Governors
Do the Governors know it all?
No way! During last year, the whole Governing Body undertook a training session run by the Local Education Authority concerning how best to be a 'critical friend' to the school (a phrase the Government has adopted to describe one of Governors' major responsibilities these days). The course was very helpful in clarifying Governors' roles and in considering various ways in which Governors can increase their familiarity with (and usefulness to) the school.
In addition, Matthew Prince ran an in-house training session for Governors to help us to understand pupils' levels of achievement. Most Governors also undertook training sessions in their own time, run by the Local Education Authority and covering a wide range of issues.
What makes a governor (a personal perspective)
When I first saw the advertisement in a school newsletter (May 1999) requesting new governors I immediately felt interested and drawn to applying.
At the time, I had 1 child at Newtown School, but was aware that my daughter was due to start in year R in Sept 2000. I hoped and anticipated that my association with Newtown would be a long and happy one and I was keen to 'put something back' as it were. As a full time working mum with 2 young children, it was extremely difficult for me to become a 'parent-helper' or in fact to do anything that involved giving up my time throughout the day. I saw the opportunity of becoming a governor as making up for this, as I anticipated (and have been proved right so far!) that the 'commitment' would be during the evenings.
After I had been accepted for the role, I began to panic: what would be expected of me? My knowledge of the world of education is extremely limited and I felt that all I could offer was enthusiasm and interest. I need not have worried, I was immediately welcomed into the fold, so to speak and was also fortunate enough to be sent on several (evening) training courses, which although didn't dictate how to be a governor, certainly did offer an insight into the strategic management and leadership of a school.
I quickly learnt that there is no 'correct' way to be a governor, what is required and indeed appreciated is each governor's perspective on school life, and all that is involved in it, from buildings to finance; school dinners to pupil discipline.
I can honestly say that I have found the experience both rewarding and informative and feel that I have gained enormously. I can only hope that the Newtown School feels the same way !!
