Information for all parents and carers

 

I am contacting you to let you know there is a vacancy for a Parent Governor here at Marshgate Primary School.  This is to replace Joanna Gluzman-Laukkanen who has served for two terms as a Parent Governor at Marshgate Primary School.  We are very grateful for all her support over the years.

Being a Parent Governor is an interesting way you can get involved with Marshgate.  We are looking for people who can bring their enthusiasm and skills to the Governing Body.  Parent Governors are elected on a four yearly basis.  If you would like to know more about the role of a Parent Governor then please feel free to come and have a chat with me, Ms Jackson or Miss Rosina Robson (Chair of Governors). 

Governors need not be experts in the field of education.  What they do need is an interest in the school and in the welfare of our children and the time and willingness to get involved.  Governors also ideally need the ability to be able to build relationships with a range of people, to work as part of a team, to question, and to make connections between different types of information. There will be some budget reports and data on school standards to get to grips with.  Being a Governor can be a great way to learn new skills.  All decision making of the Governing Body is collective; there is no individual accountability.

Parent Governors serve for four years from the date of election and are not required to stand down if their child leaves the school. The usual time commitment during an academic year looks like this:

• Attend four Full Governing Body meetings in the academic year (held in the evenings starting at 6.30pm)
• Sit on one of the Committees and attend the meetings (these are held every half term, two committees meet at 8.00am and the other meets at 2.00pm)
• Help out at the Summer Fair on the Governor stall
• Attend a selection of school/community events

In return, our Governing Body commits to:

• provide Governors with a structured induction
• provide access to quality training via the Local Authority
• provide you with an experienced Governor as mentor

For further information about the role of governors visit Governors for Schools or contact Governor Support on 0208 547 6548 / 6970 / 6947 or email governor.support@achievingforchildren.org.uk

On the Governor page of the school website we have articles written by previous Governors which have featured in the school newsletters which you may find of interest.  There are two parents who are currently on the Governing Body.  Gabriela Vinader is a Parent Governor and Sunil Sehgal is a Co-opted Governor.  Either would be more than happy to talk to you about their role should you be interested.  I can put you in touch with them.

At Marshgate we aspire to make our governing body representative of our whole school community.  Just so you are aware there is a fund to cover the cost of child care at meetings.  Full support and training on being a Parent Governor will be available for you from the Governor Support Team at the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Please see the timetable which was sent out about the election process via Parent Mail.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Mrs Cox

Clerk to the School Governors