Governor Services

School Governors

Do you:

• have an interest in our children’s education?
• have a desire to make a difference?
• want to develop and hone your leadership skills

Then why not serve your local community and use your skills and expertise by becoming a School Governor?

What do governors do? 

The governing body is responsible for making sure the school improves each year. It sets the direction and makes sure the school is meeting its targets. This involves: 

• Working with other board members to plan the school’s strategic direction. 
• Overseeing the school’s financial performance, ensuring money is well-spent.
• Holding the headteacher or school leadership to account. 

Governors attend meetings (usually around 6 per year) where reports about the school's progress are discussed.  Although becoming a governor requires drive and commitment, you’ll enjoy many professional and personal rewards, including career development opportunities and the chance to support young people’s futures. 

Who can be a governor? 

No formal qualifications are needed to become a school governor, but you do need to be aged 18 or over.  Everyone has experience and skills to offer, so an effective governing body has people from different backgrounds with a mix of skills. A good governor has: 

• common sense 
• the ability to work in a team 
• an interest in education and a commitment to the school 
• patience, energy, enthusiasm and some spare time 
• a willingness to listen, learn and to spend time in school 
• a willingness to undertake training. 

What support will you receive? 

Many of our volunteers are first-time governors, meaning they need a helping hand to get to grips with the role. We have a comprehensive series of governor training courses to enable governors to carry out their roles effectively.  We produce a termly governor training programme of virtual learning opportunities, catering for new governors as well as the more experienced who want to further their knowledge in a specialised area. 

How to apply 

Contact us at Governor.services@sefton.gov.uk to register your interest.  We can search for school vacancies in an area of Sefton to suit you. 

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