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How to encourage parents to become governors

Last reviewed on 1 March 2021
Ref: 4294
School types: All · School phases: All

Follow these tips to put together an advert that appeals to parents and encourages them to stand for election to your governing board.

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Contents

  1. Explain what the role involves and who can apply
  2. Highlight the benefits
  3. Mitigate the common concerns 
  4. Publicise your vacancy in the right places
  5. Run the election 
  6. Promote the role all year round

We worked with school governor recruitment service Governors for Schools to create this article. 

Explain what the role involves and who can apply

You should create an advert that sets out:

  • Who can apply (check the eligibility requirements in our articles for maintained schools and academies)
  • The role and functions of the governing board
  • The expectations of new governors, particularly regarding their attendance at meetings and membership of committees
  • The skills and experience that you want new governors to have, based on your board's self-evaluation
  • What training and development opportunities there will be

This transparency will help you to conduct informed elections

If you're a maintained school, or an academy running a parent governor election, being clear about the above will help:

  • Your candidates to publish a tailored statement explaining how they meet the expectations and criteria of the governing board
  • Your electorate to make an informed decision and better judge the candidates' statements

You can’t require

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