How to recruit trustees and local governors

Last reviewed on 23 August 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 42943

Work through these step-by-step processes to recruit new trustees and local governors. Find help with identifying your needs, advertising the role, screening candidates and making the appointment.

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Local governors

Contents

  1. Conduct a skills audit to identify your board's needs
  2. Clarify who does what in the recruitment process 
  3. Use a free recruitment organisation like Governors for Schools 
  4. Create a tailored advert
  5. Where to look for new trustees
  6. Create an application pack
  7. Screen candidates
  8. Appoint and induct your new trustee

We used the Governance Handbook, academy trust governance guidance, advice from governor recruitment charity Governors for Schools, and our governance expert Matt Miller, to write this article. 

Use our other article if you're looking to recruit maintained school governors.

Conduct a skills audit to identify your board's needs

The first step when recruiting new trustees is to identify what skills and experience your board needs from a new member, for it to be effective. 

Use our skills audit to do this. It's based on the Department for Education's competency framework. 

If any third-party organisations are helping you recruit new trustees, share your skills audit with them.

Clarify who does what in the recruitment process 

The recruitment process will vary based on:

Check your articles of association

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