SCHOOLS
THE GOVERNOR
“It is a very important job as well as being enjoyable, informative and rewarding,”
said Elizabeth Mee, a governor at Villiers High School. Governors play a central
role in school life. Could you be one? Deborah Dickey found out more.
P
eople can become governors
through a number of different routes.
Elizabeth applied directly to Ealing
Council, and was an ideal candidate
to bring valuable outside skills to a school with
her experience as a solicitor specialising in
employment law.
Villiers, in Southall, expressed an interest in
her and she liked what she saw, too: “I liked the
feeling of the school as soon as I walked in,”
she said. “And many people say the same when
they visit us. The children are delightful and the
staff provide a positive, friendly, and focused
atmosphere in which to learn.”
Elizabeth joined in September 2012, just
after Remo Iafrate had taken over as the new
headteacher, and she has since started chairing
the governing body.
“I had often thought about what I’d do when
I retired,” Elizabeth said. “I wanted to volunteer
and be useful. I have always been interested in
education, in particular secondary education,
because it is my fundamental belief that
everyone is entitled to a first-class one.
“A good governing body, as we have here,
has a mixture of skills including education,
accountancy, marketing, law, journalism
– everyone contributes their expertise,
commitment and time, which is invaluable.
“The role and responsibilities of governing
has changed a great deal, even in the short time
since I became one. Being a governor can be
challenging to begin with because there is a lot
to learn, but it’s satisfying to know that we are
performing an important role for the benefit of
the students, staff and community.
“In the past two-and-a-bit years Villiers
has improved immensely – in fact, it is in the
Above: Villiers High governor Elizabeth Mee with pupils at the school
top 9% in the country in terms of the pupils’
level of development while at the School.
The headteacher and his staff have put many
improvements in place and we are beginning
to see the results of their hard work and
commitment, which I have every confidence
will continue.”
MORE INFO
Want to find out more?
■
Email
[email protected]
■
Visit
www.egfl.org.uk/governors
■
How to apply:
Visit www.becomeagovernor.com
around ealing
Summer 2015
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