Role: Volunteer – Parent Governor x2
Start Date: September 2023
Trinity Road Primary School’s governing board is looking to appoint two parent governors.
You can make a real difference to children’s education in this school community and learn valuable skills & experience along the way.
You will be joining a supportive and dedicated team of like-minded people when you join the governing body of Trinity Road Primary School.
If you would like to discuss your application for this volunteer role, please call the school office, option 4, in the first instance.
Previous experience of governance is desirable but not essential, as training is provided.
We particularly welcome applications from parents who have experience of supporting families with SEND, experience in secondary education, mental health and/or health and safety.
Eligibility
Any parent or person with parental responsibility, or a carer, of a registered pupil at the school at the time of election can stand as a parent governor. You can remain in office until the end of your 4-year term of office, even if your child leaves the school.
Role
A parent governor is not as a spokesperson for the views of parents. You are the same as any other governor on the board, providing a ‘parental viewpoint’ i.e. a representative parent, rather than a representative of parents.
Expectations
The succesful candidate must be:
- motivated to make a positive impact on pupils’ education,
- able to work in a team, ask questions, listen and learn,
As an effective parent governor you will:
- work in partnership with the headteacher, senior leadership team and other governors to raise standards and improve outcomes for all children,
- get to know the school and carry out monitoring visits,
- take on a specific area of responsibility linked to the school development plan,
- undertake training and development to acquire or develop the skills to make an effective contribution to governance,
- attend about 7 governor meetings per year,
- declare an interest in circumstances where it is difficult to be impartial.
A school governor is a public official and should observe the Nolan principles, which are the basis of the ethical standards expected of public office holders.
Support you can expect from the governing body
As a governor at the school, you will benefit from:
- a personalised training and development programme, with extensive e-learning options,
- a buddy support system and opportunities to network and experience governance in other schools nearby.
- access to the governors’ website with a range of resources and collaborative working tools.
- a full subscription to the National Governance Association to access additional resources and events.
Time commitment
In addition to meetings, you will be expected to visit the school and record your observations on a range of well-defined areas, for example compliance with the school’s safeguarding policy or behaviour policy.
Governors are invited to attend school events, such as our time capsule ceremony, learner conferences and open days.
Time off from work
Under employment law, employers must give employees who are school governors reasonable time off to carry out their duties. The employee and employer have to agree on what is reasonable. Employers may give time off with pay but do not have to do so.
How to apply
Please complete this application form by Wednesday 11th July 2023.
Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school, except in certain circumstances where they are appointed by the board, for instance, when the number of vacancies is greater than the number of parents standing for election. If a ballot is required, this will be carried out between 12th July and 18th July 2023.