Understanding school governance
Every school has a governing board made up of individuals from both the school and the wider community. In maintained schools, the board must have at least seven members (or 12 for Voluntary Aided (VA) schools), drawn from a range of governor categories.
While there’s no upper limit, the board must include:
- At least two parent governors
- One staff governor
- The Headteacher
- One Local Authority (LA) governor
The governing board may appoint as many additional co-opted governors as they consider necessary,
Governor roles explained
Headteacher
The Headteacher is automatically a member of the governing board by virtue of their role. They may choose not to be a governor, but even then, they retain the right to attend all meetings (without voting rights). Their position is reserved and cannot be filled by anyone else.
Co-opted governors
Appointed by the governing board, co-opted governors are selected for their skills and experience. They don’t need to have a direct connection to the school, local authority, or a religious body, but must be committed to supporting the school and its community.
Parent governors
Typically, governing boards include 2–4 parent governors. Elected by fellow parents, they bring a valuable parental perspective to board discussions. Parent governors have the same responsibilities as all other governors.
Foundation governors
Found in voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools, foundation governors are appointed to uphold the school’s religious character. They are common in Church of England and Roman Catholic schools, which together make up over a third of the state sector.
Staff governors
Elected by school staff, the staff governor represents the views and interests of colleagues. Like other governors, they contribute to strategic decisions and school improvement.
Local authority (LA) governors
Nominated by the local authority and appointed by the governing board, LA governors bring an external perspective and are expected to support the school’s strategic direction. They hold the same responsibilities as other governors.
Associate members
When specific expertise is needed and no governor vacancies exist, the board may appoint associate members. While they can attend full board meetings, they do not have voting rights at those meetings. However, they may vote on committees they are assigned to.
Governance in academy trusts
Academy trusts have greater flexibility in how they structure governance. Roles and responsibilities may vary between trusts.
Local governors
Local governors serve on the board of an individual school within a trust. They are appointed based on their skills and experience, either by the school’s local board or the trust board.
Trustees / Directors
Trustees (also known as directors) sit on the trust board and are responsible for governance across all schools in the trust. They act as both charity trustees and company directors, overseeing strategic direction, compliance, and performance.
Want to get involved?
Learn more about becoming a school governor and how to apply.