Information on Loughborough

Praise for long serving school governors

Posted on 17/03/2010

Leicestershire Councty Council

17 March 2010

Praise for long serving school governors

Photo Opportunity: School governors from all over the County will be thanked for serving their local communities at a special reception hosted by Roger Wilson, the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council.  The event is taking place at County Hall on Tuesday 23rd March at 5.30pm.

Mr Wilson will be presenting certificates to 46 school governors who have each served in Leicestershire schools for over twenty years, giving a total of over 1,000 years of voluntary service for the benefit of our children.  Some of them have been school governors for over thirty years.

Roger Wilson, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said:

"The role of a school governor has changed dramatically over the last twenty years.  When some of the governors were first appointed the responsibilities were far less onerous than today.  It is to the credit of these governors that they have responded and answered the challenges posed in the ever changing world of education.  They provide strategic leadership to our schools, working together with Head Teachers and also respresent their communities. Congratulations and well done to them all!"

School governors help to raise standards and assist with recruitment, business management and work with Ofsted.  They can influence important decisions, give something back to society and help pupils to reach their  full potential.

Don Wix, Chair of Governors at Garendon High School in Loughborough, became a school governor in 1975 and has been chair of governors for 20 years.  He said:

“It is good that the local authority  is recognising the long service of governors in Leicestershire.  During my time as governor, I have witnessed huge change and an ever increasing responsibility placed on governing bodies.  Despite this, I have found my time of being a governor an incredibly rewarding experience.  I feel one of the greatest benefits we can bring to a school  is the experience we have built over the many years we have served.  I am pleased that this awards reception will raise the profile of volunteering and that the public will be made aware of the considerable contribution made by so many people.”

If you would like to become a school governor and want to find out more, please visit: www.leics.gov.uk/governors or call 0116 305 6435.