Next to the national poll, the election of the school governing bodies is the biggest in the country. In June schools will choose their new governors. the Teacher gives guidance
What are the qualities that those who want the best for their school should look for when recruiting individuals who will make good governors? Clearly they need to be people who have the best interests of their school at heart, which means they must know and understand their community.
They need to have an understanding of the wider context in which the school operates and of the political and socioeconomic factors that affect the lives of the families of the pupils the school educates.
What distinguishes the best governors is their value system and their awareness of the community’s needs, its strengths and its ambitions for its children.
These factors are important because they form the ethical framework for debate and decision-making on how the school should approach its obligation of providing the best possible education for the children of the community it serves.
There is a need for governors with skills and knowledge in addition to these qualities, but first and foremost governors need a moral compass and an understanding of the community that the school must serve.
Ideally, besides the two qualities mentioned, there is a need for all governors to have knowledge and skills in a range of areas and for at least one governor to have the financial knowledge needed to oversee the management of the school’s finances and the budgeting process.
More specifically, governors need a good knowledge and understanding of national and provincial legislation and policies that govern the operation of public schools.
They must understand the internal policies and procedures of the school they govern, including its management and organisational structures.
Alan Clarke is a former principal and the author of The Handbook of School Management and The Handbook for School Governors, both published by Kate McCallum and distributed by Macmillan South Africa . The publication date for the latter is June 19.