How to Become a Governor
If you are interested in becoming a governor, please call the school for further information. When there is a vacancy for a parent governor all parents will be informed, and you will have a chance to stand for election.
Commitment
Before you put yourself forward, please talk to your employer. Many employers recognise the role of school governor as useful work experience and may offer paid leave as part of their initiative to give back to the community.
If you are successful in your application (expression of interest and skills audit) , you will be invited to attend a full GB meeting to present to the board your reasons for wanting to become a governor and the skills, knowledge and experience you can bring to the team.
GOVERNOR ROLES
WHAT IS A SCHOOL GOVERNOR?
School Governors are drawn from all walks of life and as you will see in this section of the website there are various types of Governors.
The first question to ask yourself is, “Are you interested in the education, welfare and opportunities provided for children and young people?”
If the answer to this first question is, “Yes”, then have you got enthusiasm and time to spare? If so, you could consider volunteering as a school governor.
Governors give their service voluntarily and no formal qualifications are necessary although there are eligibility criteria.
TYPES OF GOVERNORS AND HOW THEY ARE RECRUITED
The Governing Body of Carlton Junior and Infant School has eight governors, as defined by its Instrument of Government. In order to ensure a fair and transparent process, the school takes advice from the Kirklees Governor Service or the National Governance Association when recruiting governors.
There are typically four types of Governors:
- Staff Governors
- Parent Governors
- Co-opted Governors
- Local Authority Governors
PARENT GOVERNORS
Parent Governors are appointed following nominations and elections by the parents and carers of children at the school. Parent Governors normally serve for a period of 4 years and are elected by the Parents or Carers / Guardians of Children at the School.
From time to time the school will send home a letter notifying parents that there is a vacancy for a Parent Governor, and seeking nominations.
If there are more nominations than there are vacancies, then there will be a ballot at which point all of the parents get to vote for the candidate of their choice.
CO-OPTED GOVERNORS
Co-opted Governors are mainly drawn from the local community and are appointed by the governing body. However, there are other avenues to finding skilled governors such as governor websites, Linkedin, Twitter, marketing vacancies at business/professional events etc.
If you would like to find out more about being a Co-opted Governor, either at this school or another, you can either contact our Chair of Governors Mr Amir Afzal or the Kirklees Governor Service on 01484 221000.
It will be helpful when making contact to provide some brief background information, including:
- Your reasons for wishing to become a school governor.
- Whether you have any particular skills and / or knowledge which you could bring to a governing body for example
- Financial
- Building Works
- Health and Safety
- Community
- Marketing
- Management
- Legal
- Human Resources
The Governing Body will need to establish that you are either a local resident have an involvement in the community served by the school.
If not, it is always helpful to explain your interest in that particular school and community.
LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR
LA Governors are appointed by the Local Education Authority.
STAFF GOVERNORS
The Headteacher is a staff governor by virtue of their office. Other staff (teaching or support staff) are elected by staff at the school.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
The Governing body can appoint associate members (non-voting) to serve on one or more governing body committees and attend full governing body meetings. They are not governors.
CLERK
Our Minute Clerk is: Wolfgang Schonenberg
By law every governing body must have a clerk. The clerk’s role centres on governing body meetings – to inform governors of the meeting, prepare and distribute the agenda, write the minutes, give procedural advice at the meeting and carry out follow-up correspondence.
Governors are usually appointed for a term of office of four years. Each year they elect a Chair, Vice-Chair and Chairs of Committees.
