Could you make a difference in your local school?
28 Nov 2022
You could volunteer as a school governor
As part of our University's widening participation and social responsibility strategy, we already boast one of the UK’s most extensive programmes of work with local state schools and colleges – particularly those in more challenging circumstances.
In accordance with our access and participation plan with the Office for Students, we deliver a School Governor Initiative that helps staff and alumni to find volunteering placements as governors in local schools through our two partner organisations, Governors for Schools and Inspiring Governance. It also provides a network for colleagues working as governors to share best practice, support each other and act as positive ambassadors for our work with schools and colleges. We have almost 200 staff current staff member governors placed across Greater Manchester and beyond. Our 2021 Impact Report details the wide impacts our governors have, and you can read some of our case studies online.
Being a governor is a great opportunity to broaden your skills and make an important contribution to the strategic development of a school. The University fully supports staff to take up this role and as such our People and OD policy allows up to five days' leave per year for governor meetings.
Our partners Governors for Schools are running an online information event where you can find out more about becoming a school governor. Attendees will hear from colleagues who are school governors to learn about their motivations for volunteering, the impact they make on young people’s lives, and how they’ve developed new skills through the role. This online event will also cover the core responsibilities of a school governor, the benefits of undertaking the role, and the time commitment required.
The event will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday, 6 December and is open to all colleagues.
If you're already a school governor but aren't on our mailing list, please email your details to governors@ds.man.ac.uk.