Being a governor is a voluntary role and it can be very rewarding. It gives you the opportunity to gain new personal and professional skills, whilst experiencing something different to your normal routine. As a governor, you would be making a positive difference to your community and the lives of young people. Click here to see a role description for a governor at Fynamore. 

Anyone aged 18 or over can become a school governor. You don’t need to have a family member attending a school or college. No formal qualifications are needed and people from many different backgrounds volunteer for the role. Enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education are the most important qualities. Each member of the board brings a unique set of skills and a different perspective to our school.

Parents and carers elect parent governors for a 4 year period. Details of election procedures will be sent to all parents and carers when vacancies on the board arise. All parents and carers therefore have an opportunity to stand for election if they are interested in doing so.

As a parent governor you are not there to represent the parent body. Instead, you use your perspective as a parent to help the board understand a parent's viewpoint.

You would need to set aside time to be an effective governor. This includes preparation for governor meetings, attendance at those meetings, special tasks or projects, training and visits to school. An excellent training programme is provided by the Local Authority, including governor induction, but there are plenty of other opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills.

Did you know your place of work may support you in becoming a volunteer in the community? For more information on the benefits of becoming school governor for both you and your employer, please click here.

If you are interested in becoming a governor then please contact Rob Parker (Chair of Governors) through the school office (office@fynamore.org.uk). Please note that for the protection of our children all governor appointments are subject to a vetting process and identity check. You should also be aware that under the regulations, a person is disqualified from holding or from continuing to hold office as a governor or associate member if he or she:

• is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 during his or her period of office;

• fails to attend the governing body meetings – without the consent of the governing body – for a continuous period of six months, beginning with the date of the first meeting missed (not applicable to ex officio governors);

• is subject to a bankruptcy restriction order or an interim order;

• has had his or her estate sequestrated and the sequestration order has not been discharged, annulled or reduced;

• is subject to:

1. a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Act 1986

2. a disqualification order under Part 2 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

3. a disqualification undertaking accepted under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002

4. an order made under Section 492(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under a County Court administration order)

• has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by the Charity Commissioners or High Court on grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement, or under Section 34 of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 from participating in the management or control of any body;

• is included in the list of people considered by the Secretary of State as unsuitable to work with children;

• is disqualified from working with children or subject to a direction under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002;

• is disqualified from registration for childminding or providing day care;

• is disqualified from registration under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006;

• has received a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months (without the option of a fine) in the five years before becoming a governor or since becoming a governor;

• has received a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years or more in the 20 years before becoming a governor;

• has at any time received a prison sentence of five years or more;

• has been fined for causing a nuisance or disturbance on school premises during the five years prior to or since appointment or election as a governor;

• refuses to allow an application to the Criminal Records Bureau for a criminal records certificate.