Local governor recruitment

Danes Educational Trust’s governance is set up so that each school has a local governing body, which we refer to as a School Board. The Trust Board values the time given by volunteers to be part of our community to provide both support and challenge to our schools.

What are the benefits of being a school governor?

• Supporting the education of young people - education can change lives
• Giving something back to the community
• Working as part of a team
• Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience
• Free training on a range of topics
• If you are interested in a management/leadership career, school governance gives you a good grounding for a professional career
• Middle leaders in other schools find it helpful before they go into leadership.

Governor reflections

“I really enjoy being a governor and recognise the huge privilege of the role. I have fantastic colleagues and have learnt so much since I started. It is good to know that a well-run school benefits the students in their place of learning and staff in their place of work.”

“I’ve found it a real privilege being a Governor. It's stimulating, challenging and interesting. I really enjoy it and especially like working with the other Governors. I think we’re a good team.”

Local governance in DET

Each School Board has a specific role, based on delegations afforded to it by the Trust Board (which is the legally responsible body for the running of the Trust). You can find out more information about this on our Governance page. 

The structure of the Trust means that much of what is perceived as more traditional governance is carried out by the Central Services Team. For example, outcomes and teaching and learning sit with the DET Directors of Education, not the School Boards.  The same applies for oversight of school finances  - overseen by the DET Finance Director. Sites and premises are overseen by the DET COO.

Responsibilities
The Trust Board sets the strategy, vision and values for the Trust which in turn becomes the school strategy, vision and values.

The core function of the School Board is centred around community and relationships.  
 - Relationships with staff, learners, parents, the Trust and stakeholders in the wider community.
 - Knowing the school
 - Providing challenge and support in delegated areas:    
 - Vulnerable learners, including those on Pupil Premium, children looked after and those with special educational needs
 - Safeguarding

School Board
Each School Board comprises between seven - nine local governors:
Chair (Community Governor)
Vice Chair (Community Governor)
Headteacher
Two elected Parents Governors
One elected Staff Governor
Up to three additional Community Governors

Parent Governors

Parent governors are in a unique position on a school board. Parent governors are parents or carers who have parental responsibility for a child. Not only do parent governors have to work in the best interests of the school, but they have to balance this with their natural desire to see the best outcomes for their own child(ren). 

When a vacancy for a parent governor arises, the school will run a formal election process which allows for nominations (including self-nominations), followed by all parents and carers having the opportunity to take part by voting for their preferred candidate.

Parent governors are
- well placed to understand parents’ views and to remind the school board how matters being discussed affect parents 
- individuals - how you vote on any decision is up to you 
- in a good position to help the school board to communicate effectively with parents 
- equal in status to all other governors 

Parent governors are not

- expected to gather views of other parents and take them to the school board
- simply expected to represent the interests of parents
- a link between parents and the school board
- expected to vote as instructed by other parents 

Expectations 
You will be supported throughout your time as a local governor by the School Board Chair, other governors (including a mentor whilst you find your feet) and the Clerk.

Regular training using online sessions and e-learning:
In the first three months - safeguarding, GDPR, cyber security and induction
In the first six months - exclusions panels
Annually - in September, safeguarding, GDPR and cyber security
Link role specific training 

Panel work is part of the role, be that in your own school or another school in the Trust. All local governors must take part in at least one panel per year. You will be fully supported in this role to ensure you understand and feel confident to take part. Panel work is one of the most important roles of the local governors - ensuring that learners have been treated fairly. It can be time-consuming, with a significant amount of reading, preparation and attending the panel. However, you choose when you can sit on a panel when the request is sent out, so it can fit around your work.

School Board meetings take place four times per year - September, November, March and June. You will receive the papers 7-10 days ahead of the meeting and you are expected to spend time preparing for the meeting, and once you are settled, sending questions in advance. 
The dates for meetings are set by Easter the previous year, so we expect you to attend all four meetings.

To support your role and the school, you are expected to carry out two formal visits each year. These can be done around your timetable, but need to take place during the school day. Each visit would last no more than two hours. An hour spent with your link member of staff, and then an accompanied learning walk around the school. After your visit, you complete a report form which then is shared with your fellow governors, the school and the Trust. 

As mentioned above, a key role which the Trust Board has delegated to the School Board is the link to the community. To that end, you are expected to attend at least two community events in the school each year, again, reporting back after your visit.

Expenses
We pay expenses for travel to other schools in the Trust. 

How to apply
If you would like to apply for a role as a local governor at a Danes Educational Trust school, please complete the application form. Within a few days, someone will contact you to arrange an informal chat, which may then lead to a formal interview with the Chair at one of our schools. 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Susan Poole, DET Director of Operations, spoole@danesedtrust.org.uk.