Social Network for RSA Fellows

RSA – Volunteer as a School Governor

“It is absolutely clear to me that the most important decision-making group in any school is the governing body. We need to ensure that governing bodies have the best possible people, representing a range of different groups and with the right mix of skills.”

Lord Hill, Under-Secretary of State for Schools

Become a School Governor with SGOSS

The RSA is working to alongside the School Governors’ One-Stop Shop (SGOSS) to try and fill some of the many school governor vacancies that currently exist, particularly in Northants, Norfolk, Essex, and Kent, and in the most challenged areas within them. SGOSS is a small charity that recruits and helps place governor volunteers working in partnership with employers, local authorities and schools. It has already helped place almost 14,000 volunteers and its services are free to all. SGOSS has details of the areas facing the greatest challenges.

Why do it?

In a challenging employment market children need all the help they can get to equip them for life after school. SGOSS are looking for great school governors who can help improve educational standards across the UK.
Good governing bodies make a material contribution to the performance of their schools. (Ofsted)
The need for governor volunteers with transferable skills has never been greater. There are 33,000 vacant governor places in schools in England.
As a school governor you will have the opportunity to develop your own expertise and experience.

What do you need?

Volunteers do need to be 18 or over; however they do not need to have children or have detailed educational knowledge. Schools want governors with varied experience from all walks of life.

What’s the commitment?

6-8 hours per month in term time only.

If you are interested finding out more or applying contact Alice Dyke or apply directly via the SGOSS website www.sgoss.org.uk or call 0207 354 9805 with any questions.

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Comment by Steve Acklam on September 17, 2012 at 5:49: As Chief Executive of SGOSS, a Fellow of the Society , and a long term school governor I would simply like to endorse the very clear call to action that Alice has made. I am sure that many Fellows already are, or have been school governors. So my appeal is to those who have perhaps never considered it or don't think they can add value. You do not need children, nor as a matter of course need great knowledge of education. The only pre-requesite is that you care about the quality of education chiildren receive as a critical step on the road to employability. As a school governor you are in a position to work with school staff to help deliver this, and I guarantee you will develop your own expertise and enrich your own experience in the process. Not always funny, governance is always fun in the broadest sense, and as Nelson Mandela remarked "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”