The Open University has been working with the national charity School Governors’ One-Stop Shop to recruit volunteers for some of the 40,000 vacancies across England, with 165 OU volunteers being placed recently.
Did you know you don't have to be a parent to be a school governor? There is currently a need for school governor volunteers in many areas. If you have between six and eight hours to spare each month, mainly in the evenings and during term time, you could make a difference to a local school.
Governors act as critical friends to the head teacher and make long-term decisions affecting the future of the school. They set key policies, allocate budgets and evaluate the head teacher.
Michael Howe, Governor at Southwood & Downs Barn, Milton Keynes, says: “I would say that if anyone is thinking of becoming a school governor to go for it. Everybody has something to bring to a school, whether you are business minded, have experience of education in another school or as a parent; your passion for education and the welfare of young people is important and can really make a difference.
"The training and support you receive from the Local Authority is also excellent so don’t be put off if you think you don’t know enough about Education!”
If you want to make a difference in your community see the link below for further information and details of how to apply.
Useful links
- Further information and details of how to apply
- School Governors' one-stop-shop
- Student blogger Carrie Walton volunteers as a school governor
Picture credit: alamosbasement
