Education Quandary

'Our school is about to lose several of its long-standing governors and we are having great difficulty finding anyone who is willing to fill the vacancies. How can we get governors? And how can we sell the job to them?'

Hilary's advice

Hilary's advice

OK, all of you out there who have any sort of skill in personnel, finance, building, education, communication, management, strategic planning, parenting or just in being a competent adult with a healthy dose of common sense, listen up. Schools all over the country are in the same hole as this one and need your help. Badly. And especially badly in challenging city areas. And especially badly if you are from an ethnic minority (schools now have a rainbow nation of pupils; governors are still mainly white).

Admittedly, it's not an easy job. People don't want to be governors because they think it means long, boring meetings and a heavy burden of responsibility, and they're right. The meetings can be frightful, unless you're lucky enough to find that rare thing, a school where they are crisply run. And the responsibility is awesome.

But it is that very responsibility which makes the job worth doing. These days, with the demise of local education authorities, governors help set the strategic direction of a school, set and monitor improvement targets, oversee how the head and staff perform, administer budgets, oversee health and safety and supervise discipline. Which means that this is a real job, with real powers, that can really make a difference to the children in the school where you contribute your time and effort. The jargon is, of course, horrible, and the paperwork endless. But you get training and support - often, these days, in the form of a mentor who will teach you the ropes - and help is available by telephone or website.

Also, you can pick up useful new skills such as how to chair meetings, read balance sheets, and conduct interviews. And people who have enjoyed being school governors speak warmly of the chance to work with a team of varied and committed people, and of overseeing real achievements, such as appointing a successful new headteacher, supervising a new building programme, or watching pupils' achievements rise as a school gets better.

Which is not to say it does not sometimes go pear-shaped. Heads and governors do not always get on, and too many people volunteer simply because they love the sound of their own voice. To sell the job to interested waverers, don't brush under the carpet its pitfalls and challenges, but set out clearly what governors do, stress how important they are to a school, and explain how real responsibility leads to the opportunity to put in place solid and genuine achievements.

This tradition of voluntary school management is central to how schools are run, as well as to their place in their communities, and it would be a pity if it shrivelled away because these days we are all too busy or hell-bent on me-time, to make it happen. Any school looking for governors, or anyone who thinks they might like to be a school governor can contact the School Governors One-Stop Shop, which finds governors for schools which need them most, on 0870 241-3883 or visit www.sgoss.org.uk . And do think about it. Schools need YOU!

Readers' advice

As vice-principal of a sixth form college I offered my services as a governor to local schools. Independent schools I approached either told me they had no vacancies or did not reply to my letter. My local educational authority put me on their bank of potential governors and last May I was offered a post at a local community school and told it would be ratified by the governing body in June.

I heard nothing. In September, I wrote and telephoned the school, without response. When I finally wrote to the LEA, I received a letter from the school's chair of governors telling me that she had hurt her ankle in June and that communications had broken down within the school.

I have now written to the authority to inform them that I no longer wish to be considered as a governor in that borough.

Name and address withheld

Make clear to anyone thinking of becoming a governor that they will only have collective legal responsibility, as a governing body, not individual responsibility. In my experience of trying to get people to become parent-governors, they are often worried about being sued.

CHLOE BARNES, London SE19

Do not feel victimised! Finding the "willing" for any unpaid post is difficult. Consider if those approached actually understand the roles and responsibilities of governors. Misconceptions are common. Are governors cheap middle-managers? Or stage-fillers for official events? Effective selling will emphasise "benefits" ("you will help in determining strategic direction for the school"), not "features" ("you will attend a termly governing body meeting, plus sub-committees").

Those not up to the job are probably eminently qualified. Anyone with the audacity to question, courage to re-question, and a robust sense of humour will be ideal. There are plenty at every school gate...

ROB GOVIER, Stockton-on-Tees

Next week's quandary

As the end of term approaches, my nine-year-old son is getting terribly excited and hard to handle. His school seems to have so many concerts, plays and other events going on that normal routines have gone right out of the window. I don't want to be a Christmas killjoy, but is this really how schools should be?

Send your letters or quandaries to Hilary Wilce, to reach her by next Monday, 6 December, at The Independent, Education Desk, Second Floor, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS; or fax 020-7005 2143; or send e-mails to h.wilce@btinternet.com. Please include details of your postal address. Readers whose letters are printed will receive a Berol Combi Pack containing a cartridge pen, handwriting pen and ink eraser