School Governors - Print version

Governor Support Service Coventry

The Governor Support Service is part of the Education Improvement and Standards Service within the Local Authority and is committed to providing an effective service to improve the Governance of educational establishments in Coventry and the surrounding area.

Kelly Goddard is the Service Manager, and the interim Governor Support Service Manager is Kirsty Russell.  In addition there is a team of Governance Professionals known as Governor Support Specialist Officers who act as Clerks to Governors.

The service is centrally based and has a wealth of experienced staff who will also provide advice on Governance related matters.

What we do

• We provide advice and guidance on all Governance related matters:
• Administration of the Governing Board
• Convening, attending and clerking Governing Board meetings
• Carrying out all of the above for Governing Board committees, if that is the level of service purchased

Our services to you

The following services are provided at the appropriate charge to LA schools and academies:

• Statutory Governing Board Support (electronic correspondence)
• Clerking Support for one committee (one committee meeting once per term) (electronic correspondence)
• Clerking Support for two meetings of the Governing Board which includes Committee business (electronic correspondence)
• Advice and Guidance Service

All of the above options include:

• Arranging and clerking of meetings of the Governing Board/Committee
• Preparing and producing agendas for all meetings of the Governing Board/ Committee and identify items for inclusion on the agenda in consultation with the Chair of Governors and Headteacher
• Electronic distribution of the agenda and all documents provided for consideration at a scheduled meeting within statutory timeframes
• Taking minutes of the meeting which will be made available in draft form to the Chair of Governors and Headteacher within 10 school days following the meeting
• Undertaking follow up work arising from Governing Board meetings ensuring that appropriate matters are referred to the relevant person
• Maintaining records of and monitoring attendance at meetings and taking appropriate action in accordance with School Governance Regulations
• Maintaining membership details of the Governing Board (including committee membership) and dealing with all
• correspondence regarding membership, including notification of appointments
• Access to GovernorHub (Excluding Advice and Guidance Service). GovernorHub brings together the key tools a Governing Board needs, it’s easy to use and update. Offers a mobile app for IOS and Android; can be used to download documents to use in meetings even when there is no internet access. The link to the website is Governor Hub [https://governorhub.com/#home]

Governors’ E-Learning (Learning Link) Modules

This service gives automatic access for all members of the Governing Board to the online E-Learning modules for the duration of the subscription, unless GSS is informed that this service is not required at the point of renewal/ uptake of the SLA. This offer will incur an additional, discounted charge above the SLA.

Our commitment to you

During the agreement period and from the commencement date, the Clerk to the Governing Board will:

• Deliver to the high standards expected by the board of a Governance Professional
• Clerk Governing Board meetings in accordance with School Governance Regulations and the Governance Handbook, other relevant Regulations and good practice guidance
• Issue agendas and associated documentation within statutory timeframes unless otherwise directed by the Chair of Governors
• Make draft minutes available to the Chair of Governors and Headteacher for comment within 10 school days of the meeting taking place

Standards of performance are set and monitored by the Service Manager through formal feedback from the Headteacher and Chair of Governors.

The team work predominantly Monday - Thursday due to Governor meeting requirements, with a small team working on a Friday.

Please send any queries to the team contact email: GovernorSupportServiceInbox@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:GovernorSupportServiceInbox@coventry.gov.uk] if you receive an out of office response for a named individual.

The role of governors

Every School or Academy has a Governing Board which is made up of Governors, who are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the Governing Board is key to the effectiveness of a school.

The role of a Governor is to contribute to the work of the Governing Board in ensuring high standards of achievement for all children and young people in the school in line with the three core values as identified in the DfE Governance Handbook:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
• overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

Each individual Governor is a member of a Governing Board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual Governors may not act independently of the rest of the Governing Board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.  

The role of the Governing Board is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

The Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the Governing Board.

Who can become a Governor?

Almost anyone over 18 years of age can become a Governor. There are no particular qualifications or requirements, other than a willingness to give time to the role and a capacity for working with other people. 

Before appointment there is a requirement to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and to complete a declaration form.

There are different types of school with different categories of Governor.

The types of state schools in England are:

• community
• voluntary controlled
• voluntary aided
• foundation
• trust – a type of foundation school
• academies, free Schools & City Technology Colleges (CTCs) – independent state-funded schools

There are also different categories of Governor:

• parent
• staff
• foundation
• partnership
• local authority
• co-opted

The type of Governor you will become depends on your situation; however all Governors have the same roles and responsibilities once part of the Governing Board.

Time commitments of Governors

Most Governing Boards meet three times a year as a minimum and in addition they may have committees that meet at least once a term. Governor meetings can take place during the working day but, more often, during the evening. You would also be encouraged to take time to visit the school and undertake training opportunities.

Further information from the National Governance Association (NGA)

The NGA has created the following animated film about the role of being a school governor.

How do I become a Governor?

If you think you have what it takes to be a school governor there are a number of ways of finding schools that have vacancies:

• Apply online [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/applyschoolgovernor]
• You can use the Inspiring Governance [http://www.inspiringgovernance.org/] website

Apply to become a Governor in Coventry

There are three ways that you can become a Governor at a school or Academy in Coventry:

• Completing a school governor application form [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/applyschoolgovernor] and return to governortraining@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:governortraining@coventry.gov.uk]
• Signing up to Inspiring Governance [https://www.inspiringgovernance.org/] - an online matching service which connects skilled volunteers with schools. 
• Contacting a local school directly - see our list of schools [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/schoolcontactdetails].