Becoming a Parent Governor

Dear Parents and Carers,

Coopers Lane School needs you!

The governing body of Coopers Lane School needs to elect a new parent governor and this could be you! Being a school governor is incredibly rewarding, so why not find out more about it.

Please come and talk to us! Governors will be available on Monday 11^th, Wednesday 13^th and Friday 15^thOctober (next week) in the playground Gazebo to answer any questions and just to say hi!

Don’t worry if you can’t make it next week, we will also be available after school on 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th November.

For any other questions, please contact via the school office info@cooperslane.lewisham.sch.uk

• What is a School Governor?

A governing body’s role is to ensure that the school is being run well. Governors use their mix of expertise to work with the Headteacher (who is also a governor) in setting the school’s vision and ethos, maintain policies, and monitor and support the Headteacher to ensure that it all comes together – within budget.

• Who can apply?

The position is available to any parent or primary carer of a child registered with the school.

•  A commitment to diversity.

After the death of George Floyd, Lewisham Education established a task force to address matters that are directly affecting black lives in our community and produced a pledge to embed race equality in all schools.  Coopers Lane School are proud to have signed this pledge and we are committed to ensure that the amazing diversity we have within our school is also represented in our governance and leadership. The governors at Coopers Lane recognise that a very important step in achieving equality in our school is to improve diversity amongst the governing body. We see the upcoming parent governor elections as an opportunity to make progress on our commitment that the governing body should be representative of the whole school community. Over the next two months the governors will be taking action to meet with, inform and support parents to encourage and welcome candidates, especially those from groups who are currently underrepresented on the governing body.

We will be delighted to see a strong showing of applicants from all communities within the school for this election.

• What is required of a governor?

Being a governor requires a regular commitment to meet, learn, gather information about the school and ask appropriate questions.

Each governor should aim to attend:

*A full governing body meeting held once a term (roughly 2 hours)

*A focused committee meeting held once a term (roughly 1 to 2 hours)

*Attend an info gathering activity once a term (often a whole day spent in school, seeing plans in action and meeting staff and children).

*Liaise with a member of staff as a “link” to discuss progress in a designated area, and create a brief report for the governing body

*Attend Lewisham governors training as necessary (a few times a term) to improve their understanding (currently held virtually).

Additionally, governors can help to:

*Chair meetings

*Help on interview panels; We aim to have a governor at all significant interviews

*Very occasionally help on disciplinary and capability panels

*Represent the school at open days, fairs, important visits etc.

*Help with inspections, such as Ofsted.

We are always fair at sharing out roles and responsibilities according to availability, and many employers respect the need for this time.

All elected governors must obtain a successfully completed DBS check, and will be required to attend Lewisham’s new governor induction training (1 day).

Governors must have the ability to keep information and plans absolutely confidential when required, and conduct themselves in a sensitive and appropriate manner.

• What a governor is not.

Please be aware, governors are not there to improve the schooling for their own children – they are there for the greater good of the school. The majority of information presented to governors is anonymised. Governors will be expected to avoid their own child’s classroom when visiting the school, and not focus any challenge towards areas that solely relates to their child.

Governors do not have any direct authority over any other staff. The Headteacher runs the school.

• What are the rewards of being a school governor?

Working with Mr Hooper, the senior leadership team and the other governors is an absolute pleasure, and always very positive and productive.

In helping as a governor, you will learn and hone many universal skills, that translate very well to other professions. All of the training is provided for free.

Overall, making our fantastic school even better!

• The dates and how to apply.

If you are interested in joining our team, please complete the “CLS Governor Introduction” to introduce yourself to parents, and email it to the school business manager, before Thursday 18^th November info@cooperslane.lewisham.sch.uk

We will then present parents with an online survey to elect a candidate on 22nd November.

Thank you for your interest, we hope to hear from you soon.

James Green

Chair of the Coopers Lane Primary School governing body.

• Governor Information Form

Contacting the School

Coopers Lane Primary School is situated in Grove Park in the borough of Lewisham. The entrance to the school is in Pragnell Road, SE12 0LF