Every school has a governing body with several types of governor. Academies have a board of trustees.
Find out about what school governors and academy trustees do and the qualities you need to become one.
What school governors and academy trustees do
All governors and trustees work together to support and improve the school. Academy trustees have the same core responsibilities as governors, but more flexibility as some regulations do not apply to academies.
Their main work is to meet, talk and make decisions about:
- Setting the school vision and strategic priorities
- Raising standards of achievement
- Holding the school to account for the performance of staff and pupils
- Making sure money is spent wisely
- Appointing senior staff
- Improving the school environment
- Making sure all pupils have access to all education opportunities.
Governors also:
- Keep parents informed about their work
- Support school activities
- Visit the school on behalf of the governing body
- Promote their school in the community.
Types of school governor
The types of governor on a school governing body are:
- parent governors, chosen by parents of children at the school
- co-opted governors, chosen by the school governing body
- authority governors, put forward by us the council
- staff governors, chosen by school staff, including the head teacher
- foundation governors chosen by the foundation organisation.
On an academy trust, company members or the trust board appoint the trustees.