Who should be a mentor
As a mentor, you should be an experienced member of the governing board.
Mentors could be the chair/vice chair of the board or a committee chair, as long as they have the capacity to carry out the additional role of mentor.
It makes sense for the chair to organise mentoring, as it's the chair's responsibility to make sure governors receive appropriate induction, training and development (see section 4.5 of the governance guide for maintained schools and section 4.4.1 of the governance guide for academy trusts.
The role of mentor
You should:
- Provide ongoing support and information to the new governor
- Help the new governor develop into a committed member of the governing board
- Help the new governor to understand their role and understand the importance of asking good questions as part of their role
Discuss with the new governor how you want to keep in contact, such as face-to-face, phone calls or email/text discussions.