Be a school governor

What does it mean to be a school governor?

School governors are amongst the largest volunteer force in the country.  Governors provide schools with strategic lead­­­ership and accountability for educational and financial performance. At Newham Community Learning, we are a Trust, which means that governance is split across two levels. Our board of trustees is responsible for strategy and monitoring across the whole Trust. Local governing bodies at each individual school fulfil the functions listed below. 

Our Structures and Oversight page provides additional detail as to how this two layered system works in operation in order to ensure the best outcomes for children.  Our Funding and Scheme of Delegation page provides additional detail around how we are funded, governance and decision making and the remits (articulated in the terms of reference) of the various committees in operation at our Trust.

Interested in joining us?

We welcome applications to join the local governing body or either of our primary schools, or any of our secondary schools.  To apply, please complete our Trustee and Governor Application Form.  Our Central Team will be in touch within two working days (during term time; longer during the school holidays).

Key functions of the local governing body

  • Support the school leadership team to develop and embed the school’s vision, ethos and strategy
  • Support the school to embed the Trust’s vision
  • Establish a culture of high educational standards, which promotes staff and pupil wellbeing
  • Make sure all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum
  • Monitor school improvement
  • Monitor provision for pupils with SEND
  • Monitor educational performance, using a range of data sources
  • Ensure stakeholders (parents, pupils, staff and the local community) are informed and consulted as appropriate
  • Scrutinise the school’s local budget ahead of approval by the board of trustees
  • Approve and review school level policies, and hold staff to account for their implementation
  • Make sure the school is compliant with legal requirements, including that statutory policies and documents are in place
  • Monitor safeguarding procedures and provision
  • Monitor and evaluate the school’s financial performance
  • Contribute to the performance management of the Headteacher
  • Be a source of challenge and support for the Headteacher
  • Monitor and evaluate the school’s staffing structure
  • Monitor health and safety in the school
  • Provide information and reports to the board of trustees

Skills and experience required

At Newham Community Learning, we welcome applications to join our governing bodies.  Although both our Trust Board and our local governing bodies function as groups, with decision making taking at group level, we ask that all applicants bring the following skills:

Essential:

  • Critical listening and ability to ask effective questions
  • Strategic thinking
  • Excellent communication
  • Problem-solving and analysis

Desirable:

  • Understanding of data
  • Finance and/or accounting knowledge
  • HR experience
  • Knowledge of education
  • Leadership and management skills
  • Risk management skills
  • Legal expertise
  • Marketing and communications skills

Benefits of being a governor 

New skills you’ll gain:

  • Strategic planning
  • Experience on a board
  • Holding senior leaders to account and ability to provide challenge