Celebrating 25 years of service 🎉

This month marks a significant milestone for Governors for Schools: 25 years of making a difference in education governance.  

Since 1999, we’ve supported nearly 40,000 volunteers into school governance roles, positively impacting the educational experiences of nearly 40 million children across England and Wales. As we celebrate 25 years of education governance, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible volunteers and partners who have helped us achieve this remarkable impact.  

But our mission is far from over. With an estimated 20,000 vacancies on governing boards nationwide, there’s still important work to do. Whether you’re a prospective volunteer, a partner, or a school seeking support, we invite you to join us as we continue to strengthen and support the education sector. Find out more in this special 25 years edition of our LinkedIn Newsletter.  

Volunteer Voices 

As part of our 25 years celebration, we’re highlighting the incredible work of school governors, who play a vital role in shaping school strategy, ensuring accountability, and improving outcomes for thousands of students across England and Wales. From Serena, championing initiatives to introduce diverse role models, to Kuowei, connecting his school with valuable STEM resources and opportunities, each school governor brings their unique expertise to transform education in their local communities. 

👉 Find out more 

25 years of corporate partnerships 

Since 1999, corporate partnerships have been at the heart of our mission, providing schools with vital resources, expertise, and opportunities. These collaborations have enabled thousands of highly skilled volunteers to step into governance roles, making a lasting impact on the education sector. 

By partnering with us, companies help us to fill some of the many governance vacancies. In doing so, their employees actively support and shape the future of education, addressing unique challenges faced by schools. While sharing their knowledge and experience, these same volunteers gain valuable skills through the role. Our corporate partners are true long-term champions of education.   

To celebrate our 25th anniversary, our CEO, Hannah Stolton sat down with Paula Rocque , Assistant Manager for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at KPMG . They reflected on the enduring impact of our partnership – and the critical role corporate collaborations play in shaping the educational landscape.  

🎥 Watch interview 

💻 Find out more about our corporate partnerships

Trustee Recruitment Service 🚀  

Diversity on school and trust boards is more than a tick box – it’s a necessity for effective governance. In our latest blog, we explore how to move beyond lip service and foster meaningful representation in trust governance, with a focus on age diversity as a crucial starting point. 

We discuss the importance of rethinking traditional ideas of 'experience', moving away from prioritising decades-long careers in favour of fresh perspectives that bring creativity, disruption, and progressive thinking. By opening the door to younger volunteers and those with less traditional backgrounds, boards can harness the power of new voices to enrich decision-making processes. 

👉 Read the full blog now 

Introduction to Governance webinar 🖥️ 

Are you curious about what it takes to become a school governor? Our Introduction to Governance Webinar is a great place to start. 

Join us to discover what school governance involves, why it’s a rewarding way to give back to your community, and how you can make a meaningful impact in education. If you’re looking to learn more, this session will provide the insights you need to get started. 

📅 Date: Tuesday, 17th December 

⏰ Time: 5pm - 6pm 

📍 Where: Online 

Don’t miss this chance to explore a role that shapes the future of schools and students. 

👉 Register here now 

Supporting academy trusts and schools to deliver effective governance 

With many schools carrying one or multiple vacancies, we want to ensure you have access to the support you need to deliver effective governance. Alongside our free-to-access matching service, we can support you with: 

• Dedicated chair recruitment: Our Chair Recruitment Service sources skilled and experienced professionals through targeted headhunting and proactive outreach. Placed volunteers also get access to chair-specific training and mentorship as they take on their new role.   

• Recruitment for specific skill sets, hard-to-fill vacancies or urgent vacancies: Our Enhanced Recruitment Service uses a range of recruitment tools to engage potential candidates who may not have considered school governance before but have the necessary skills to support your board. 

• Academy trustee recruitment: Our Trustee Recruitment Service sources skilled professionals through corporate and third-sector networks, for robust governance at the highest level of responsibility.   

👉 Discover our services