Governors - your school needs you!

Anyone who thought being a school governor involved organising fetes and discos is being urged to think again. A campaign has started to recruit around 300 new school governors across Leicestershire and is proving there is more to the role than many may assume.

Governors play a vital part in raising standards and achievement and are involved in many areas including recruitment, business management and working with Ofsted. The post gives people the opportunity to give something back to the local community, contribute ideas and influence decisions to try and help every pupil reach their full potential.

There are around 4,000 governors at schools across Leicestershire but by showing what the role entails, it is hoped to attract more.

Ivan Ould, the County Council's Cabinet Member for the Children and Young People's Service, said: "Governors work as a team and serve their school in a wide variety of ways. "They help to maintain the high standards already being achieved and ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people. "The most important factor is an interest and enthusiasm for improving education locally and I would urge people to get in touch to find out more."

The County Council holds induction sessions for governors to give an initial overview of the role and its responsibilities. This is then followed up with ongoing training to keep them up to date with new legislation, initiatives or special interests.

To find out more about becoming a school governor, please visit the County Council's website at: www.leics.gov.uk/governors or call the Governor Development Service on 0116 305 6435. Alternatively, people can contact their local school.