Be a governor at Arthur Bugler
We are looking for people that are co-operators, share our values and ethos, and want to have a positive impact on the education of our children. The good thing is you don't need to have previous experience, whatever your background, your skills could help transform our school.
What does a school governor do?
School governors at Arthur Bugler consist of parents, staff, and members of the local community who volunteer to provide strategic leadership to our school. A strong governing body ensures robust debate, which in turn leads to better educational outcomes for children.
Governors have three key responsibilities, all with the aim of driving school improvement…
- To provide strategic direction, working with parents, pupils, and staff, to provide a vision, ethos, and strategic direction for our school;
- To hold the headteacher to account for the performance of the school, its pupils, and staff;
- To ensure the finances of the school are well managed.
To explain more about school governance the National Governance Association (NGA ) has created a short video:
Who can be a school governor?
You must be over 18 to be a school governor – you don’t have to be a parent with a child at the school and you don’t need previous experience or qualifications.
Important qualities for being a school governor are enthusiasm, commitment, the ability to work in a team, and a desire to ensure children receive the best possible education.
A typical Board of Governors should be representative of people from the local community and will have a range of different skills, knowledge, and experience. Governors do not need to be educational experts but should be supportive of the ethos of the school. The business of the school is progressed by the whole Board of Governors working together as a team in the best interests of the children and young people attending the school.
We welcome applications for school governor positions from all sections of the community regardless of background, religious belief, gender, disability, ethnic origin, political opinion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or whether or not you have dependents.
Being a school governor is an opportunity to help others and to develop skills.
Who cannot be a school governor?
You will not be eligible to be a school governor if…
- You already hold 3 school governor posts (unless there are exceptional circumstances approved by the Department of Education);
- You are adjudged bankrupt or under a composition arrangement with your creditors or you are subject to a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order (BRO);
- You are applying for a post in a school where you are employed;
- You are applying for a post in a school and you have a financial interest in the supply of goods or services to that school;
- You are applying for a post in a school that is registered by law as a company limited by guarantee, and you are disqualified by law from being a company director. (NB All grant-maintained integrated schools and some voluntary grammar schools are registered as companies limited by guarantee);
- You have been convicted within the previous 5 years or any time thereafter of any offence with a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than 3 months without the option of a fine; or
- You are applying for a post in a school that is registered as a charity and you are disqualified under Article 86 of the Charities Act (NI) 2008 from being a trustee of that charity.
What if I haven't had any previous experience?
Don't worry if you haven't any previous experience, our Trust provides training and support through the NGA and through the internal central trust team.
What about the meetings?
All members of the Local Governing Body (LGB) attend full governing body meetings and will meet typically once each half term, but more often if required. All work of the LGB, whether carried out in committee meetings, by individual governors, or by working parties, will be reported back to the LGB by way of reports (written or verbal) or minutes which will be submitted as papers for the LGB meeting. These meetings are sometimes held online, via Microsoft Teams, and sometimes in person at the school.
The LGB meetings alternate between Curriculum matters and Resource cover all matters relating to the education of Arthur Bugler pupils, including all aspects of student personal development behavior and welfare and all matters relating to teaching, learning, assessment, and outcomes.
Our Local Governing Body
As governors, we have high aspirations for our school and, with the support of our trust, we are proud of the huge improvements that have been made over the last few years. We aim to be an outstanding school and strive to ensure every child in our care achieves their best, in line with the cooperative values, and as governors, working in partnership with the school and the trust, we play a key role in achieving this.
Come and join us and help achieve our vision.
Interested?
Have a chat with someone at the school and we'll take you through the next steps: