Governor FAQ's

Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Governors agree the school’s vision for its future – approving school policies, plans and targets for how to achieve its vision. They check on progress and review regularly the school’s strategic framework in the light of that progress.

Hold the school to account for its performance
Governors support and strengthen the school leadership and hold them to account for the day to day management of the school, including the performance of pupils and staff.

Oversee school finances
Governors make sure their school’s money is well spent and contributes to improving the education for pupils.

Governors work as a team. They are responsible for making sure the school provides a good quality education for all pupils.

The headteacher focuses on the operational side of running the school and governors are there to assist with the strategic decisions, supporting and challenging the school’s leadership team to drive school improvement.

Governors usually attend around 6 meetings a year, but also get involved in visits to the school. Being a school governor is a commitment and a responsibility, but offers you the chance to see first-hand the impact you can make in improving education for children in your community

Governors are at the heart of how a school operates. It's important they get things right. How they do their job effects the interests of pupils, staff and the reputation of the school in the community. Governors support and challenge head teachers by gathering views, asking questions and discussing what's best for the school.

Governors need to be committed, have the inquisitiveness to question and analyse, and the willingness to learn. They need good interpersonal skills, an appropriate level of literacy and be sufficiently numerate to understand basic data.

The average time commitment is 5 hours per month (during the school year), although it will vary depending on the needs of the school and the role. This includes meetings, background reading and school visits. Most governing boards hold their meetings in the evenings.

Like magistrates or members of a jury, school governors have a right to reasonable time off of work for their public duties, although this may be unpaid. Your company’s HR department will be able to tell you about its policy.

As a priority we need foundation governors who do need to be Practising Catholics.  We also appoint parent governors from the school community who do not need to be a Practising Catholic. 

Where parent governor vacancies become available, schools will bring these to the attention of the parent community.

Yes. To be appointed you will require an Enhanced DBS check which the school will organise for you.

We will induct you into your new governance role with access to a range of resources, training and experienced fellow governors. Do not be put off if you are unfamiliar with education – we are looking for enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

Your child’s school is part of St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust, a family of 15 schools across Central Beds, Luton, Slough and Bucks. Each school has its own Local Academy Committee and the Trust has a Board of Directors (also volunteers) where some overall responsibilities lie.

For further information, go to www.stcat.co.uk/governor-vacancies and complete our online form. We look forward to hearing from you!