Have you considered becoming a school governor or do you know anybody who might?

Magdalen College School is currently seeking expressions of interest from parents of registered students at the school, who would like to consider joining the Governing Body as Parent Governors.

Magdalen is a large, single academy trust providing education for students from 11 to 18. The school currently teaches around 1400 young people and employs over 150 members of staff. People are at the heart of what the school does and our vision is to provide an ‘exceptional education for all’.

Being a Governor is a challenging, but hugely rewarding role. The position would suit somebody who has enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education, and who would like to develop their skills in a board-level environment, and make a real difference to young people. We would particularly welcome new Governors who have transferable skills in areas such as finance, health & safety, safeguarding, premises management, support for students with additional learning needs, or who have a particularly good understanding of and can represent the interests of the diverse community served by our school.

What is a Governor?

Governors have a varied and important role in helping our school run effectively. They have 3 core functions:

• To provide clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and to ensure public money is well spent
• To hold the school leadership to account for the educational performance of its students

 

The Governor role is strategic rather than operational. Governors don’t get involved with the day to day running of the school, instead supporting and challenging the school’s leadership team to drive school improvement. They champion the work the school does. Parent Governors bring an invaluable parental perspective to the work of the Governing Body, but are not there to speak ‘on behalf’ of the parent body.

Our Governing Board

Our board consists of up to 18 people and we all meet together 6 times a year at the school. We also do our work through committees, and Governors join at least one of these, which include a Finance and Resources committee, an Education and Welfare Committee, a Personnel Committee and a Health and Safety Committee. Most committee meetings are held online. The Governing Board are supported by a Governance Professional, who acts as their clerk and provides advice and guidance on their role and responsibilities.

Our Governors come from all walks of life and work, and in their role they:

• get to know the school, including visiting the school occasionally during school hours in order to gain a good understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses
• attend induction training and relevant training and development events
• attend meetings having read the papers in advance and prepared questions
• act in the best interests of all the pupils of the school
• behave in a professional manner and act in strict confidence, as set down in the Governors’ Code of Conduct

 

Who can become a Governor?

Anyone aged over 18 can be a Governor and you do not need any particular qualifications. There is no requirement for you to have an understanding of the education system, just the necessary skills, character and time to contribute. There is plenty of training available to help you learn about the role and you will be offered the opportunity to work alongside a Governor mentor until you find your feet. The Governance Professional is also there to support and guide new Governors.

It is also important that you have time to commit to the role. We expect Governors to prepare for and attend meetings regularly and to come into school for occasional visits.

You will also be required to sign and adhere to the Code of Conduct, and to declare any business or personal interests.  We also require all Governors to be DBS checked and to complete some mandatory training in important subjects such as safeguarding.

How do I apply?

To find out more about the role or to apply, please email the Chair of Governors using the address, governors@magdalen.northants.sch.uk.

If this something you might be interested in, we hope you will get in touch.