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Do you want to be a Governor?

If you are thinking about becoming a Governor, the information on this page should help you in your decision. Choose from the links below to learn more about what Governors do:

Composition of Governing Bodies
Useful Skills for Prospective Governors
Governor Vacancies and Recruitment in Sheffield

You may find it useful to visit our I'm a New Governor - What Do I Do? page or check out some of the websites listed under Useful Links for Governors.

Download an application form and the document How to Become a School Governor from the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions or require any information on becoming a Governor please Contact the Governor Support Team.

Composition of Governing Bodies

School Governing Bodies are made up of:

Parent Governors
Staff Governors (including the Headteacher, unless they choose not to be a Governor)
Local Authority (LA) Governors
Community Governors
Foundation Governors (in Church and Foundation schools)
Sponsor Governors (in a few schools in Sheffield)

Governing Bodies vary in size from 9 to 22.

Governing Bodies may also have Associate Governors (who do not have voting rights) and may invite Observers (with or without speaking rights) or co-opt non-Governors onto Committees (with voting rights).

Useful Skills for Prospective Governors

If you have particular skills or experience or can represent a particular part of the local community you may want to become involved in this way.

We would particularly like to hear from prospective Governors who feel they can bring some of the following skills:

Team Building
Chairing Skills
Strategic Planning
Monitoring and Evaluation
Education Management
Business Management
Financial Planning
Personnel Management
Fundraising
Community Development
Work with Children and Young People

Please don't be put off applying if you're not sure you what you can offer. Anyone who is committed to our children achieving to their potential and willing to commit themselves to the work of the Governing Body will find that their skills, experience or perspective will be useful.

Find out more about what Governors do, or apply for a position, by downloading the documents below or visiting Governornet, the website for School Governors set up by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Governor Vacancies and Recruitment

We support schools across the city in recruiting Governors and give priority to schools as follows:

Identification and appointment of Additional Governors for schools in Special Measures or with a Notice to Improve following OfSTED inspection

Schools with "turnover" vacancies where the current position leaves the Governing Body with insufficient capacity to share the workload

Schools where Governor recruitment is an ongoing issue

Schools where the Governing Body wants to bring on board particular skills or experience, including "Business Governors" and community representation

In many cases the Governing Bodies we support in this way would like new members who would be willing, and have the skills and experience, to take on the responsibility of chairing committees.

Often the schools concerned are not local to prospective Governors so we are particularly keen to hear from people who will consider governorship in any area of the city.

Please Contact the Governor Support Team on 2506868 if you are interested in becoming a Governor at a school where we have priority vacancies.

Downloads

I would like to become a Governor (Word, 49 KB)

Download an Application Form for School Governorship (49 KB)