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School Governorship: is it worth it?

Laura Hood

Hi all

I have recently seen a few adverts for the opportunity to be a governor of a number of local schools. They often want someone with HR experience. 

I know that this would be tough - they say it would be around a day a month but I am sure it would be much more. However, I would like a place on our Company's board and felt that this would potentially give me a (safer) stomping ground and an opportunity to work strategically, whilst offering my skills which I'm sure would be rewarding.

Does anyone have any insight into this?

Parents
  • Hello Laura
    I have read this thread with great interest, and thought I would share my experiences as well.
    I have been a parent governor at my sons primary school and am now a trustee of the Multi Academy Trust (MAT) that the school is part of.
    At a governor level whilst the school was part of the Local Authority (LA) the opportunity to make a difference from a HR point of view was limited as many have already said, however the way we were structured allowed me to sit on the Schools Business and Administration Committee and I was able to use other skills I had such as budget management and H&S knowledge, as well as becoming exposed to some areas I have never experienced and therefore was able to develop myself.
    Now as a trustee it is a whole different ball game, my role sits on the trust board and works with the CEO of the trust to define the overall strategy of the business and whilst reviewing the educational performance of the school and putting interventions in place to ensure improvement it is not in the weeds of education as such.
    At this level MAT's are looking for people with real business experience as they are now having to run as their own companies and as funding within the LA diminishes and services are cut they are looking for more help from the wider community in these areas.
    I am currently looking at people strategy for the MAT with the CEO for things such as talent acquisition, reward and recognition, performance management and even helping them define a competence structure from their vision and values, as well as helping them understand TUPE as more schools join the MAT.
    I have to say it is very rewarding and on average it takes a few days a month of my time but it could very easily be more due to the current stage of the MAT's development.
    I started getting involved so I could give something back and I certainly feel I have had the and am still having the opportunity to that.
    Good luck with your decision making.
  • in reply to Emma Roberts
    Hi Emma
    I totally agree with everything you say above. I am going through a similar experience having been a Chair of governors in a primary school and now a Trustee for our new MAT. I am also working with the CEO on putting together a People Strategy that will cover very similar territory.
    Yes it is busy and yes it is rewarding and exciting!
    Would be good to connect to discuss experiences?
    Stella
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  • in reply to Emma Roberts
    Hi Emma
    I totally agree with everything you say above. I am going through a similar experience having been a Chair of governors in a primary school and now a Trustee for our new MAT. I am also working with the CEO on putting together a People Strategy that will cover very similar territory.
    Yes it is busy and yes it is rewarding and exciting!
    Would be good to connect to discuss experiences?
    Stella
Children