Queen Elizabeth’s Academy looking for new governors

 
Can you help? Queen Elizabeth’s Academy are looking for volunteers to join the Board of Governors.
What are Governors? 
Governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They make up one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards.
According to Ofsted, the most effective academies have a high standard of management, which includes the leadership of the academy committee.
 
What do governors do?
Governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in academies. Each individual governor is a member of the academy committee – individual governors may not act independently, decisions are the joint responsibility of the committee.
The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions is to:

• set the vision and strategic direction of the academy
• hold senior leaders to account on educational performance
• ensure financial resources are well spent
• engage with stakeholders, parents and carers, staff and students, and the wider community

The principal is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the academy and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the Board of Trustees and delegated to the academy committees. Governors are not expected to get involved in the day-to-day running of the academy and do not need to have experience of working in education.
Governors offer their time voluntarily and usually sign-up to a period of four years, although you may leave at any point. They are expected to attend meetings and visit the academy for formal events and informally as part of their work.
 
Who can become a governor?
Almost anyone over the age of 18 can become a governor. There are no particular qualifications or requirements, other than a willingness to give time to the role, a capacity for working with other people and a desire to ensure that all children receive the best possible outcomes.
The academy committee consists of governors from all walks of life, falling into one of a number of different categories:

• parent governors (also open to grandparents and foster carers)
• staff governors
• governors appointed by the academy committee
• diocesan governors in a religious designated academy

The type of governor you will become depends on your situation, however all governors have the same roles and responsibilities once part of the committee. Any particular skills or experience you have will be utilised, where relevant, for the benefit of the academy.
 
Why become a governor? 
Being an academy governor is a hugely rewarding form of voluntary work. It offers the opportunity to make a real contribution to the education of our younger generation right at the cutting edge. In return for the commitment that all our governors make, the academy will:

• provide you with a structured induction
• provide access to quality training
• assign you an experienced governor as a mentor
• support you in your duties

If you would like to discuss being a governor, or opportunities available at Queen Elizabeth’s Academy, please contact the Clerk to the Academy Committee, Emma Paine at [email protected]