This Thursday marks National School Governors’ Awareness Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the essential role and commitment school governors provide in shaping education.
Despite their significant influence, many people remain unaware of the impact these volunteers have on schools and pupil success.
School governors are responsible for overseeing the management of schools, including reviewing the school’s decisions on budget, policy-making, curriculum and staffing. They work closely with school leaders to ensure that the support provided to pupils is of the highest possible standard. Their role goes beyond governance — it’s about making a tangible difference in education.
Meridian Trust oversees 30 schools and is fortunate to have strong Academy Council bodies across these schools. Governors, or Academy Councillors, come from diverse backgrounds; some are parents of pupils at the school, while others are members of the wider community, and reflect the communities our academies serve.
We spoke to Ryan MacNair, Chair of the Academy Council at Nene Park Academy in Peterborough, who gave us insight into the important work Academy Councillors (our term for Governors) do.
He said, “My role is to lead the Academy Council and ensure that we have the right personnel in place to oversee all aspects of academy life, bringing a wide range of expertise, skills, and experiences — a body that is truly representative of the local community.”
“I am also directly responsible for holding senior leaders to account on the school improvement plan and self-evaluation.”
Ryan has a background in education, which inspired his decision to become an Academy Councillor. “I was keen to see if I could volunteer and contribute to a school. I felt it was the perfect way to help a school and give back to my local community.”
“You don’t have to know everything about schools when you begin; you can pick it up as you go along.”
A significant part of being an Academy Councillor is knowing when to ask the tough questions. Ryan said, “The most important skill is to have the confidence to constructively challenge and ask questions. Each Academy Councillor in Meridian Trust is given a champion role — an area linked to their expertise. This ensures that staff regularly reflect on their processes and systems to make them more robust and better support young people.”
“I would definitely recommend becoming an Academy Councillor. It gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to your community.”
School governors and Academy Councillors are often the unsung heroes of education, ensuring that every child receives the best possible opportunities. This National School Governors’ Awareness Day, take a moment to appreciate their dedication — and if you’re interested in making a difference, consider becoming one yourself.
If you are passionate about education and interested in joining an Academy Council, or you would like just to have a conversation and find out more about the role, you can speak to Meridian Trust’s Governance Lead Sara Glennie by contacting her on governance@meridiantrust.co.uk
