The National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) has put together a guide for IT professionals to offer an overview of the support available to help you as a volunteer.
Simon Peyton Jones, Chair of the NCCE and Governor at Chesterton Community College, said: ‘Computing professionals are particularly valuable as governors. Schools need our belief in our subject, our technical expertise and our address books. Every school is working out what computing as a school subject means, what a great education in computing looks like and how to offer pathways in computing that suit every child.’
Inspiring governance
Lynn King is Head of Governance Programmes for Education and Employers, which runs the Inspiring Governance programme to connect skilled volunteers who are interested in serving as school governors and trustees with schools in England.
‘Having a good quality education has a huge impact on the future life chances of children and young people. Governing boards make significant decisions about schools to ensure they are successful for every pupil. A school governing board needs volunteers drawn from across the school’s community that bring different skills, experience and perspectives to the table,’ she said, adding that anybody over 18 can be a governor: no specialist knowledge of experience is needed and you don’t have to be a parent.
In fact, 250,000 people, including many from the computer industry, are already governors, yet there remain national shortages and schools would welcome the skills that IT professionals can bring.
‘Governing boards that are diverse make the best decisions,’ said Lynn. ‘It is estimated there is at least one vacancy on every school governing board in England and, if you consider there are over 23,000 schools, that’s a lot of empty seats around the board table.
‘As a school governor, you’ll be a role model for children thinking about their future in the workplace. It is a strategic role and like any board position, it should be approached as “eyes on and hands off”.’
Giving back
Being a school governor is rewarding, using your energy and skill to make a real difference to the futures of children and young people. Governing boards have three main functions: agreeing long term strategy, holding senior leaders to account for school performance, and overseeing financial performance.
