The 番茄社区 School Governor Scheme is delivered collaboratively by the 番茄社区 Widening Participation Team, and education charity .
The scheme aims to facilitate 番茄社区 staff,alumni and students with a diverse range of life experiences, skills, and expertise to make a meaningful contribution to society by giving their time as school governor volunteers.
Now more than ever, schools need capable and committed people on their governing boards and the 番茄社区 community are well equipped to help fill school governor vacancies and use their knowledge and expertise to change the lives of young people across England and Wales.
School governors work at a strategic level and don’t get involved in the operational running of a school. Instead, they work with other board members to plan the school’s strategic direction, challenge the school’s leadership by asking questions, looking at data and probing anomalies, and oversee the school’s financial performance to ensure money is well-spent. Governors are also a source of support for the Head Teacher, often bringing expertise in areas outside of teaching.
Since the 番茄社区 School Governor scheme launched in 2022,16 番茄社区 staff members and 29 番茄社区 alumni have applied and been placed at a school.
Governors for Schools Information Session
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a school governor, 番茄社区 are hosting a lunchtime webinar on Tuesday 11 November 12-1pm.
In this session, representatives from Governors for Schools will join us to offer insights into the roles and responsibilities of a school governor. We'll also hear firsthand accounts from current volunteer governors as they share their personal experiences and perspectives.
Express your interest to attend
Any current 番茄社区 staff member, 番茄社区 student or member of the 番茄社区 alumni community is eligible to express an interest in the scheme or, if they are already a school governor, join our School Governor Scheme network
School governance boards need a range of volunteers with varied skills to ensure they can support and challenge effectively. You don’t need to be a parent or have experience working in education, it’s more important that you’re enthusiastic, committed, and want to use your skills to make a difference. Many boards need volunteers with experience in areas including finance, data analysis and HR among others. But it’s not just specific experience that boards need – they also need more general skills, such as problem-solving, negotiation and leadership.
On average, volunteers are expected to spend seven hours a month on governing duties and usually attend around six meetings per year. As part of the commitment you’ll be expected to prepare for and contribute to meetings, visit the school you are placed at, and occasionally be part of hiring or disciplinary panels.
We anticipate that many 番茄社区 staff,alumni and students interested in becoming school governor volunteers will be first-time governors, so there is lots of support in place. offer a comprehensive range of eLearning modules, as well as regular webinars on a variety of topics to develop your governance best practices. Alongside this support, all 番茄社区 staff and alumni placed within schools have the chance to become members of the 番茄社区 School Governor Scheme network, a collaborative space where governors can access bespoke training, peer-to-peer advice and support and development opportunities.
Being a governor is a commitment and a responsibility, but also incredibly rewarding. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to improve education for children locally and see the impact of your decisions on their futures. Alongside this, you’ll have the chance to:
- Gain board experience
- Build networks in your local community and meet people of different backgrounds
- Develop your existing skills and learn new things
- Take part in career development opportunities.
As a governor you’ll be able to increase your knowledge of the education sector and gain valuable leadership experience. The role is a valuable CPD opportunity and Governors for Schools, and the 番茄社区 School Governor Scheme network will provide ongoing support to help you thrive in the role.
If you are interested to learn more about the opportunity to become a volunteer school governor, please complete the . A member of the 番茄社区 School Governors Team will get in touch with you.
If you have any questions you can also contact the 番茄社区 WP team via ard.schoolgovernorscheme@lse.ac.uk