About Us

Are you interested in being a Governor - if you are, please read on!

About Us

Your local School Needs you!

Several opportunities have arisen for School Governors at Greenmead Primary School. Becoming a school governor is a rewarding role and will allow you the opportunity to use your skills and attributes to have a positive impact on the education of all of the children in our school. You will be able to develop and learn new skills, take on different challenges and work as part of an established and successful Governing Board.

About Greenmead:

Greenmead school is a maintained special day school for children aged 2-11 years. All pupils who attend Greenmead have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan. The school specialises in educating pupils with severe physical disabilities including those with profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex health needs. For further information please visit our website: Greenmead School | Maintained special day school for children aged 2-11 years

Additional information regarding the role

What is a school governor?

A governor is a volunteer who gives their time to oversee the long-term development of the school. The three main areas a governor is involved in are:

1.    Support and Challenge: This includes asking the difficult questions and holding the school to account for its actions, using your skills and experiences to support the school in achieving its aims and recognising good performance.

2.    Providing Strategic Leadership: This Includes helping to set the school’s aims and objectives and analysing decisions to check they are achieving the desired results.

3.    Making Executive Decisions: This includes budget setting and monitoring, purchasing and premises and appointing senior staff e.g. the Headteacher.

Being a governor is an incredibly valuable experience. It is a unique opportunity to give something back to the community and further develop your own skills and experiences, and perhaps benefit your own professional development and career progression.

All Governors are expected to:

•    Support the aims of your school

•    Visit and get to know your school

•    Work in partnership with the Headteacher, senior leadership team and other governors to raise standards and improve outcomes for all children

•    Prepare for meetings by reading papers beforehand

•    Take responsibility for your own learning and development as a governor including attending training

•    Attend full governing board and relevant committee meetings promptly, regularly, and for the full time

•    Read briefings and newsletters for governors

•    Be loyal to the decisions made by the governing board

•    Respect the confidentiality of governing board affairs and sign a legally binding confidentiality agreement.

•    Declare an interest and withdraw from any meeting where you, a partner or close relative or associate stands to gain, or where you are so close to a matter discussed it is difficult to be impartial.

•    Have regard to the broader responsibilities as a governor of a public institution in regard to promoting accountability for the actions and performance of the governing board. 

 Can I be a school governor?

•    You must be aged 18 and over.

•    You must be living in the UK.

•    You must be committed to the role and able to dedicate enough time (see below) to being an active member of the governing board.

•    You must not be an elected member of the County Council.

•    You should meet the relevant statutory eligibility criteria for school governors as set out in the Regulations and agree to an enhanced DBS check being completed.

•    You will have: an interest in all the children’s futures, a desire to make a difference, a willingness to accept responsibility, an ability to work in a team, ask questions, listen and learn.

The Skills we are seeking to Recruit (it is not expected that all Governors will have these/all of these) but where we have more than one candidate for a role, we will select or nominate based on the skills required.

•    Finance

•    Premises/Property/Facilities Management

•    Health and safety

•    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

•    Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

•    Change management

How much time will it take?

The average time commitment is approx. 8-10 hours per term per term (3 terms per year). This includes one full governing board meeting (all governors attend) and one committee meeting (only members of the committee attend). All governors are expected to join at least one committee. The time commitment above includes time needed for background reading to prepare for meetings, school monitoring visits etc.

School governors are like magistrates or members of a jury and therefore have a right to reasonable time off work for their public duties (although this may be unpaid). Check with your Human Resources

Department for your company’s policy on this.

How long does a governor role last?

School governors have a minimum term of office of four years. However, as a volunteer you can resign at any time if your circumstances change.

How can I apply?

To apply please send a letter of introduction stating why you would like to be a governor at Greenmead Primary School including how you meet the skills and experiences criteria (above) and what you would bring to the role. Please send this by e-mail to the Clerk to Governors Aimee Cooper, aimee.cooper@greenmead.wandswort.sch.uk 

Closing date: 24th November 2023

GREENMEAD PRIMARY SCHOOL                    
147 Beaumont Road, 
Southfields, London, SW19 6RY
Tel: 020 8789 1466
Email: admin@greenmead.wandsworth.sch.uk    
Headteacher:  Roxanne Hammond

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils