The LSE School Governor Scheme is delivered collaboratively by the LSE Widening Participation Team, Philanthropy and Global Engagement Team and education charity Governors for Schools.
The scheme aims to facilitate LSE staff and alumni with a diverse range of life experiences, skills, and expertise to make a meaningful contribution to society by giving their time as school governor volunteers.
Now more than ever, schools need capable and committed people on their governing boards and the LSE community are well equipped to help fill school governor vacancies and use their knowledge and expertise to change the lives of young people across England and Wales.
School governors work at a strategic level and don’t get involved in the operational running of a school. Instead, they work with other board members to plan the school’s strategic direction, challenge the school’s leadership by asking questions, looking at data and probing anomalies, and oversee the school’s financial performance to ensure money is well-spent. Governors are also a source of support for the Head Teacher, often bringing expertise in areas outside of teaching.
Alongside the support from Governors for Schools, all LSE staff and alumni placed within schools have the chance to become members of the LSE School Governor Scheme network, a collaborative space where governors can access bespoke training, peer-to-peer advice and support and development opportunities.
Any current LSE staff member or member of the LSE alumni community is eligible to express an interest in the scheme or, if they are already a school governor, join our School Governor Scheme network.
School governance boards need a range of volunteers with varied skills to ensure they can support and challenge effectively. You don’t need to be a parent or have experience working in education, it’s more important that you’re enthusiastic, committed, and want to use your skills to make a difference. Many boards need volunteers with experience in areas including finance, data analysis and HR among others. But it’s not just specific experience that boards need – they also need more general skills, such as problem-solving, negotiation and leadership.
On average, volunteers are expected to spend seven hours a month on governing duties and usually attend around six meetings per year. As part of the commitment you’ll be expected to prepare for and contribute to meetings, visit the school you are placed at, and occasionally be part of hiring or disciplinary panels.
We anticipate that many LSE staff and alumni interested in becoming school governor volunteers will be first-time governors, so there is lots of support in place. Governors for Schools offer a comprehensive range of eLearning modules, as well as regular webinars on a variety of topics to develop your governance best practices. Alongside this support, all LSE staff and alumni placed within schools have the chance to become members of the LSE School Governor Scheme network, a collaborative space where governors can access bespoke training, peer-to-peer advice and support and development opportunities.
Being a governor is a commitment and a responsibility, but also incredibly rewarding. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to improve education for children locally and see the impact of your decisions on their futures. Alongside this, you’ll have the chance to:
- Gain board experience
- Build networks in your local community and meet people of different backgrounds
- Develop your existing skills and learn new things
- Take part in career development opportunities.
As a governor you’ll be able to increase your knowledge of the education sector and gain valuable leadership experience. The role is a valuable CPD opportunity and Governors for Schools, and the LSE School Governor Scheme network will provide ongoing support to help you thrive in the role.
If you are interested to learn more about the opportunity to become a volunteer school governor, please visit this website Governors for Schools and register your interest. A member of the Governors for Schools team will get in touch with you.
If you have any questions you can also contact the LSE WP team via ard.schoolgovernorscheme@lse.ac.uk