Governor Services play a vital role in the success of school management by the training, advising and guidance of School Governors.  We also hold regular meetings, issue handbooks and newsletters and organise an annual convention.

Training is a priority we make sure that relevant courses are organised centrally, as well as providing customised courses at the request of individual Governing Bodies so that they can effectively carry out their role in their particular school.

These services are provided by telephone, letter, fax, newsletter, computer linkage and personal visits to the school.

You can get a great deal of personal satisfaction from becoming a School Governor with the knowledge that you have played a part in improving children's education and given support to the school's staff.

It also gives you an opportunity to:

• develop new skills and to practise existing ones, such as chairing meetings.
• help other members of the team, perhaps because they are not used to Committee work or need help in learning about the school and about School Governance.

Anybody over 18 can be a School Governor, with a few exceptions.

As a School Governor you can offer

• enthusiasm and commitment
• your own understanding of other parents' concerns, but you don't need to be a parent to be a good School Governor

Whether you're a parent or not, as a member of the School's community your local knowledge will be valuable: you will have a feel for what is important to people.

If you happen to have business or other skills, schools might find these particularly helpful.

The responsibilities of a School Governor include:

• promoting high standards of educational attainment
• setting targets for pupil achievement
• taking general responsibility for the conduct of the school
• managing the school's budget, including deciding how many staff will work there, and their pay
• making sure that the Curriculum is balanced and broadly based, in particular that the National Curriculum and Religious Education are taught, and report on pupil achievement in National Curriculum assessments and examination results
• participating in the appointment of senior staff (including appointing the Headteacher) and regulate staff conduct and discipline
• drawing up an action plan after an Inspection by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED).

• elected by parents, if your child attends the school
• elected by the teaching or non-teaching staff, if you work in school
• appointed by the Children's Services Authority
• appointed by the Church or charitable trust
• appointed by the other Governors. To become a Community Governor, you will need to ensure that those who have a vote, or who appoint people, know about your interest.

Schools organise elections and tell parents and staff about them. But you can always ask a school whether there are vacancies now that need to be filled.

You can approach a school to see whether they might appoint you or you can ask the Children's Services Authority, Church or Foundation if they would appoint you.

• Be willing to prepare for meetings - there can be a lot of papers to read
• Attend meetings - the Governing Body must meet at least once a term, but you will probably be asked to serve on at least one Committee. How often this meets will vary, but it is not unusual for one Committee to meet each half-term
• Be able to get to meetings which, quite often, will be during the evening, but could be during the day
• Participate - if you cannot prepare for and attend meetings you will not be able to help the school effectively.