We currently have 4 vacancies on St Joseph’s Governing Body for Foundation Governors. In every school, governors help to support the school and the senior leadership team, but what is it about the role which encourages so many committed volunteers to apply? Here are 5 reasons to become a governor here at St Josephs.
1 - Making a difference.
School governors provide critical challenge, ‘a critical friend’ and support to the leadership team of a school with the ultimate aim of driving up standards. Acting as a school governor is a fantastic opportunity to have an impact on education and positively influence children’s lives.
2 - Get to know your school.
Governors are part of the strategic leadership team of a school, and what better way to get to know your community than support it? Schools are always tied deeply within the fabric of their community and it is part of the role of being a governor to ensure the school is accountable to the area it serves.
3 - Develop your skills.
As well as giving something back to the school, you can develop a range of both new and existing skills, receive free training and it may be that you could develop your professional expertise in a specific capacity, for example with financial professionals on a Finance Committee. Or it could be softer skills which governors develop like team working as the governing body deliberate to come to a vital decision. Being a governor is a fantastic chance to develop your skills in a unique environment.
4 - Improve your knowledge about the education sector.
Whilst school staff will make up part of a governing body and whilst experience in education is a valuable attribute for governors to have, as a new school governor you are not expected to have a working knowledge of the education sector.
You will however gain a fascinating insight into how schools work and how the education sector is changing and continues to change. It may be that you want to get a better understanding of your child’s education or you may have an interest in the sector more generally. Whatever your intrigue, you’re guaranteed to gain a further appreciation of the work of teachers and school leaders as well as the type of challenges schools face.
5 - It’s a challenge.
There’s no denying that being a school governor is a challenge, but that’s a good thing. The role should be a challenge (because it’s important) and it can put you out of your comfort zone when you have to get to grips with new policies, procedures and problems. However, this challenge does not mean the role is time consuming – though of course it can be – but it will certainly, at least initially, challenge you to think in new ways and work with new people. It may be that you are putting your professional skills to use in a new context or getting to grips with a whole new sector, but the very challenge of the role should be embraced and most governors find this very rewarding.
What is a Foundation Governor?
There are different types of governor which make up a school’s governing body, however we have vacancies for the Foundation type.
Foundation Governors are appointed for a four-year term on behalf of the Archbishop and have the responsibility of assisting him to sustain and develop the Catholic ethos and distinctive Catholic nature of the school in which they serve.
Foundation governors may be parents of children in the school or just someone who has an interest in the strategic management of the school. They also have a legal duty to conduct their school with a view to promoting high educational standards and to promote the well-being of pupils at the school, promote community cohesion.
What is the commitment?
If you are thinking about applying to become a governor or just would like some further information, please do not hesitate to have a chat with any of the Governors of the school or alternatively please email the school or speak to Mrs Riordan.