08 June 2007
School governors often lack the financial and managerial skills to carry out the duties expected of them, a study has warned.
A report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation this week said that although governors were expected to take on more and more responsibility, many lacked the time or expertise.
Report author Professor Alan Dyson said: 'School governors carry out an important and extremely valuable role in the management of schools. But in the light of these findings we need to ask whether we are asking too much of them.'
The June 5 report said problems were particularly acute in disadvantaged areas, where it was often difficult to recruit and retain sufficiently skilled governors.
JRF director Julia Unwin said good school governance was vital in disadvantaged areas, where it was essential that children got the best start in life. 'Governance of public services needs to engage the wider community as well as service users both to empower local people and deliver quality services,' she said.
The report identifies several options for change, including incremental improvement, which would leave systems much as they are but focus on widening participation, and more radical alternatives such as directly elected governors or the creation of a core of highly skilled, possibly salaried, governors to lead groups of schools.
The National Governors' Association acknowledged that there were problems but cautioned against radical change. Chief executive Jean McEntire told Public Finance that efforts should be focused on making the current system function well everywhere.
'The current model is excellent where it works. The governing board represents all key stakeholders, so we wouldn't really want to throw the baby out with the bathwater,' she said.
But McEntire added that all school governors should opt to undertake induction training to give them a grasp of what their role required. 'It's not like being on the Parent Teacher Association. It's a strategic role. You've got to be prepared to make big decisions.'
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