chickenlover Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Hi , ive just put my name down to be school governer, but truthfully i have no idea what it would entail. All i know is that the term lasts 4 years. Is there any school governers out there that can outline what i would be expected to do??????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I was a governor for 2 years. I gave it up because of the amount of meetings involved, & some of our meetings went on until after 10.30pm. I had 6 full governors meetings to go to in the year, plus numerous committee meetings. Having said all that, I really enjoyed it, but just couldn't commit fully to it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 ditto - I was a governor, but it coincided with family illness and bereavement, and I couldn't keep up with the meetings so I resigned. It was interesting though. It depends a lot whether it's a primary or secondary school, and the size of the school. You could be (for example) interviewing a new head teacher, deciding on discpline or even on whether to exclude a pupil, setting uniform rules - but mostly there are sub-committees for these things, so you can choose how involved to get. I think it's a great thing to do - go for it! many schools struggle to get committed governors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 hi, its a small primary school, ive got 3 girls that attend, 1 in nursery, 1 in year 2 and 1 in year 6 . The school has a real community feel and all the staff are really lovely. I have 4 kids but i dont work and i couldnt think of a better way to repay these people that take such time and care to teach and take care of my girls, and i have the support of a wonderfull husband and friends that are willing to help me out if needs be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Don't volunteer to take the minutes is my only advice. Good luck It's well worth doing and if you have the time to spare, you will get a real buzz out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I'm doing my second 4 year stint at my children's primary school It certainly gives you an insight into how the education system works from the inside. You will find it really interesting, I think I was a little naive and thought I could take parents ideas in and get them implemented, but it doesn't work like that Do go on the training courses that the LA organise, they are well worth it karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 As said above it can be a handful. BUT in a small primary school it's not so bad. Our school has 100 pupils and we have 3 meetings a year. Exclusions are not on the table - the worst behaved kid in school is the Head's son! NEVER NEVER NEVER Volunteer in a large secondary school. There will be lots of meetings, they will go on for hours and there will be loads of discipline problems. Of course Governors may also need to be interviewed by Ofsted! Having said that - I enjoy it and it gives me a sense of community and a different perspective on education - which is what I (as a teacher) wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 When do you hear if you have been accepted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted November 22, 2007 Author Share Posted November 22, 2007 i dont know yet, but i do know the school stop excepting names on 27th november, theres 2 places and not many people ever volenteer, i think because they dont know what it entails. I will let you know what happens, you never know i will probally be on here in a few weeks asking for adive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Ask away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 UPDATE: ok so we get a letter back from school today to say there are 3 people up for two govener places, and its going to a vote, i know its a bit sad but i really want to do this, my life just seems to be a bit stagnent at the moment, not working and all, but unfortunatly the other two people that are up for it are quite involved in the school and everyone knows them so i figured ive pretty much lost out already . One does just about everything you could possible do for the school and the other which is a close friend of mine has such a wonderful personality she lights up everywhere she goes, the vote closes at 9am on 6th december but im not holding my breath but i will let you know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Best of luck. You will do a great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Fingers Crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Will keep my fingers crossed fo you karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 we had a class birthday party today and when i went to pick up my daughter one of the people put up for govenor, not my close friend, came over to me and said Oh i dont know if i can talk to you because you are the opposition I just laughed and said hello because i assumed she was joking, but she then proceeded to stomp off in the other direction and i quickly realized she was serious Im now thinking of pulling out if its going to cause bad feeling, i only put my name down to have something to do and help the school out, not to start a fall out competition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Stick with it chickenlover - it's adults they need as school governers, not juveniles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 we had a class birthday party today and when i went to pick up my daughter one of the people put up for govenor, not my close friend, came over to me and said Oh i dont know if i can talk to you because you are the opposition I just laughed and said hello because i assumed she was joking, but she then proceeded to stomp off in the other direction and i quickly realized she was serious Im now thinking of pulling out if its going to cause bad feeling, i only put my name down to have something to do and help the school out, not to start a fall out competition Don't pull out....with an attitude like that she is not going to do a good job. Stick with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 im so dreading tommorow morning, we have to go into the school while they count out the votes, its going to be embarassing if i dont get in and embarrasing if i do, im not very good at stuff like that, im a confident person but just dont like situations like that the upside is, do you know i said the other lady had been funny with me? well it wasnt only me, she has been funny with my friend that is up for govener also, at least i know that one of is definatly going to become govener, i might drop out of the vote off tommorow because i need to see the doc for my ear, and just get the news from my friend I will post on here as soon as i can and let everyone know how i got on, i wasnt very confident that i would get it but ive had so much support and people coming to me and telling me that ive got their vote, im getting kind of excited, but nervus at the same time....HOW SAD AM I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 That's great that people are voicing their support - I really hope you get in! Just hope the ear is a bit better for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 i....HOW SAD AM I Not sad at all!! Just motivated and caring. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Good luck with the voting count I couldn't face being there when I did it karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 The way they are counting the vote sounds very daunting- I was up in a vote when I became a governor, & so totally understand that you are feeling nervous. I just had a phone call from school to say I had "got in", which is much better than watching the votes be counted. That reminds me of when I vote count at local elections Let us know how you get on, we're rooting for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Good luck, I do hope that you get selected, you sound really motivated and interested. I think you'd be a real asset to the school . My hubby's governor at son's school, a large, wide ability, all boys school, and he's really enjoyed his time doing it. He's gained such a lot of insight into the educational system and really feels that he's contributed in a small way, to the successful running of the school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 didnt get in but i only missed out by 4 votes, which makes me feel better, but the school said that if anything else comes up or if any of the govners drop out, i'll be the first offered Also ive offered to help my friend out if she needs me, which she was really grateful for, and theres so much more i can help out with, i just need to show then just how wonderful i am It was quite funny when they were counting out the votes because i could hear a word they were saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Oh dear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
