The contribution made by school governors should be given the same recognition as company non-executive directors, especially by future employers, according to an education charity.
The call by the School Governors’ One-Stop Shop follows research that found governors were critical to the successful shaping and direction of a school, and performed a role similar to that of non-executive board members at a major company.
Following changes to the remit of schools, governing bodies now have non-executive responsibilities for the appointment of senior staff, the strategic direction of the school and financial management.
The report said governors added analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, teamworking and listening skills to the mix. Head teachers were also appreciative of skills in areas such as marketing and public relations.
Steve Acklam, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Ideally, we would like to see a measurable change in the way governors are perceived within the next five years. We are also keen to see recruitment agencies and employers actively seeking governors as potential employees.”
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