What is school governance?

The governing board

The role of the board is essential to the effectiveness of a school. Ofsted has noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management, which includes that of the board. 

School governors provide strategic leadership, oversight and accountability in schools. The board supports the headteacher and staff by positively promoting the work of the school, celebrating its achievements and working to ensure the best outcomes for pupils.

Local authority maintained schools

The Maintained Schools Governance Guide, sets out the core functions of the board and include, but are not limited to ensuring:

• that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
• that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
• the sound, proper and effective use of the school's financial resources.

A board and its governors must, as required by The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013, regulation 6(2):

• act with integrity, objectivity and honesty and in the best interests of the school
• be open about the decisions they make and the actions they take and shall be prepared to explain their decisions and actions to interested parties.

The board also has legislative responsibility and strategic oversight for the school's safeguarding arrangements.

Each individual governor and any associate member(s) form the board and is established in law as a corporate body. This means that individual governors and associate members do not act independently of the rest of the board.  All decisions are the joint responsibility of the board as the accountable body.  As long as LA maintained school governors and associate members act within the law, governors are protected from financial liability for the decisions they take.

Academies

The Academy Trust Governance Guide states the purpose of governance is to provide: 

• strategic leadership
• accountability and assurance
• strategic engagement

The board has collective accountability and strategic responsibility for the trust. It has a focus on ensuring the trust delivers an excellent education to pupils while maintaining effective financial management and must ensure compliance with:

• the trust's charitable objects
• regulatory, contractual and statutory requirements
• their funding agreement

The board also has:

• strategic and statutory responsibility for arrangements within (and across) the academy trust ensuring the promotion of pupil welfare and for keeping their estates safe and well-maintained for:
  • safeguarding
  • special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• a role in making sure that it delivers its commitment to other schools and academies, however it is done.

Refer to your own academy's articles of association for more information.

How to become a governor, trustee, or local academy committee member

Governors, trustees, local academy committee members (LACM) and associate members are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country, and have an important part to play in raising school standards. 

There are no particular qualifications or requirements to volunteer to be a governor, trustee, LACM or associate member.  However, boards will probably be looking for some of the following:

• individuals who are enthusiastic about contributing to improving the outcomes for all pupils and inevitably the local and wider community
• individuals who are aware there is a commitment involved ie. time
• individuals who may have some specialist knowledge/experience that they can bring ie. accountant, health and safety, a knowledge of educational establishments
• individuals that bring their own perspective, they are not there to represent others' views
• individuals who work as part of a team
• individuals who are willing to ask questions
• have a willingness to learn
• accept that there may be a need to upskill by attending training
• understand that there is a requirement for a DBS check
• accept and appreciate the importance of confidentiality
• understand that all governors have the same roles and responsibilities once part of a governing board
• someone over the age of 18 years

Associate member

Associate members are not governors, and so do not have a vote or counted toward the quorate at full board meetings. However, they are entitled to attend those meetings and to be sent the papers for them.

The definition of associate member is wide and pupils (over 18 years old), school staff and people who want to contribute specifically on issues related to their area of expertise (for instance, finance) can be appointed as associate members.

How to apply

There are different categories of governors, trustee, LACM and at certain times boards will have vacancies they need to fill.  Schools use a number of ways to advertise vacancies such as posters in shops, Post Offices, libraries, leisure centres, school website, school newsletters etc, keep an eye out for those.  If you are a parent/carer at a school look out for letters in school bags, emails, and text alerts from school.  

Alternatively, you can inform a school directly that you are interested in becoming a governor, trustee, LACM or associate member.  The board would then have your expression of interest for any future vacancies (dependant on eligibility criteria).

Governors for Schools helps people with diverse skills and backgrounds get into school governance and develop their professional skills. Governors for schools offers a webinar session about what the role entails called Introduction to governance. 

Recruitment of governors

The Governor Support Team would like to direct you to some resources which may be helpful in the sourcing of and recruitment of governors, trustees, LACM and associate members: 

• governor recruitment poster for schools (DOCX, 591KB), can be adapted to be used to advertise your vacancies in your local community
• register your governor/trustee/LACM vacancy with Governors for schools
• anyone contacting your school who wants to find out more about the role of a governor/trustee/LACM/associate members could be directed to about the role - Governors for Schools

When considering recruitment, it is always useful to consider the constitution of the board.  A board may reconstitute at any time, DfE advise that the constitution is reviewed regularly.  Reconstitution is a legal process which must be undertaken through the appropriate process.  A Skills Audit may also assist a governing board when undergoing the reconstitution process.

For local authority (LA) maintained schools, through the LA and in consultation with the Diocese or foundations, if applicable, see our guide to the Reconstitution Process.

For academies, effective trusts review their articles regularly to keep them up-to-date and reflective of the trust's development and growth.

DfE's model articles reflect requirements in charity and company law and DfE governance policy.

The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland provide a 'How to Guide' for changing academy trust articles (PDF, 290KB).

There are specific model articles and other guidance for trusts with church academies, which capture differences in governance arrangements.