Joint Education Team | The Dioceses of Durham and Newcastle
  • Welcome
  • The Team
  • Boards & Committees
    • Durham Diocese
    • Newcastle Diocese
    • Operations & Co-ordination Group
  • GDPR
  • Conferences and Events
    • Chadwick April 2013
    • Chadwick Update 2013
    • Partners in Progress - Preparing for the Future October 2015
    • Governor Conferences October 2016
    • Regional Character Education Conference 28th June 2017
    • Mental Health in Schools Conference 5th July 2017
    • Leader of Leaders Conference 16th March 2018
    • Future Leaders Conference 12th October 2018
    • Rural & Small Schools Conference 29th April 2019
    • Curriculum Conference 18th October 2019
  • Our Partners
    • Clergy
    • Parishes
    • Our Cathedrals
    • Lesotho and Botswana
    • SACRE
  • Our Schools
    • Find a School in Durham
    • Find a School in Newcastle
    • Independent Schools Durham Diocese
    • Affiliated and Independent Schools Newcastle Diocese
  • Ethos
    • Values
    • Anglican Traditions
  • Governance
    • Kinds of Governors
    • Responsibilities of Governors
    • Role of Foundation Governors
    • Protocol for Appointment of Foundation Governors
    • Process for appointing Member Directors
    • Code of Conduct
    • Governor nomination form
    • Governors Handbook (DfE)
    • Skills audit documents
    • Guidance for Ex-Officio Foundation Governors
    • Chair of Governors Training
    • Supporting Governors' self-evaluation
    • Governor Mark
  • Academies
    • Academies - Introduction
    • Academies - Governance
  • Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust
  • Admissions
    • Timescales for consulting on Admissions Policies 2023/24
    • Note on compliance with Admissions Code 2014
    • Deferred admission
    • Link to Schools Admissions Code
    • Admissions Appeals
    • Appeals Advice
    • Advice on the admission of children adopted from care outside of England
  • Inspection
    • Inspection Reports
    • Ofsted Handbook
    • Chief Inspector's Annual Report
    • Schools Requiring Improvement
    • Ofsted Datadashboard
    • SIAMS
    • Training
    • For Inspectors
  • Staffing & Leadership
    • Leadership
    • Model contracts
    • Appointing a new Headteacher
    • VA School Application Forms
  • School Website Rules
  • Development & Training
    • Care and Well-being
  • Collective Worship
  • Religious Education
    • Provision of Training
    • National Society Curriculum Framework
    • RE Council's Review Report 2013
    • Religious Education - Ofsted 2013
    • RE level descriptors Ofsted
    • RE News Update
    • Celebrating outstanding RE
  • Understanding Christianity
  • National Reference Documents
  • Cluster Groups
  • Youth and Children
    • Durham
    • Newcastle
  • Pupil Premium
  • Partnering Agreement & Buildings
    • Buildings
    • Recommended Consultants
  • RAISEonline
  • Resources
  • Stop Press!
    • Stop Press Archive
  • Newsletters
    • Newsletters Archive
  • Vacancies
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Environment
Kinds of Governors

Parent governors


Parents, including carers, of pupils are eligible to stand for election as governors. Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school. If insufficient parents stand for election, the governing body may appoint parents.

Staff governors

The headteacher is a staff governor by virtue of their office. Other staff, both teaching and support, may become governors as long as they are paid (volunteers do not qualify) Staff governors are elected by the school staff. Any election that is contested must be held by ballot.

Authority governors

LAs are encouraged to appoint high-calibre governors to schools that need the most support and to appoint candidates irrespective of any political affiliation or preference. Authorities may appoint minor authority representatives, e.g. district and parish councillors, as authority governors.

Community governors

Community governors are appointed by the governing body to represent community interests. They can be individuals who:

  • live or work in the community served by the school

  • are committed to the good governance and success of the school even though they do not work or live close to it.

The definition of community governor is wide. People from a business or professional background and minor authority representatives can be appointed as community governors.

Foundation and partnership governors

Foundation governors are appointed by the school's founding body, church or other organisation named in the school's instrument of government. If the school has a religious character, the foundation governors must preserve and develop this. They must also ensure compliance with the trust deed, if there is one. If a foundation school has no foundation or equivalent body, the foundation governors are replaced by partnership governors appointed by the governing body after a nomination process.  

Incumbents of parishes with a church school are normally ex officio foundation governors. That is, they are members of the governing body because they hold the office of incumbent. 

Sponsor governors

Sponsor governors are appointed by the governing body. They may be individuals who:

  • give substantial assistance to the school, financially or in kind

  • provide services to the school.

If the governing body wants to appoint sponsor governors it must seek nominations from the sponsor(s). The governing body can appoint a maximum of two persons as sponsor governors.

Where to Find Us
Picture
Click here for map
Church House
St John's Terrace
Percy Main
North Shields
NE29 6HS

Tel: (0191) 270 4100
Fax: (0191) 270 4101




Picture
Picture
Picture