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School governors are skilled, motivated people who are committed to making an improvement in our schools.
Every school in Bedford Borough has its own governing board which is made up of staff from the school, parents and members of the public who are committed to serving the best interests of the school and contributing to the school's efforts in raising standards.
The three core strategic functions of governors are:
The Governance Handbook provides information about the role and legal duties of governing boards in maintained schools and academies (including free schools).
Governors have particular responsibilities with regard to safeguarding. See our Safeguarding Children Partnership page for further information.
Governing boards need skilled, motivated people who are committed to making an improvement in our schools.
We encourage participation from ethnic minorities and all spheres of life to create diversity on the board which reflects the local community. Bring your difference to make a difference.
It is difficult to say precisely as each governing board operates in its own way. However, the full governing board must meet once a term and these meetings are of about two hours duration. In addition governors will be expected to join a committee and the committee will meet each term. Governors will be expected to make a visit to the school at least once a year.
Nearly all people over the age of 18 can become a school governor, although safeguarding checks will be made. A willingness to learn and to attend training is also important.
Governors must adhere to the Seven Principles of public life and the Code of Conduct for their governing board. New governors are expected to attend Induction training for new governors.
Governing boards are made up of several categories of school governors who are elected or appointed in different ways. These include staff governors, parent governors, co-opted governors, local authority governors and those appointed by religious foundations.
Some governing boards also have associate members who are appointed in the same way as governors but may be appointed for a particular skill or with a view to being considered as a governor when a vacancy becomes available. This is to help the governing boards reflect the communities that they serve and to enable the governing board to appoint to the skills they need.
In maintained schools the composition is determined by the instrument of government which has been agreed by the governing board. For an Academy the composition is detailed in the Articles of Association. Every school has a governing board which varies in size usually between 9-15.
Please complete the application form if you would like to be introduced to a school with a suitable vacancy which will normally be the co-opted category. If you are interested in a particular school you can also contact the head teacher to ascertain whether there are any vacancies.
The Head teacher is a governor by right of their office. All other governors’ term of office is four years, although occasionally this can be less.
Governors are elected or appointed and can serve further terms of office if they are reappointed or re-elected.
Many governing boards provide help for new governors such as a mentor.
Bedford Borough Council provides support for all governors, including new governors:
Categories of governors vary between types of school, but all schools and academies have parent governors and the head teacher or principal has the right to be a governor. Governing boards may include:
Governing boards may also have:
The governing board must meet at least three times in a school year. These meetings are usually after school or in the evening and generally last around two hours. Meetings are also informed by the work of governing board committees, to which most governors belong.
The governing board usually elect a Chair and Vice Chair of Governors annually. The Chair is responsible for leading and facilitating governing board meetings.
The governing board appoint a Clerk to the governing board. The Clerk is responsible for organising the business, sending relevant documents and information to governors in advance of the meeting and then taking minutes of the meeting. Clerks also provide procedural advice to the governing board.