CONNECTIONS THAT COUNT
Finding governors Governors for Schools (
governorsforschools.org.uk) is an education charity that links schools with skilled professionals across England and Wales. More than a third of schools in
When reaching out to businesses, it makes sense to start local. Companies rooted in your area are more likely to provide long-term support, perhaps with training or job opportunities down the line. However, it’s also worth being open to the unexpected: exciting ideas can emerge when people from different sectors join up their thinking to enrich educational opportunities, says Jane Hughes.
England have one or more vacancies on their governing board. Governors for Schools is tackling this shortage by finding high calibre volunteers who want to use their expertise to help improve educational outcomes. In the past six months, the charity has placed 1,200 volunteers on school boards. Schools can register a vacancy on its website, specifying desirable skills or expertise. A partnerships manager then identifies volunteers with the appropriate skill set – who are either local or able to support the board remotely. There is no charge for state schools. The charity actively promotes
diversity on the grounds that it makes a stronger board, reflecting school communities and the wider country. In 2020, more than 30% of its volunteers were from BAME backgrounds, and over 65% were under 45, with a range of skills, life experiences and perspectives. Engineer Nadia Greuner became a governor because she wanted to
make sure opportunities were available for everyone, especially for encouraging girls to take STEM subjects. ‘I’m one of three women in my office,’ she says. ‘We’ve battled through an education system that has told us we can’t be engineers because we’re female. I do what I say I’m going to do – and that’s important in my day job and in my role as a governor. Being pretty cut and dry means that when it comes to being a governor, I’m prepared to challenge how things are done.’ For Deloitte, a global provider of
audit, consulting and financial advisory services, supporting strong school leadership is a key objective of its 5 Million Futures CSR programme to improve access to education and employment. Deloitte partnered with Governors for Schools to place staff volunteers in schools serving low- income communities across England and Wales. Since September 2020, 36 of its staff have become school governors, with 48 people currently moving through the application process. The idea is that these individuals will develop their own skills through volunteering, and make a positive impact in schools and wider communities.
‘The idea is that
these individuals will develop their
own skills through volunteering, and make a positive
impact in schools and wider
communities’ 14 SUMMER 2021 FundEd
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