Have you ever thought about being a Foundation Governor in a Catholic school? It is very rewarding, and a great way to live out your faith and serve your local community. It is also an opportunity to learn new skills which can have a positive impact on your own self-development.
A very big thank you to all of you already supporting our schools as governors.
Key facts about Foundation Governors in Catholic schools
What does a Foundation Governor do?
Foundation Governors in the Diocese of Brentwood are appointed by Bishop Alan to represent his education policy in his school. They preserve and develop the Catholic ethos of the school.
As a Foundation Governor, you are a member of the governing body, which is a corporate team. The governing body works with the headteacher to set high expectations and drive school improvement with a focus on:
- preserving and developing the Catholic character of the school on behalf of Bishop Alan
- setting the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school
- holding the headteacher and leadership team to account
- overseeing the financial performance of the school
What are the time commitments?
The average Foundation Governor role will take up to 10-12 hours a term including attending one governing body meeting per term and, typically, serving on one committee. You will need to be able to attend meetings regularly and have time to read the paperwork and get to know the school well.
You are also expected to demonstrate commitment to fulfilling your role responsibly through your ongoing training and development. A range of governor training, including induction and online learning, are available at no cost through the Diocese of Brentwood.
Who can be a Foundation Governor?
You must be over 18 and a practising Catholic.
Expertise or life experience which will contribute to the success of the school is ideal, eg
- business or professional expertise
- experience in a voluntary role
- experience of working with children and young people
However, the most important attributes are a passion for school improvement to enable every child to reach their potential, and a commitment to playing an active part whilst working as part of a team.
Click here to find out further information about being a Foundation Governor
What is the application process?
If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Governor at one of our schools, we’d love to hear from you.
Here you can find an application form to become a Foundation Governor in the Diocese of Brentwood and a list of current vacancies
At the current time, application forms should be emailed to [email protected]
Alternatively, please get in touch if you would like to discuss further with [email protected]
