Governors
Shape the future of local education
Volunteer as a school governor and help set the direction of our schools. Bring your voice, build your skills and make a difference.
NEAT Academy Trust
Below are the schools in our Trust.
There are opportunities to become a Governor at each of our schools.
Why become a Governor?
Make a difference, develop new skills
Governors help lead our schools, hold leaders to account, and support school improvement.
As a volunteer, you can:
- Influence how schools are run
- Build professional and personal skills
- Gain insight into leadership and education
- Give back to your local community
What do Governors do?
Your role as a School Governor
Set Vision and Strategy
Help define the school’s long-term priorities
Support and Challenge Leadership
Monitor performance and other strategic oversight
Oversee Impact of Resources
Ensure effective use of funding and compliance
Who can be a Governor?
You don’t need to be a teacher or education expert.
We value people with experience in:
- HR, finance, legal, project management, data, digital
- Community organisations and public services
- Working with young people or families
If you care about education and can give your time, we want to hear from you.
Testimonials
Hear from our Governors
What’s it really like?
Click the video to hear the story of one of our school governors.
Click the button below to go to our YouTube page where you can find more videos like this.
What support will I get?
Do I need experience in education?
You don’t need experience in education to be a school governor. For each of our schools we need a team of individuals with a wide range of different experiences, knowledge and skill sets.
How much time does it take?
You can expect to spend between 12-15 hours per month in your governance role. This includes attending meetings, school visits and training, writing reports and reading documentation.
When do the meetings take place?
Meetings take place in-person at the school (with hybrid/online options available).
Depending on the school, the start times range from 3:45pm to 5pm and meetings last 2 hours.
There are on average 6 meetings per year (roughly one per half term).
When do school visits take place?
As a governor, you will visit school during the school day at least once per term. You will arrange this date with other governors and school leaders for a mutually convenient time.
Will I receive training?
Once appointed, you will receive an onboarding and induction programme. You will meet with the Clerk of the Local Governing Committee (LGC) for an introductory onboarding meeting to familiarise you with key information and get you logged into the relevant systems. You will receive a list of both statutory and optional training which will teach you lots about your new role.
You will also receive further support from your Chair and the other members of the LGC.
Will I get help with meetings and documents?
During your onboarding meeting, the clerk will explain some of the key documents, and provide you with some useful tips for accessing meetings and documents. The Governance Support Team and Chair will be there for ongoing support with meetings and documents throughout your time as a governor.
Can I claim expenses?
You are entitled to claim reasonable expenses, such as travel and childcare costs.
Where do I find out more?
You can access lots of information on the NEAT website, school websites or recruitment pack.
You can also contact us at the Governance Support Team via governance@neatat.org.uk or 0191 228 4090.
Ready to apply?
Getting involved is easy.
We’re always looking for new governors to join our local governing bodies.
– Register your interest
– Have a quick call with our team
– Get matched with a school that suits you
Need to contact us?
If you have any further questions, feel free to send us a message using the form below.