Governor services

Introduction: Who we are and our services

Could you become a school governor?

Governor Services work closely with schools to support Governing Bodies and with VTE&S to ensure school improvements and better outcomes for all pupils in Waltham Forest.

The Governor Services Team is made up of six members who are always happy to help. We can be contacted by the following means:

Tel 020 8496 3000
Email governor.services@walthamforest.gov.uk

Highlighted below are some of the key ways in which Governor Services offers their support:

Strategic advice and guidance on good governance, legislative and procedural matters.
A comprehensive clerking service that supports the Governing Body in fulfilling its procedural and administrative responsibilities.
Access to a training programme linked to strengthening the Governing Body’s role in supporting and challenging the school (download course list (14KB PDF file)
Termly Governor’s newsletter and Governor’s briefing minutes.

Your Head Teacher or Chair of Governors should be able to advise which officer looks after your school. Alternatively please contact one of the team who will be happy to help and advise fully the levels of service that can be provided.

Who can be a governor?

Governors must be at least 18 years old; there is no upper age limit. You can be a governor at a number of schools; you can also be appointed to a temporary governing body or to an Interim Executive Board. Governors may be appointed for a 4-year term of office *, at the end of the four years they can decide if they wish to stand again. All governors have the same voting rights.

Parent Governors

Parent Governors are elected by the parents of pupils at the school. Parent governors do not have to stand down if their child leaves the school during their term of office. If not enough parents stand for election, parent governors may be appointed by the governing body.

LA Governors

Are governors who are appointed by the local authority. They can be a member of one of three main political parties, and are nominated by the Party Co-ordinators or they can be appointed as Independent Governors. They may be re-appointed at the end of their term of office.

Staff Governors

Under the Education 2002 Act this category includes: The Head Teacher is an ex officio member (i.e. as long as they are Head Teacher at the school) of the governing body, unless they choose not to be. If a Head Teacher chooses to be a governor, they also have full voting rights.

Teachers - Are elected by staff at the school. Anyone from within the teaching staff is eligible to be a governor, with full voting rights. When they cease to teach at the school, they must stand down from the governing body.
Staff - Non-teaching staff may be elected by staff of the school. If they cease to work at the school, they must stand down from governing body.

Community Governors

These are appointed by the Governing body. Community governors should represent the local community and reflect a balance of interests of the governing body.

*Under the Education Act 2002, governors may determine the term of office for certain categories of governors.

Could you become a school governor?

There are in the region of 1,150 governorships to govern the 81 (80 from Sept. ‘09) schools in Waltham Forest. With this number of volunteers needed, there are always vacancies for governors.

School governors can come from all aspects of the local community, can take on and learn a lot through the role and do not need any formal qualifications. The only requirement is to give time and commitment, and personally benefit from a very rewarding role.

Being a school governor offers you an extraordinary opportunity to make a real difference at the heart of the community.

If you are interested in becoming a school governor, please download the school governor application form (75KB PDF file), fill in and return to us at the address below.

Some of these documents are in PDF format . To view them you may need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Contact us

Governor Services
Children and Young People Service
Silver Birch House
Uplands Business Park
Blackhorse Lane
Walthamstow, E17 5SD