Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Governors

Do I need qualifications to be a governor?

No qualifications needed, just a desire to support the school to get best outcomes for all pupils, and a commitment to attending meetings and undertaking mandatory training

What training do I need to undertake and how long will it take?

There are only 2 mandatory training sessions all governors need to complete, this is Induction Training and Data Training. They are currently delivered online via Teams, and are 1 – 11/2 hours in length each, depending on numbers attending and questions asked.

Alternatively, these sessions are available online for governors to work through materials in their own time.

I work full time, will I have time to be a governor?

Many governors work full time. Most governor meetings take place early evenings so can be fitted around a working day, and many employers will give their staff time off to attend meetings if there are any during the day, as they realise the skills gained from the role of a governor are transferable to the workplace.

Will I get any support to help me in my role as a governor?

Yes, once you are appointed a governor, you will receive a welcome email from the Governor Support Team at the EAS, which will include information on your role, links to training materials and other information that you might find helpful, as well as providing you with a free HWB email address. This gives you access to the Welsh Government HWB website, which is portal for teachers, pupils and governors, and allows you to use Microsoft products (Word, Excel etc) entirely free.

The Governor Support Team are available during weekdays to answer any queries you may have, please just send a message to governor.support@sewaleseas.org.uk and your message will be answered as soon as possible by one of the team.

How many meetings do I need to attend during the year?

It is a legal requirement for Governing Bodies to meeting at least 3 times a year, once a term. However, many governing bodies meet once each half term, which totals 6 meetings per school year. In addition to these meetings, there may be sub committee meetings held, such as Finance, and any member of the governing body who opts to sit on these committees will have to commit to attending these additional meetings.

How long can a governor serve on a governing body?

The normal term of office for a governor is 4 years. Governors can be appointed for further terms of office, there is no time limit on how many time they can be reappointed.

What are the different types of governors?

All governors have the same status and voting responsibilities (apart from the Chair of Governors, who has a casting vote if any decisions are tied). The different types of governors reflect how each governor is appointed, and is designed to ensure representation from many different areas on a governing body

• • • Parent Governors – these are elected by the parents of the school concerned, and must have a child at the school

    • Community Governors – these are appointed by the Governing Body and can be anyone within the local community that wishes to support the school i.e. local business owner, youth group worker

    • Local Authority Governors – these are appointed by the local authority, sometimes they can be councillors for the area the school is situated

    • Teacher and Staff Governors – these are elected by teaching staff and non-teaching staff respectively, in the school

    • Minor Authority Governors – these are governors appointed by the local Community/Town Council. They are a type of community governor, if a primary school sits within a Community/Town Council area then one of the community governors must be appointed by the council

    • Foundation Governors – these are governors in a Faith school appointed by the appropriate church, to ensure the school preserves its religious character

What is a Link Governor?

Each year at the Annual General Meeting, a Chair, Vice Chair and Reserve member is appointed, along with committee members for sub committees and link governors.

Link governors are governors who link with specific subject areas within the school, and they liaise with the relevant members of staff, to gain a deeper understanding of that area. Their role is then to provide feedback to the wider governing body group to ensure members are updated on developments in this area.

I am a parent governor but my child has now left the school, do I have to resign?

No, any parent governor can serve out their full 4 year term of office even if their child has left the school before the end of this term

I have been approached by a parent of a child at the school who knows I am a governor and wants me to deal with a complaint they have with the school. What do I do?

You must never try and deal with a complaint on your own. In the first instance you need to direct the parent to the headteacher to try and resolve this. If this is not successful then the parent needs to direct their complaint in writing to the Chair of Governors. The school’s complaints policy will set out what the parent needs to do, they can request a copy from the school. It is important that you do not engage in any discussion about a complaint, as if you do, you would not be eligible to be a part of any complaints panel if things progress to that stage, as you will already have information about the complaint.