Local Academy Council Governors: Who are they and what do they do?
Are you looking to make a difference in your local community? Maybe you’ve seen local school governors in action and have considered becoming one yourself? You might have also been put off by complicated sounding acronyms or, thought you weren’t experienced enough for the role? To be a local academy council governor, you don’t need any specific qualifications.
There are many misconceptions within governance that to be a local school governor, you need to have worked in the education sector, or reached a certain point in your career – neither are true. Read more about the role of local academy council governors below.
So, what do local academy council governors actually do…
Local academy council governors have delegated responsibility from the board of trustees. They focus on strategy, challenge and performance, working alongside senior leaders and supporting teachers to provide excellent education to children.
Being a local academy council governor is a time commitment: you will attend academy council meetings which consider issues such as scrutinising educational outcomes. School governors are also involved in the school community, acting as critical friends to the headteacher and senior leaders. You may also be asked to sit on panels to consider student behaviour, complaints and occasionally – admissions.
The main responsibilities of a local academy council governor include:
- Strategic leadership: ensuring that the academy and its leaders support the trust vision and values at all times
- Accountability that drives up educational standards: challenging and supporting leaders to ensure all children have access to high-quality teaching and learning and an appropriate curriculum, preparing them for life and future opportunities
- Compliance monitoring: checking that the academy is effectively meeting its statutory requirements so that all children have full access to the education they need, such as safeguarding, inclusion, special educational needs and disability (SEND), and health and safety
A local academy council governor’s relationship with the academy’s leadership team involves challenging existing processes to drive school improvement. Local academy council governors usually attend around six meetings per year. Although becoming a school governor requires drive and commitment, you’ll enjoy many professional and personal rewards, including career development opportunities and the chance to support young people’s futures.
If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry – nobody expects you to know everything about the world of governance straight away. Even experienced governors learn new things in every meeting and it’s a role where you’ll pick up a lot of information as you go.
What are the requirements to become a school governor?
As long as you’re over the age of 18, most people can become a local academy council governor. You don’t need to be a parent, or have worked in education. Academy Councils need people with a range of skills and backgrounds to run effectively. Local academy council governors bring expertise from their professional lives to the academy council and academies benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers. This may include, for example, anyone with experience of finance, law, premises management or human resources. A local academy council governor with business know-how can transform the running of a school, but experience in these fields is not essential.
There is an assumption that because of the nature of the role, you must have vast experience in your field. Academy councils, above all however, are looking for the qualities and lived experience school governors can bring. Everybody has meaningful skills, and softer skills such as communication, negotiation, and knowledge of your local community are just as valuable as business skills. As such, we encourage you to apply regardless of where you are in your career.
Ready to find out more?
Click the additional links to find out more about the benefits of the role. Alternatively, if you’re ready to apply, download the application form and the declaration of interest form and return to our public enquiries email address – [email protected]