School governors

Who can be a school governor?

Anyone can apply to be a school governor. You don't have to be a parent of a child in the school or have worked in a school. There are no formal qualifications required, although the skills you offer may help to support effectiveness of the governing board.

To be eligible to become a governor you must be aged 18 or over and complete an application for Disclosure and Barring Service.

How much time will I need to be able to give?

Governors work as a team so the amount of time each of them can give will vary. However you will need to:

• Be able to prepare for meetings
• Attend meetings - the governing body meets at least once a term, but you probably will also serve on at least one  committee; committees often meet each half-term
• Be able to get to meetings which, quite often, will be during the evening but may be early or during the day.
• Visit the school on occasions during the school day

You will get the opportunity to:

• Develop new skills and to strengthen existing ones
• Work as part of a team - being a School Governor will give you the opportunity to work with a wide range of people from a variety of social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
• Gain an understanding of the decision making process of school governing bodies and an awareness of the education system as a whole.
• Make a real difference and contribute to the good of the community.
• Undertake training on various aspects of the governor role

To find out about training available for school governors see:

• Training and development handbook for governors (PDF document)

Our governor training is free for all schools who subscribe to our Traded Service for schools.

For non-subscribing schools governor training is available on a pay as you go basis.

If would like to find out more or book any governor training email school.governors@wokingham.gov.uk.

Online resources for governors of subscribed schools

Governors of schools that subscribe to our traded service can login to the governor services website to find useful information.

If you don't know your login details or if your school isn't subscribed, contact your school.

A Governors Digest is produced every term and sent to all governors of schools who subscribe to our traded service. Copies are available on the Wokingham Schools Hub

We have two elected parent governors who serve as voting members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Education matters. 

The two positions are currently vacant and nominations are being sought. 

You are eligible to stand for election if you are an elected parent governor who is a parent of a child who attends a Wokingham maintained school.

To apply use the: 

• School governor nomination form (Word document)

To find out more read the:

• Letter sent to parent governors (PDF document)
• Full arrangements regarding the election (PDF document)
• Outline of the role of the parent governor representative (PDF document)
• Or call 07768 536934