Star comment: Important role of our school governors
Education is an area in which many thousands of Shropshire parents with children at school have a direct interest.
It is also an area in which there have been moves in modern times to boost parent power, so those parents can play an active part in shaping the way schools deliver.
Yet across the county, schools have unfilled governor positions, and research suggests that most Salopians do not have any idea of the role of governors and the responsibilities and opportunities that come with it.
The sky will not fall in as a result, but these figures represent an opportunity which has not been grasped, and by failing to have the full range of diversity, skills, and experience that they could have on governing bodies, schools are missing out.
The governors connect the schools directly with the communities they serve.
They also have a fundamental practical role in appointing headteachers and finalising school budgets. In this way they set the strategic direction of the school.
To understand how important and valuable the governors are, you just have to look at schools which have struggled and failed.
Often in these cases it is the governing bodies which have been weak and ineffectual, and have fallen down in their duties, which include holding the headteacher to account, asking the difficult questions, and providing the overall strategic leadership.
They have become cosily complacent in their shared delusion that things are all all right. These things can happen, but with a full team of governors with diverse skills, including parents sharply focussed on what is best for the children, educational failures are more likely to be avoided.
Being a school governor is a challenge. Look, though, at the reward – which is creating the environment for the best possible education for Shropshire's children.
So, a tough role, but with a great prize.
