School governors
School governors play a key role in leading, supporting and improving schools.
They are impartial and make decisions that seek to improve the school. By doing so, they make a difference to children’s lives and their prospects for the future.
The main school governor categories are:
- Community governors - are appointed by the school’s governing body to represent the community. Ideally, they should live or work in the community served by the school.
- Parent governors - are parents of children who attend the school. They are voted on to the school’s governing body by other parents whose children attend the school.
- Local authority governors - are appointed by the local authority.
- Teacher and staff governors - are elected to the governing body by the relevant staff within the school.
There are other school governor categories depending on the type and constitution of a school.
The number of governors of each category can vary depending on the type of school and the maximum number of pupils that the school can accommodate.
Governing body meetings
At each meeting, governors consider, discuss and make decisions on a range of subjects, for example:
- the performance of pupils and the school overall;
- school inspection reports;
- budgets;
- recruitment of staff;
- disciplinary issues; and
- general maintenance of school buildings and grounds.
Many issues are dealt with via committees of the governing body, which are then considered for approval by the full governing body.
Each governing body has a clerk, who arranges meetings and takes the minutes.
Becoming a school governor
If you become a school governor, you will have the satisfaction of becoming part of a team undertaking a strategic role in running the school. You will learn skills that will help you in other areas of your life and you will benefit from free training.
You do not need any particular qualifications to become a school governor, but you do need to be aged 18 or over and you will need to have:
- an interest in our children’s future;
- the desire to make a difference;
- time and energy;
- a readiness to accept responsibility;
- the commitment to work in a team;
- the enthusiasm to ask questions, listen and learn; and
- the motivation to help shape the future of education within Bridgend County Borough.
Once appointed, a school governor’s term of office lasts for four years.
You would be expected to attend three governing body meetings per school year, one in each term, and committee meetings, where relevant.
Governor training
Governor training is provided free of charge. The training helps to improve your knowledge and skills, and will allow you to participate effectively in governing body meetings.
New governors must attend two mandatory training courses. One of these is an induction course that covers the main responsibilities of a governor. The other is on understanding the data used in schools and how this will help you support the school.
Training is also available on a range of other relevant topics.
Applications for parent governors
If you are interested in becoming a parent governor at your child’s school, please contact the school directly.
Applications for community governors
If you are interested in becoming a community governor, please download an application form.
When completed, please send this to the school that you are interested in becoming a governor at.
Find school contact details on our website.
Applications for local authority governors
If you are interested in becoming a local authority governor, please download an application form
When completed, please send this form to pupilservices@bridgend.gov.uk.
Vacancies are time-limited and, therefore, any applications must be received by the local authority by the dates shown in the table below.
Local authority governor vacancies
Details of vacancies and application submission dates will be regularly updated.
|
Name of school |
Number of current and future vacancies |
Latest date for submission of an application |
|
Abercerdin Primary School |
3 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Afon y Felin Primary School |
2 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 June 2022 |
|
Brackla Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Bryntirion Infant School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Cefn Cribwr Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Coety Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Coychurch (Llangrallo) Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Croesty Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Cwmfelin Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Ffaldau Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Garth Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Litchard Primary School |
1 (current) 1 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 May 2022 20 June 2022 |
|
Llangewydd Junior School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Mynydd Cynffig Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Nantyffyllon Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Nantymoel Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Newton Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Nottage Primary School |
3 (current) 1 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 May 2022 20 June 2022 |
|
Penybont Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Pen y Fai Church in Wales Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Pîl Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Plasnewydd Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Porthcawl Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
St Robert’s Roman Catholic Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Tondu Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Tremains Primary School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Tynyrheol Primary School |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
West Park Primary School |
1 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 June 2022 |
|
Ysgol Bryn Castell |
1 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 June 2022 |
|
Ysgol Cynwyd Sant |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Calon y Cymoedd |
2 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Brynteg School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen |
3 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Cynffig Comprehensive School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Maesteg School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Pencoed Comprehensive School |
1 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 June 2022 |
|
Porthcawl Comprehensive School |
1 (current) |
20 May 2022 |
|
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd |
1 (vacant from 18 July 2022) |
20 June 2022 |