Back to school – #TheGallery
New beginnings, fresh slate, clean start blah…blah…blah. The start of the new term currently fills me with DREAD for one reason and one reason only.
It’s not because the 11+ is looming and I have mixed feelings about it. I don’t honestly mind if he passes the 11+ or not – yes honestly. We live very near an excellent comprehensive school and I’ll be very happy for him to go there. It is his decision to try for the 11+. He is a wonderful boy, clever, sensitive, talented and kind – I know he will make me oh so proud no matter where he goes.
It’s not because of the school uniform palarva – I sorted that nice and early with the help of @KidStart
It’s not because of the school run (although I do loathe it with a passion).
It is because of the reason for 215 of the emails in my inbox, and this:
In April of this year I became a school governor, I went into it blindly, I had no actual idea what it entailed or that it was a 4 year commitment…
I am scared of being a school governor. I don’t understand it properly, I sit at the meetings (that I can ill afford the time for) and I try to look as though I know what I’m doing, but, I don’t.
I haven’t even managed to book myself on any courses yet – how hard can it be?
I am not a person who likes to admit to weaknesses so my personal challenge now is to turn this around, to become the best governor that I can be, to actually be of some use to the school and the local community.
Don’t let me put you off being a governor yourself – if you are interested take a look at this website.
Wish me luck?!
I really admire you for becoming a school governor, I’m sure it will turn out to be a really worthwhile job.
Thank you! I’m really trying (ignore the old and obvious joke there….) to make it work and need to stop sulking about it and get on with it! x
Good luck with school governership. I tried it for two years and gave in! Not like me but I found I just could not make the time to read all the paperwork that comes with it.
In the end, I concluded that schools would be better run by head teachers – and in truth I never felt I was making a difference to anything.
But I was doing it at a busy time in my life, so don’t read too much negativity into what I have said.
Hope it goes well for you
Bob
Blimey if you threw the towel in then I’ve got no hope! I think you are right that the head teacher should run the school, I do find it odd that we have to have so many governors and that so many of us have to attend in order for things to be quorate (big word that I learnt from being a governor!).
Good luck with the governer thing. I am not sure I could manage
Just remember the phrase “what’s best for the pupils” when you’re in Governor meetings and have to make decisions and I’m sure you can’t go far wrong! Good luck with being a Governor 🙂
*coughs* Can I be of assistance?
Any training will help, I assure you. It’s never too late to go on an induction. I waited a year before doing my induction courses. If you have any newer governors, arrange to go with them. And while I’d be the first to admit I’m not “all that” when it comes to governance, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have or fill any gaps in your knowledge.
PS love your blog roll but it seems to be missing one… *whistles* 😉
It’s missing another actually. 😉
As someone who volunteers extensively, I’d say don’t be afraid to ask for help. The courses are meant to help you. We run courses for our volunteers but some seem to think they don’t have time for it when if they just took the couple of hours out of their lives to do them, they’d probably save themselves HOURS of hassle when something happens and they have to put it right. It’s a “speculate to accumulate” type thing.
Everyone starts off out of their comfort zone. There is no shame in that. There is no such thing as a stupid question when you are starting out so don’t hold back. The school should support you and be prepared to explain anything you don’t know or understand. You just need to ask. This is also something I struggle with my volunteers – some of them think they have to battle on alone, take on way too much, and then suffer burnout so walk away.
I stood for election in April but lost – knew as soon as I saw the ballot paper that I would as one of the other candidates was better known and runs the only private nursery in town that is rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Iwill probably stand again if the opportunity arises – because I want to move on from other things.
Good luck. x
Good luck! I’d love to be a school governor when I have kids!