FAQs becoming a governor

Do governors get paid?

No. They are the largest volunteer workforce in the country. However, governors are able to claim expenses for such things as travel and childcare during meetings, if their governing body has adopted an allowances scheme.

How much time is needed?

The amount of time each governor gives to the role will vary. The following list gives a guideline of the minimum commitment a governor would need to fulfil the role.

• One to two governing body meetings per term (governors are required to attend a minimum of 3 meetings per year) including reading of agenda and supporting papers in advance of the meeting.
• Meetings for each committee on which the governor is a member.
• Attendance at training and development sessions as appropriate.

Some of the governor activities are during the working day.  What happens about my normal day job?

Under employment law, employers must give employees who are school governors 'reasonable time off' to carry out their duties, however they do not have to give time off with pay.  The employee has to agree with the employer what is considered to be 'reasonable time off' and issues to be considered when arranging time off would include

• how much time is needed to carry out governor duties
• does the employee also have time off work for other activities
• the circumstances of the employer's business, and
• the impact the employee's absence may have on the business

Some employers do give time off with pay in recognition of the personal development benefits to the employee and ultimately to the employer's business. 

I am a grandparent can I be a governor at my grandchild school?

There are many types of governors appointed from different parts of the wider school community, to keep a equal balance grandparents are not appointed to their grandchild school as this would contradict the balance in the governing body, all governors have an equal say and equal vote in decision making.  Each school has a governing body to match the size and type of the school.  This is usually made up of between 10 and 20 governors who together form the governing body.