Information to help you in your new role as a school governor.
Chair and Vice Chair of the Governing Body
The chair makes sure that meetings run efficiently and legally as well as making sure each governor can take part in the meeting.
Between meetings the chair should:
- Help prepare the agenda
- Deal with emergency situations
- Be someone that staff from the council, Department for Education and other services can contact
- Represent the school in discussions with parents, the council and others
- Provide advice and support for the head teacher.
The Vice Chair of the governing body acts as chair in the absence of the chair of governors.
Link governor
The Link governor should be an enthusiastic and active governor who:
- Welcomes and inducts new governors
- Organises support and training for the governing body
- Meet governors’ needs by telling them what training and support is available and by telling us what training is needed
- Attends Link governor briefings
- Acts as a link between governors and Governor Services
- Makes sure that the governing body has a training and support budget
Special Educational Needs Governor
The Special Educational Needs (SEN) governor should:
- Understand how the school identifies a pupil with SEN
- Understand how the school delivers SEN provision
- Do their best to ensure that pupils get any help that is available
- Raise awareness of SEN at governing body meetings
- Develop good relationships with staff involved with SEN
- Make sure there is an annual review of it
- Understand how funding is allocated to schools for SEN
- Attend training for SEN governors