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Brookside Park

Who are the Governors? What do they do? Do they  need special qualifications? Do they get paid?

Some big questions, which I hope to be able to answer: 

  Firstly the governors of our school, are deliberately drawn from all walks of  life. At Brookside we have for example individuals as diverse as a company M.D. and a self-employed sales and marketing man. The government preclude very few  individuals from school governorship for the very reason that we are expected to represent the views of ordinary reasonable individuals. There are a number of  ways into governorship for example in my own case, I am a community governor.  This used to be called co-opted, which better describes the process by which I was made a governor of Brookside; I was simply asked by the other members of the  schools governing body, acting together, to join their ranks. Equally I could  have been a parent governor, a teacher or support staff governor, or an LEA governor. Each is put forward and elected by the parents, teachers and support staff or the Local Education Authority. There is a limiting proportion to each  group such as to ensure that we are able to give that balanced view. Each has  exactly the same rights to air their views or share there thoughts. A governors  term of office is for four years and there is no limit to the number of continuous terms of office one may serve provided, of course, you can retain your sanity! Within the governing body each individual has responsibility for a particular class, area of the curriculum or specialty we have on Brooksides governing body a Fire Officer, who through the course of his work has amassed a  great deal of knowledge of Health and Safety Legislation, which serves us very  well. We are as the government describes us; The board of directors of the  school, we take on the role of a critical friend.

  What do we do well put in its simplest terms we create through a network of  relationships with the LEA, central government, teachers and parents; the  schools policies. By doing this we strive to achieve the best education and  welfare for each child placed in our care by you as it suits your child here in High Lane. We do not, however, get involved in the day to day delivery of such policies we pass this to the people best placed and experienced in such things; Brooksides staff. You may see governors involved in out of school activities this is because as a matter of government regulation all governors must be Police checked against criminal records and thus we make a handy resource to be  tapped into on such occasions. We also are given the responsibility to decide upon issues of contention, for example a parental complaint.

  Special qualifications well no! But I was asked most recently by one of our  newer governors, who had yet to attend their first full governing body meeting,  I do not know what I have to offer the governing body or what I could usefully do. The simple answer was; that each governor brings with them their opinions, experiences and their unique view of education, past present and future. We do  however, have a governor whose remit includes the training and development needs  of all of us. She does not take rejection easily and we have all learnt to attend the courses, of which there are many, she recommends to us and in fact there is a great deal to be gained from the two to six hours a month I know that  I spend on them. A number of members, I know have been able to apply the  knowledge they have gained for the betterment of the school and themselves.

  Do governors get paid well as with all good answers the truth is both yes  and no! In theory all members of all schools governing bodies are entitled to claim reasonable out of pocket expenses, I am able to say to the credit of  Brooksides governors, that in two terms of governorship I have never known a governor of Brookside to claim a single penny ever. This I feel represents at  the very least, reasonable value for money

I do hope I have helped in your understanding of how governance works if you have any comments or suggestions which may help us or the school; please let us know or enter the details in the area for suggestions on the annual parents  questionnaire. 

Paul E Franklin