Join us at our upcoming webinar to find out more about becoming a school governor, in partnership with Governors for Schools.
School governors play a vital role in leading schools and ensuring every child gets the best education possible. Whether it’s approving budgets or holding school leadership accountable, governors play a pivotal role in improving school outcomes and supporting students. Anyone aged 18 or over can be a governor – you don’t need to be a parent or have a background in education.
We are delighted to announce that the University of Reading has partnered with Governors for Schools – an organisation which finds, places, and supports school governors and trustees in schools across England and Wales. Through Governors for Schools you will have access to eLearning modules and online resources to support you in your new role.
Find out more about becoming a school governor and what Governors for Schools do at our upcoming webinar. Join us online at 12:30pm GMT on Monday 24 June.
Register to attend the webinar.
Read on to hear from two of our alumni and their positive experiences of being a school governor:
A great start in life
Combined Social Sciences graduate, Gill Griffin, became a school governor in 2011 after retiring from the Civil Service. Gill said: “I was excited to retire but also concerned that I would not be using the many skills that I had built up while working.
“I’m passionate about education – I believe education is one of the keys to an exciting, fulfilled life. So, becoming a governor at a local school seemed like a great fit.”
Gill wears several different hats in her role as governor. She explained: “I lead on safeguarding, attendance and behaviour matters; I have been involved in both the Maths and History Curriculum; I’m a member of the Personnel and Pay Committee; and I’ve been involved in personnel matters and disciplinary issues over the years too.”
Describing what her role involves, Gill said: “I see my role as a critical friend of the school – asking key questions and working with the school to improve outcomes for our children.
“I can safely say that I am using all the skills that I developed from my time in education and work.
“I firmly believe that good schools give children a great start in life and I enjoy playing my small part in improving those children’s opportunities in life.”
Best kept secret
Serhan Wade, who graduated in 2020 with a BA in Politics and International Relations, became a governor after seeing a statistic that only 1% of school governors are under 30 years old. He said: “I wanted to play my part in making governing boards more representative of the communities they serve.”
For Serhan, school governance has had benefits beyond helping improve his local schools. He explained: “I believe being a school governor is one of the best kept secrets for professional development, particularly if you are early in your career. It can help you to gain leadership experience alongside other skills such as critical thinking and communication.
“Since becoming a governor, I have secured a place on the Civil Service Fast Stream – the graduate scheme for the Civil Service – where I believe my experience as a governor made a significant difference to my application.”
Serhan encourages others to take up the role, too. He said: “You don’t need to have a background in education and being from outside the sector means you can bring a different perspective that adds value to decision-making.
“If you have an interest in education and want to make a real difference to young people’s lives, go for it!”
If you’d like to learn more about being a school governor, register to join us and Governors for Schools at our upcoming webinar on Monday 24 June at 12.30pm GMT.
If you’re unable to attend the session but would like to apply to be a governor through Governors for Schools anyway, you can do so online.
