Why I choose to volunteer as a school governor
I volunteered because I believe in the state education system and think it should be overseen by professionals who work with the school senior leadership to create the citizens of the future, equipped with the right skills and behaviours to succeed in life.
I am a product of that system, having attended state primary and secondary schools, progressed to University and been successful in life, partly as a result of the lessons I learned at school. I strongly believe in “putting something back” by helping the next generation to succeed and continuing to develop my skills in a public sector setting.
What I like about being a volunteer
In my case, I have been lucky enough to be asked to lead 3 governing bodies over my years as a governor. This mirrors some of my experience during my career and allows for some of the best practices I have learned to be brought to bear in the school setting.
What the role involves
Being a governor involves holding the school and their leadership to account, much like the non-executive directors in large companies. We make sure that the outcomes set by the school for their pupils are challenging and are met, that staff are being managed effectively and that the resources we are trusted with are being used wisely.
Typically, we suggest governors allocate 5 to 10 hours per month until they want to take on chair or vice chair roles.
If you are looking to develop your skills and have an interest in the citizens of the future, I can highly recommend finding out more from Governor Services at Bracknell Forest Council. It can be challenging, frustrating and difficult, but nearly all governors find it very rewarding.