Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do School governors do?

A: The governing body’s main aim is to help raise standards of achievement and make sure the school provides a good quality education.

The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the headteacher and staff. Rather than manage, governors are there to help shape the school’s future direction and focus.

Governors work as a team. Individual governors have no power or responsibility. It is only the full governing body which has legal duties and powers and all governors share in that corporate responsibility.

Governors are at the heart of how a school operates. It’s important they get things right. How they do their job affects the interests of pupils, staff morale and how the school is seen by parents and others in the community. They are not there to rubber stamp decisions. Governors are responsible for how the school is performing. They have to be prepared to support and challenge their headteacher by gathering views, asking questions and deciding what’s best for the pupils.

The task can be divided into three main roles – providing a strategic overview, acting as a critical friend to the school and ensuring accountability.

The roles of a school governor

The strategic role

The critical friend

Ensuring accountability

The governing body gets regular reports from the headteacher. It provides information to the Local Authority (LA) and parents by producing:

Governors attend school events and regular meetings, and read relevant reports and background papers. You can expect to attend around 3–4 meetings every term, either full meetings of the governing body or appointment, admissions and exclusion panels.

The role of the LA governor

LA governors are no different from other governors in their main duty to support school improvement. However, they are expected to take a broader view and act in the interests of the entire community rather than focus on a particular group or interest. They can also help to facilitate communication between the LA and the governing body of the school.

LA governors still act solely in the interests of the school as a whole, just like any other governor – they remain independent are not expected to reflect the views of the LA.

Q: How do I apply to become a governor?

A: How to apply

Parent governors are elected by other parents. When a vacancy arises on the governing body for a parent governor, the governing body will write to parents inviting nominations. 

Staff governors are elected by other staff working at the school and should contact the Clerk to the Governors.

Local Authority (LA) governors are elected by a Governors Panel made up of county councillors. This meets four times a year. See below for more on how to apply. 

Community governors are appointed by the school’s governing body. To apply you should contact the Clerk to the Governors.

Foundation governors are appointed by the local church diocese and by other bodies recognised by the school's Instrument of Government. The Instrument of Government is a legal document, which states the legal requirements for a school governing body. For more information, contact your school office or go to the Diocese of Chichester website.

Apply to become an LA governor

Each school has one or more LA governors, appointed by the County Council in its capacity as Children's Services Authority.

Information for governors is on czone, the website for Children's Services professionals in East Sussex. Go to czone – Local Authority governor nomination form.

Question summary

Q: What do School governors do?

Q: How do I apply to become a governor?