Good governors are vital to our schools' success

Leadership training in education has developed since then, but heads are still primarily the lead educators, often deriving their greatest job satisfaction from leading teaching and learning. But heads also understand that good management of finance, personnel, premises, wellbeing, and safeguarding underpins the best environment for successful teaching and learning. An active governing body with a range of complementary skills can make a huge difference.

During my headship, a high priority was to extend the use of technology in the classroom. When our provider went out of business overnight, the wise contribution of governors with relevant professional experience was invaluable. Working together, we could place the educational vision for excellent use of technology in the context of sustainable resourcing of this specialist, and very costly, area.

In these past few difficult years, governors in many of our schools have played a vital role, not just in helping leaders to face some unprecedented challenges but in supporting them, despite the turbulence, to identify and celebrate their many successes.

When I joined Akiva, we were well into the demanding process of expanding from a one-form entry independent school to two-form entry voluntary-aided. Each stage of growth brought new challenges for the staff team and the governing body.

At the end of the winter term, when cold and darkness made the long hours at school seem particularly hard, I sat at the Chanukah candle-lighting ceremony next to the wife of the former chair of governors.

His support through the building of our new premises and tortuous negotiations with the government and local authority had been tireless and highly effective. As we enjoyed the whole school rendition of Maoz  Tzur, she turned to me and said with pride, “You see, miracles can happen.”

If you are interested in becoming a governor, contact pajes.org.uk/contact_us or the Jewish Volunteering Network jvn.org.uk