Apply to be a school governor

To become a school governor, you will need to ensure that those who have a vote, or who appoint governors, know about your interest!

School governors are:

• Volunteers from all walks of life
• People who have an interest in education and care about children playing their full part of citizens of the future
• Members of a team, supporting their school
• People who wish to help their school to develop as a centre of the local community
• People who may have particular skills and abilities who can work in partnership with the school, the governing body and school managers
• People with enthusiasm and commitment - good common sense always helps

School governors are people like you!

• A Parent Governor - is elected by and from the parent body at the school.
• A Staff Governor - is employed at the school in either a teaching or non-teaching capacity, and is elected by the teaching or non-teaching staff as applicable.
• A Foundation Governor - is nominated/appointed by the Church or Foundation that links with the school.
• A Co-opted Governor - is invited to join the governing body if they have particular skills, abilities or links with the school or the community it serves.
• A Local Authority Governor - is appointed by the governing body, following a recommended person made to them by the local authority (they are not political appointments).

Community or local authority governor role and criteria

If you are a potential Community or Authority Governor, you can download an  application form (PDF) [247KB] (opens new window)  in PDF format. Please return the form to the Governor Services section. The address is given at the bottom of the form.

All appointments (and re-appointments following the completion of a four-year term of office) are subject to appointment regulations. See the Self Declaration for information regarding the criteria you must full fill in order to be appointed as a school governor. The list of criteria is provided within the application form in the above link.

All new governor appointments in St Helens will be subject to clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) following a DBS check.

Governors work as a team to: 

• promote high standards of educational attainment at their school
• set targets for pupil achievement
• take general responsibility for the conduct of the school
• manage the school's budget, including deciding how many staff will work there
• make sure that the National Curriculum is delivered via a broad and balanced provision
• report on pupils' achievement in National Curriculum assessments and examination results
• act as a 'critical friend' to the school
• be prepared to undertake training and develop their role
• participate in the appointment of senior staff (including appointing the headteacher) and regulate staff conduct and discipline; and
• draw up an action plan after an inspection by the Office of Standards in Education (OfSTED)

Every school has a governing body to represent the local community - the 'stakeholders' in the running of our schools.

School governors bring external support perspectives from ordinary life, the staff and the local authority to help secure the best possible education for the children in the school. They have important responsibilities like managing the school budget, overseeing the curriculum and appointing staff.

On appointment all new governors will receive an induction pack and a copy of the local authority's termly training directory, which will include:

• an induction course for new governors covering roles and responsibilities
• training courses on a wide range of subjects to increase knowledge and personal skills and abilities
• advice, support and guidance from the governor support team and helpline at the local authority
• support from the headteacher and chairperson of the governing body
• access to the Department for Education support materials, courses and conferences
• Information about courses and 'how to apply'

All governing bodies in the borough buy into the St Helens Governor Training Scheme. All of our latest courses and governor training application forms are available in a termly governor training directory.

School governors normally serve a term of office lasting up to four years but can of course resign at any time.