Governors make sure schools are providing the best possible education by:

  • holding head teachers to account
  • driving up performance
  • making decisions on the school budget

Being a governor is not a full-time job, but it does involve some commitment. Governors are expected to get to know the school by making regular visits and will dedicate between 60 and 100 hours of their time a year.

Most governing bodies meet once or twice a term (usually in the evening). Governors often sit on a committee, dealing with matters such as finance, staffing or school performance data. To help them carry out these duties governors are provided with training and are entitled to take reasonable time off work, although this may be unpaid.

Governors are usually appointed for a four-year term and should have good literacy, numeracy and IT skills, as well as being prepared to ask challenging questions and contribute to decision making.

Apply to be a school governor

If you're interested in becoming a school governor visit Inspiring Governance.