Craig Mackinlay MP has today launched a campaign to fill at least twenty school governor positions in primary, secondary and special schools in and around his South Thanet constituency by contacting various professional bodies locally to ask whether their members might like to consider offering their services. He is working on the campaign with Governors for Schools, an independent charity, that is seeking to fill thousands more vacancies across England.
School governors set the strategic direction of schools and sign off on the school’s budget. They attend roughly six meetings a year and average about seven hours a month on the role, with nothing over the summer, weekends or Christmas holidays.
Craig Mackinlay MP commented:
“This is a great opportunity to give back to the local community, to help ensure our local pupils receive the very best education, and gain new strategic thinking skills along the way.
“I hope we can fill these vacancies with skilled, committed volunteers who will be key to the effective governance of our schools.”
Hannah Stolton, CEO of Governors for Schools, added:
“Many schools in South Thanet don’t have full governing boards, yet governors play a vital role in ensuring a school is run effectively. Governors don’t need to be parents or teachers – schools need outside perspectives to bring challenge to the table.
“We’re delighted that Craig recognises the need for more people with professional experience to bring their business know-how into a school. It’s a great opportunity for professionals to see the impact their skills can have on children in their community.”
Interested applicants can complete a short application form here, or contact Eoghan on Eoghan.Kelly@GovernorsforSchools.org.uk if they have any questions. Free training is available on the Governors for Schools website, and additional training is provided by schools.