School governors

Here you will find information about school governors in Northumberland.

School governors and academy trustees

School governors and academy trustees make up the largest volunteer group in the country. They are a vital part of the education offer here in Northumberland.

Our schools are looking for committed and enthusiastic members of the community to join both their governing and trust boards. Members must be willing to make a positive contribution to children's education.

What is the role of a governor or trustee?

The National Governance Association defines a school governor or trustee as someone who:

ensures clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction
holds executive leaders to account for:
- the educational performance of the organisation and it's pupils
- the performance management of staff
oversees the financial performance of the organisation, and makes sure that money is well spent

Governors and trustees should:

have a strong commitment to the role and to improving outcomes for children
be inquisitive, challenging and analytical
be willing to learn and attend training
have good interpersonal skills
be prepared to work in line with the Governors Code of Conduct and Governor Behaviour Protocol

Governors and trustees should expect to spend approximately 10-20 days per year on their role. This would include:

attending 3-6 governing board meetings per year
attending any subcommittee meetings
reading papers circulated before meetings, as well as undertaking relevant research
visiting the school as part of a programme of governor visits with a specific focus

Please click here to visit The National Governance Association for more information about the roles of school governors and trustees.

Please click here for more information about what support is available for school governors and trustees in Northumberland.

Can I become a governor or trustee?

You don't need to have a child at school to become a governor or trustee. There are different categories of governor, including:

Parent
Staff
Foundation
Local Authority
Co-opted
Academy

Apply to be a governor or trustee below:

If you would like more information on becoming a school governor or academy trustee in Northumberland, please click here to register your interest.

Once we have your contact details, we can get in touch to give you more information, and to help you with the application process.

What can the council offer your school?

The School Support Team at Northumberland County Council provides professional, independent governance services which help to support effective governing boards.

For more information about Governance Support, Advice, and Development SLA, please contact Mrs Vicki Evans: