Chair of Governors

Governors For Schools; Foots Cray; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational non-profit organization is seeking a Chair of Governors in Foots Cray to lead a primary academy's governing board. This role involves visiting the school to understand its culture, providing accountability to the head teacher, and helping shape future plans for the school. Candidates should possess leadership and communication skills, and while no specific qualifications are necessary, knowledge of the local community would be advantageous. Support will be provided to ensure an effective governing board.

Qualifications

• Over 18 years old.
• Willing to undergo a DBS check.
• Professional skills in HR, finance, law, or project management are useful.

Responsibilities

• Visit the school to understand its culture and ethos.
• Act as a critical friend to ensure accountability.
• Help shape and implement future plans for the school.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Community engagement

Job description

Overview

Do you want to be inspired by the impact of education? Do you have the skills to lead an established board of governors? A school in Sidcup is looking for a skilled volunteer to drive school improvement.

What difference will you make?

Governors make decisions that affect schools and their pupils for years to come; our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend. Becoming a governor gives you ample opportunity for personal and professional development, including exposure to finance and budgeting, safeguarding, HR, strategic planning, and more.

Role

As Chair of governors you will:

• Visit the school to understand its culture and ethos and meet children, parents and teachers to see the impact of your work first‑hand.
• Act as a “critical friend” to the head teacher, ensuring accountability and helping to monitor and evaluate the schools’ progress, budget and staffing.
• Help your governing board shape and implement future plans, and guide the schools’ aims, ethos and values.

Experience & Skills

You don't need to be a parent or have any specific skills to become a chair of governors, but you will need to be over 18 and be happy to have a DBS check to apply! Professional skills such as HR, finance, law or project management are useful, but governing boards also need softer skills such as leadership, communication and problem solving, alongside a fresh perspective and lived experience within their communities to help schools have a bright future. As a chair of governors you will be supported by the Vice Chair and Clerk to help ensure an effective, focused board utilising and building its skills, knowledge and experience.

This vacancy is for a primary academy looking to find a chair of governor to sit on their board with experience of community and/or customer engagement. It would also be beneficial if you had knowledge of the local community. The school believes that every child can succeed and empowers its pupils to make a difference in their communities.