School Governor

The Governors of Blanford Mere Nursery & Primary School are seeking to recruit new members to support the work of the school’s Governing Board. Being a school governor is a challenging but highly rewarding role. It offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference to children’s lives, give something back to the local community, and use and develop your skills in a strategic, board-level environment. Effective governance is a key factor in school improvement. Schools need governing boards with a balance and diversity of knowledge, skills, and experience to provide strong strategic leadership and effective oversight. This includes experience in areas such as education, finance, human resources, legal services, marketing and public relations, property and estates management, and organisational change. We would welcome applications from individuals with any of the above skills and from those who are committed to learning and development in the role.

Core Strategic Functions

• Setting the strategic direction and vision of the school, ensuring high expectations for all pupils and a culture of continuous improvement;
• Holding the Headteacher and senior leaders to account for the educational performance of the school, including the quality of education, pupil outcomes, behaviour, attendance, and safeguarding;
• Overseeing the effective and ethical use of financial resources, ensuring value for money and that funding decisions have a positive impact on pupils’ learning and wellbeing.

Anyone aged 18 or over can become a school governor; you do not need to be a parent of a child at the school. Comprehensive training and ongoing support are available, enabling governors to develop a clear understanding of their statutory responsibilities, including safeguarding, equality, and compliance. While prior knowledge of the education system is helpful, it is not essential – commitment, integrity, and the capacity to contribute time and skills are what matter most.

Responsibilities

• Use your personal and professional experience to inform strategic discussions and decision‑making;
• Develop and apply leadership and governance skills in a board‑level environment;
• Make a meaningful contribution to the education and wellbeing of children in your community;
• Provide both support and constructive challenge to school leaders to drive improvement;
• Bring your unique perspectives and insights to ensure decisions are made in the best interests of pupils, staff, and the wider school community.

Blanford Mere Nursery & Primary School is a successful one‑and‑a‑half‑form entry primary school within Dudley Local Authority. The school currently has 348 pupils on roll, including children attending the Nursery provision. The appointment will be subject to an enhanced DBS clearance.

How to Apply

For applications please include the following details:

• Full Name
• Full Postal Address
• Email Address
• Your Occupation (or previous occupation)
• A brief paragraph explaining your skills
• Whether you have been a governor previously
• The name of two references you have known for a minimum of 2 years, including their name, occupation, email address and the capacity in which you know them.

Visits to school are welcome. Please contact the school office on 01384 818365 to arrange an appointment. For more information, or to apply to be a Governor, please contact the Headteacher, Mrs Kerry Crook 01384 818365. All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK. Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK. The post is subject to medical clearance and an enhanced DBS check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications.

Effective from September 2022, KCSIE states as part of the shortlisting process schools and colleges should consider carrying out online searches, as part of the due diligence on shortlisted candidates. This is to determine suitability to work with children and keep them safe. All shortlisted candidates are now subject to an online check and if there is anything concerning, then the shortlisted candidate will be asked to comment on it either prior to or at interview.

Online application forms will only be accepted for this vacancy, online facilities for jobs are available at public libraries within the Dudley Borough. If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk. If you are experiencing a problem whilst applying for a position, please follow the link below to the WM Jobs Help Page in the first instance; https://help.wmjobs.co.uk/ If the WM Jobs Help Page does not resolve your issue, then please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk.

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so. The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/.