Why You Need To Become A School Parent Governor

Helping UK schools deliver the best education for their children

A couple of years ago I had concerns about the standard of behavior in my daughters’ primary school (ages 4–11) and following a complaint letter which was met with an unsatisfactory response I attended a meeting with the headteacher.

Again, I was underwhelmed by the headteacher’s response however she said “Well, if you want to make a difference then get involved. Become a governor.”

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland (i.e. much of the UK), every state school has a governing body consisting of specified numbers of various categories of governors depending on the type and size of school.

The headteacher of the school is responsible for day-to-day management of the school however the role of the governing body is to provide strategic management and act as a “critical friend” of the school, supporting the work of the headteacher and other staff.

One of these governor types is a “Parent Governor”.

Becoming a parent governor

In many schools there is a shortage of parent governors, as the pressure on people’s time and the vague understanding of the role means that there aren’t that many people willing to take up the post.

To become a governor you just need to apply, typically completing an application form that’s present on the…