The Role Overview
Are you interested in supporting your local schools and making a real difference to your community?
Our Local School Committee (LSC) are volunteers, parents, staff and Trust Appointed Governors who know the school and its values and ethos well. They support the school’s leadership team and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. The role is that of a critical friend and will always act in the best interests of all pupils at the school.
The role of the school governor is very rewarding and is a great way to give back to your local community.
We are looking for governors from a variety of backgrounds whether that’s legal or financial industries, business management, marketing or human resources. Above all else we’re looking for enthusiasm and a commitment to making a difference to our children. The role is voluntary, but comes with ample rewards.
To view our Governor Recruitment pack, please click here.
To view the full Governor Role Description, please click here.
To apply, please click here.
To request more information on any volunteering roles, please click here.
"Being part of the Local School Committee is a rewarding role. We work closely with both school, Trustees and staff to develop our local schools. We support and challenge to ensure that our pupils have the best education and opportunities during their school years. As individuals we are offered training and development to support us in our roles."
- Sally Hall, Chair of Allerton Bywater & Kippax Ash Tree Primary Schools LSC
How does being a Governor benefit you?
- A chance for you to give something back and make an impact to the local community.
- Develop skills in a professional board environment.
- Gain access to training, resources, and experiences that are transferable to your professional life.
- Use your own professional expertise and skill-set to support the work of the school.
What Governors do
Governors are strategic leaders within schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education.
The role of the school governor is demanding but very rewarding and is a great way to give back to your local community. Good schools need good governors.
No one governor is expected to know it all.
The strength of a Local School Committee lies in its ability to attract and rely upon members from a wide variety of backgrounds; share out the duties amongst its members and be able to take decisions as a group.
The role of the Local School Committee Governor
The LSC is accountable to the Trust board for ensuring that the Headteachers fulfil their responsibilities for educational outcomes for children and young people; safeguarding, SEND; and health & safety of their school.
Each individual governor is a member of a Local School Committee and all decisions are the joint responsibility of the LSC. You will probably have a special responsibility assigned to you, for example, development and training, safeguarding or SEND.
- Attend meetings, and be prepared to ask questions after having read the associated paperwork.
- Visit the school to assess your specific responsibility, which might be development and training, safeguarding, SEND, pupil achievement or something more.
- Work in partnership with the Trust and school leadership to ensure an active, high quality and effective programme of stakeholder and community engagement is delivered.
- The expected time commitment is four meetings a year, as well as occasional school visits to assess specific parts of the school’s day-to-day running.
Skills required
The skills you need to become a governor include:
- time, commitment and interest in our children’s future and improving educational outcomes.
- inquisitiveness to read paperwork, analyse and question.
- the ability to assimilate information, make judgments and take decisions.
- good inter-personal skills and the ability to work as a team.
- although not essential, LSCs may be looking for experience of areas such as education, personnel, business, etc.
"As a governor, I have found my role to be invaluable in supporting our child's school and contributing to the education of SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) students. It has allowed me to actively engage in shaping policies and initiatives that directly benefit not only my child but all students, including those with SEND. Through collaboration with the school community, I've been able to contribute insights and efforts towards creating a nurturing and enriching learning environment for all students, including those with diverse needs."
- Miriam Watson-Pratt, SEND link Governor, Swillington Primary School
Support and training
Your LSC will have an induction process for new governors. There is also plenty of training available locally covering all aspects of governance. The BLP host several governor hubs providing an opportunity for governors in similar roles, from different schools, to collaborate.
Governors' roles and responsibilities
Local School Committee members of the BLP schools are made up from various types of governors. Some are elected posts and for others the appointment is made by the BLP board. Governors normally serve for a term of office lasting four years but you can of course resign at any time after you are elected or appointed.
Trust Appointed Governors
Trust Appointed governors are appointed by the Brigshaw Learning Partnership (BLP) board. They are people who in the opinion of the board have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of a school.
Parent Governors
Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school. Any parent, or carer, of a registered pupil at the school at the time of election is eligible to stand for election as a parent governor. Parent governors may continue to hold office until the end of their term of office even if their child leaves the school.
Schools must make every reasonable effort to fill parent governor vacancies through elections. However, the Regulations make provision for the governing body to appoint parent governors where not enough parents stand for election. LSCs may only appoint as a parent governor a parent who has, in their opinion, the skills to contribute to effective governance and the success of the school.
Staff Governors
Staff governors are employed to work at the school and are elected by staff to the LSC. Any staff member at the school at the time of election is eligible to stand for election as a staff governor. They offer a staff perspective but do not represent the staff body.
The role will end either at the end of their term of office, or if they leave the school.
Associate Members
Associate Members are appointed by the Local School Committee and work in an advisory capacity. Associate Members have no voting rights.
Link Roles
Governors can be appointed as link leads to oversee specific improvement priorities or take charge of areas within the LSC’s responsibilities. This role allows for the effective use of their skills and experience.
- SEND Governor Role Description
- Safeguarding Governor Role Description
- Pupil Premium Governor Role Description
