How to… Be a school governor

Sue Hunter is a governor of Wantage Church of England Primary School. She describes a role which combines helping the next generation thrive with developing board-level experience.

“Have you ever thought about becoming a school governor?”

My friend had spotted an advert and thought I might be interested. The truthful answer was that I had never thought about being a governor and, in spite of a career in education, I had only a hazy idea of what school governors do. My interest was piqued, and a bit of research told me that being a governor would be a varied and interesting role. More than a decade and four schools later, I still find it fulfilling.

What does a governor actually do?

So what do governors do? To quote the diocesan website, “Governors provide critical strategic leadership for school communities leading to high aspirations for children and young people.”

The role is strategic rather than operational, setting the vision and monitoring progress towards it. In practice this reflects a myriad of different areas and requires a team with a wide
range of skills and experience. As a teacher, I already had experience of areas such as safeguarding and educational theory but being a governor has given me insight into facets of
school life about which I knew less, from finance and risk to HR and publicity. Fortunately, there is a wealth of learning resources to draw on and broadening my experience has been one of the benefits of the role.

Then there are the people – school staff, families, co-governors and especially the children – who make the role enjoyable and worthwhile.

Life in abundance

The schools I have served have all been Church schools, and there is something rather special about the theologically-based ethos of these schools. In a Church school the Christian faith explicitly underpins a deep commitment to serving the whole community, welcoming pupils from all backgrounds and ensuring that they experience “life in abundance” (John 10.10).

One annual highlight for me is an invitation to the extraordinarily moving Passion Play, written and performed each year by Year 5 pupils from Wantage CE Primary. I never cease to be amazed by the insight and thoughtfulness of such young children as they tell the story of Holy Week through their poetry and mime.

Governors often find themselves invited to take part in all sorts of wonderful things that don’t appear in the job description. Over the years I have helped run a bar at the school fete, handed out awards, judged competitions (a minefield!), attended numerous plays, sporting events, science fairs and art exhibitions, supervised a super-confident group of Year 5s interviewing prospective new vicars, and so much more. Never a dull moment!

Becoming a governor

For more about this vital role contact tracy.makin@oxford.anglican.org or visit governorsforschools.org.uk.

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As told to Pathways by Sue Hunter. Read more from Pathways online, or pick up a copy from your local parish church.

Photo: Wantage Church of England Primary School