New online service launched to help schools recruit governors

A new national online matching service has been launched to connect schools and colleges with skilled volunteers interested in serving as governors and trustees.

Recent research published by the National Governors’ Association (NGA) found that 61 per cent of governing boards had difficulty attracting new recruits to serve as governors and trustees and the Inspiring Governance service hopes to simplify the recruitment process, as well as provide support, advice and guidance to ensure that volunteers newly appointed to boards are able to govern effectively right from the outset.

Individuals can register their skills with the online service, which then allows boards to find governors no matter where they are in the country.

Inspiring Governance is run by the charity Education and Employers in partnership with the NGA and is working closely with Academy Ambassadors, the Association of School and College Leaders and the National Association of Head Teachers. It has received the backing of ministers and will be funded by the Department for Education (DfE) until 2020.

Lord Nash, Under Secretary of State for Schools, said: “It’s more important than ever to give our young people the opportunities they deserve. This means building and supporting better school governing boards across England. As the people who appoint head teachers and chief executives and hold them to account, governors and trustees should be the driving force behind school improvement so it’s essential that we do more to attract talented and committed volunteers to school governance. That’s why we are supporting Education and Employers and the National Governors’ Association to revolutionise the way people can get involved in governance and be supported in the role once they’re in place.”