Governing Board comprises:  

• 4 Parent Governors - elected by the parents
• 6 Co-opted Governors - appointed by other members of the Governing Board (one who is a member of staff) 2 Staff Governors, comprising the Headteacher, and one staff Governor elected by the staff
• 1 Local Authority (LA) Governor - nominated by Harrow Council.

In addition, Associate Members can also be appointed by the Governing Board to serve on one or more Governing Board committees to contribute to areas where they have a particular expertise e.g. finance, legal, marketing. However, they do not have voting rights.

The school's Deputy Headteacher attends as an observer to the Governing Board.

What Does the Governing Board Do?

The Governing Board meets each half term, so that is six meetings every school year. There are three committees:

• The Finance and Personnel Committee, which deals with finance, staffing, and related policies
• The Curriculum and Community Committee who monitor pupil progress and attainment, and develop links within the school and wider community
• The Premises Health and Safety Committee ensures the school provides a safe, healthy, sustainable environment for staff, pupils and visitors. To include health and safety, premises issues, maintenance of school buildings, grounds, and equipment

There are also smaller committees and working groups which review areas such as the school development plan, staff pay and performance management, deal with safeguarding.  

Individual Governors are also linked to a particular subject area, meeting termly with each subject leader.

As well as attending the regular Governing Board and committee meetings, Governors:

• Meet regularly with senior leaders and middle managers,
• Undertake learning walks and visits to meet staff and pupils, seeing at first-hand how the school works
• Organise opportunities to meet parents and the wider community
• Keep up to date with new legislation and education changes through reading and research
• Undertake regular training organised by the Harrow Support Services for Education (HSSE).

Interested in Becoming a Governor?

If you would like to find out more about becoming a school Governor, please contact us using the online contact form or via the school office. More information may also be found at Harrow Council website's School Governor section, the National Governor Association and the DfE.

Harrow Council provides free training for new Governors and we have an in-house induction programme for new Governors to help you in this important role.

Members of the Governing Board

Jonathan S. Simons

Vice Chair and Co-Opted Governor

Parent Governor

Alastair Phillips

Headteacher/Staff Governor

Selina Connick

Staff Governor

Dr Kerry Day

Co-opted Governor

Malvi Patel

Paul Crouch

Lakshminarayanan Seshan

Jaqueline Lack

Priya Bansal Williams

Vacancy 

Co-Opted Governor

Former Governors

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• Who are the governors? - personal statements

Who are the governors?

I am a father of two children, including a son in year 6 and a daughter who left Bovey Tracey Primary School in 2018 having been at the school since reception.  We live in Bovey Tracey and I work for the Dartmoor National Park Authority where I am responsible for ICT Services and also managing the Authority’s premises including offices and visitor centres.  My lead responsibility on the Governing Board is for Premises, Security and Health & Safety which are all areas I am very familiar with through my day job.  Prior to working for the National Park Authority I worked in adult education and at a number of secondary schools in Devon.  In my spare time I enjoy road cycling and walking on Dartmoor.  Both of my children have thrived at Bovey Tracey Primary School and I am delighted to be able to support the staff and wider school community and give something back in any way I can.

Rob Daniels

I am a father of two living in Chudleigh Knighton and my eldest started in reception in September 2021. I am a quality engineer with over 7 years' experience in the aerospace industry. As a quality engineer my focus is on compliance to all stakeholder and regulatory requirements, identifying risk and implementing mitigation strategies, and continuous improvement. I hope these skills will benefit the school and help with continuously improving the school for our children. I am keen on outdoor pursuits, especially sailing and cycling and care strongly for the environment. You may see my wife or I cycling to drop off/collect our daughter from school (almost in any weather).  If you see me please feel free to ask me questions.

Hola, bonjour, buongiorno, pryveet, konnichiwa, guten tag, nin hao, hello....

I'm Tom with 2 children at Bovey Tracey Primary School. I trained as a language teacher at Exeter University in 2009 and have since worked in Devon as a class teacher, Head of Department and Director of Learning.

The government's White Paper, 'Opportunity for All - strong schools with great teachers for your child', is something to which I am personally committed, as demonstrated throughout my career in education. A solid foundation is crucial to all successful learning, and I believe as a Parent Governor, I am able to help the school achieve this aspiration. 

Dan Thorogood

I’m Dan and I have a daughter in reception. She loves her time at school and I am keen to ensure her education, along with all students at the school, is the best it possibly can be. I have always had strong values with public service at my core and as such have worked and volunteered in numerous public-serving roles, including senior management and charity committees. Currently I am a senior operational manager with the ambulance service, and prior to that spent seven years with the healthcare regulator, CQC, building essential skills in governance and understanding of strategic leadership.

Karen Venn-Dunn- Chair of Governors

I have 2 children at Bovey Tracey school and I am reassured to know that they attend a school with an inclusive, compassionate and aspirational ethos.

I have over 20 years’ experience of working in large organisations in the private sector and have delivered various roles including audit, commercial management and procurement.  

I have travelled and lived all over the country as part of my career in the past but I am so happy to have settled in Bovey and love living here.  It’s a joy to be so close to the moor and the sea and in my spare time I love to walk, cycle and swim in our surroundings

I am a parent governor. I live in Bovey Tracey with my husband and our two daughters. Our oldest daughter started at Bovey Tracey Primary School in September 2020. We are excited to begin our journey as part of a school community which offers so many opportunities for their pupils. I feel privileged to be able to contribute to the future development of the school and uphold its vision and values. 

I have eleven years' experience working in primary schools and currently hold the position of Early Years Leader of a preschool and reception class in the South Hams. At the weekends I enjoy swimming, walking and sewing projects as well as exploring Dartmoor and the seaside with my family. 

Unfortunately not the ones with chocolate chips.

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