School governors

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The information on this page relates to maintained schools. For details about how the role differs in Academies, please refer to the DfE Governance Structures and Roles.

Volunteer as a school governor and support education in Cambridgeshire

School governors play a vital role in education. The governing board:

  • plans the strategic direction of a school
  • makes sure public money is well spent
  • and holds school leadership to account

Schools across Cambridgeshire need people to volunteer as governors. A strong governing board ensures robust debate, which leads to better educational outcomes for children.

Whatever your professional background, your skills could transform a school. In return, you will be supporting your local community and benefiting from the chance to develop new skills.

You don’t need to be a parent or have experience working in education to be a school governor. Governing boards need a variety of perspectives and thrive with people from different backgrounds and lived experiences.

What do school governors do?

The governing board has three core functions:

  • Ensuring clarity of the vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding the senior leadership to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
  • Overseeing financial performance of the school and ensuring money is well spent

Application form

Register your interest in becoming a governor in a Cambridgeshire school

How we support school governors

Governors in Cambridgeshire are supported in their role by having access to information, advice, support, resources and training.

While volunteers don’t need any specific background or experience to become a school governor, completing training means you can be effective from your first day, helping improve educational outcomes for children.

The School Governance Team provides:

  • statutory functions for governors
  • termly briefings for governors
  • programme of training and support
  • a professional clerking service

Further information

Case studies

What is your background – job, skills, experience etc?

Local authority officer working in the Education Directorate. I have worked in education for two years, before which I was a graduate trainee working in local government. In the past I have worked for the Civil Service, and have spent time in postgraduate study.

What inspired you to become a school governor?

I strongly believe in the importance of community and civil society, so wanted to serve my local area. Becoming a school governor will also be good professional experience for me.

How did you find out about becoming a school governor?

Colleagues in the local authority explained that in some schools there is a shortage of governors. This prompted me to make contact with the School Governance Team.

What do you enjoy about being a governor?

The ability to have an immediate and tangible positive impact on the community and the lives of young people.

What do you feel you have gained personally and/or professionally in the governor role?

Better understanding of the challenges faced by the state education sector. Experience of acting (in essence) as a director/trustee of a small organization.

What are you hoping to achieve in the governor role?

My school faces significant challenges with financial pressure and staff turnover. I want to help the school overcome these challenges and flourish in the future.

What would you say to anyone considering becoming a governor?

You do not need to be a parent or a teacher; it is a fantastic way in which anyone can contribute to their community.

What is your background – job, skills, experience etc?

I run a local business and am actively involved in the local community

What inspired you to become a school governor?

I have two boys at the school and was interested in learning more about primary education.

How did you find out about becoming a school governor?

I knew the vice chair at the time and asked him about it.

What do you enjoy about being a governor?

As I am not from an education background there has been a lot to learn and that is an enjoyable challenge. Even learning the terminology and acronyms is good fun.

What do you feel you have gained personally and/or professionally in the governor role?

I feel I have contributed to the ongoing success of our school though its teaching & learning and helped from a business perspective.

What are you hoping to achieve in the governor role?

A greater understanding of primary education, my own personal development and the continued success of our school and its pupils.

What would you say to anyone considering becoming a governor?

It is great to volunteer your skills, support and time to a cause that can’t be underestimated. The best opportunity you’ll have to help the future.

What is your background – job, skills, experience etc?

Combination of technology (Computer Science/Software Engineering), finance (Venture Capital) and entrepreneurialism (I started and built a company)

What inspired you to become a school governor?

  1. My kids were at the school and, after a number of years of a weak head, a negative Ofsted grade and a number of interim SLTs that failed to deliver, I was inspired by a new head who seemed to be ambitious.
  2. I was unimpressed with the historical governing body - the group lacked any real diversity, many had no connection to the school and, in many cases, did not appear to be able to be appropriately supportive and challenging to the school's leadership.

How did you find out about becoming a school governor?

I was interested in being a governor at the school seven years ago and so looked into the process then. At that time, I was blocked by the head as he assumed I was not Christian. With him gone and a new Chair of Governors, I re-applied.

What do you enjoy about being a governor?

We're a close-knit team who come from a diverse set of backgrounds and have diverse opinions but are united in our goal to provide the best possible school experience for the children who attend St Paul's. It's great to feel so part of an important part of our local community.

What do you feel you have gained personally and/or professionally in the governor role?

I have personally gained from a closer tie to the school and local community. I have also learned a lot about the pressures facing education in general and been really impressed by the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the staff and also the Council's Education team.

What are you hoping to achieve in the governor role?

Cambridge is an inspiring, beautiful town filled with ambitious people. I want all of our children to get a sense of that and let it fill their lives while they are at the school. More tactically, I want us to get an Ofsted grade that represents the staff's hard work over the last two years!

What would you say to anyone considering becoming a governor?

Expect a lot of work and also expect to have to invest significant time in understanding the way education is run and the systems, structures and language of its work. If you persevere, however, there are few roles that are more gratifying than seeing your work translate into a better, more fulfilling experience for children.