Becoming a Governor

What is a Foundation Governor?
Foundation Governors are appointed in the name of the bishop and form the majority of the governing body of a Catholic school. They have a legal duty to preserve and develop the Catholic character of the school and to ensure that the school is conducted in accordance with its trust deed. Governing boards have three core functions:
• ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
The ministry of Foundation Governor is an important one, because the Catholic character of our schools depends on committed Catholics being willing to undertake this service. Bishop Marcus is therefore very appreciative of all those who offer to assist him in this vital task.

Responsibilities and Time Commitments
The average Foundation Governor role will take up about 10-12 hours per month. However, this can vary depending on the school calendar or by events, such as an Ofsted inspection.
This commitment includes the minimum requirement of attending three full governor meetings per year and serving on at least one committee.
The committees will focus on areas such as finance, curriculum, pupil progress and site management.
You will also be encouraged to attend training sessions.

Do I fit the criteria?
Because of our baptism, all Christians are all called to serve the Church’s mission. So lack of experience is no bar to appointment, because all that is required is a wish to serve the mission of the Church in this particular way. Induction and training will be provided for Foundation Governors.

• General Criteria
  1. To become or remain a foundation governor, a person should be and remain:
  • a practising Catholic;
  • providing education for his or her own children, if of school age, in a Catholic school or college (unless exceptional circumstances apply);
  • able to give priority of attendance at meetings of the governing body to ensure representation of the Archbishop;
  • in possession of a valid DBS disclosure certificate.
  2. To become or remain a foundation governor, a person must not be disqualified from becoming or remaining a governor in accordance with:
• the Diocesan Guidance;
• the current School Government Regulations (or the college’s Instrument of Government);
• the Charities Acts; and
• the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
  3. A person (other than the parish priest) will not normally be appointed as a foundation governor if he or she is over 75 years of age.