Parent Governor Election

We would like to invite parents to stand for election as a parent governor, or nominate another parent/carer to do so. In our school we have provision for 7 parent governors and there are currently two vacancies.

The governing body, with the Headteacher, has overall responsibility for the running of the school. Governing bodies have three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Acland Burghley has a team of governors with a range of different skills and experiences but a shared commitment to improving the school. We are especially interested in receiving applications from people who would improve the diversity of the governing body. In particular, we would like to see more governors from ethnic minorities and a broader range of social backgrounds.

Please do not be put off applying because you feel that governors may need particular skills. You do not need any special qualifications or previous experience of governance as we offer support and training for new governors. It does involve spending some time in the school and at a few meetings each term and we also expect that those new to being a governor will take advantage of the free training that is provided. If you are thinking of applying but would like a conversation with an existing governor first, please feel free to contact Julian Turner, Chair of Governors, at julianjturner@gmail.com.

The sheet enclosed with the letter mailed to families summarises the circumstances under which someone cannot serve as a governor. These include parents/carers who have paid employment in the school for 500 or more hours per academic year or who are elected members of the Local Authority. Nominations must be from parents/carers with children at the school on the day that nominations close. 

If you would like to stand for election, please complete the nomination form mailed and return it to the box in the school reception no later than 4pm on Thursday 17 October 2019. You may also include a short personal statement to support your nomination, which should be no longer than 250 words. Self-nominations will be accepted and, if you are nominating another parent/carer, please seek their prior consent.

If there are more nominations than vacancies, the election will be by secret ballot. If that is necessary, voting papers will be sent to all families together with details of the ballot procedure.