What is the role of a school governor in a MAT?

Looking for a meaningful way to shape the future of education while developing your own skills? Becoming a school governor could be the perfect opportunity for you.

In this guide, we’ll discuss what a MAT school governor does, the eligibility and what benefits come with joining a governing board.

What is a school governor within a MAT?

A school governor in a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a volunteer who works closely with senior school leaders, helping to ensure the school aligns with the MAT’s overarching vision and strategy.

Unlike maintained school governors, MAT governors play the ‘critical friend’ role, focusing heavily on school improvement and local community representation, rather than high-level financial management, which is handled by trustees.

The different types of school governors

At Forward as One CE MAT, our governance structure includes Members, Trustees and Local Advisory Board (LAB) Members.

Members play a crucial role in safeguarding Trust governance. They are not involved in the day-to-day business of the Trust, instead they act as the guardians of the constitution by ensuring that the governance of the Trust is effective and that Trustees act in accordance with the overarching values. Members can also use their powers to step in if governance was failing.

Trustees are legally responsible for the MAT strategy, finances and legal compliance. Trustees help to ensure the MAT remains true to its values, accountable for performance and help steer it towards continuous improvement.

LAB members are volunteers focused on one school, offering advice and acting as a bridge between the school and its community. They bring local insight, challenge and support to school leaders.

Become a Governor for an FA1 school

What do school governors do?

Governing boards meet regularly to look at the bigger picture of a school and/or trust, reviewing its long-term goals. The core role of a governor includes:

Providing support and constructive challenge to Headteachers
Monitoring educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider school life
Contributing professional skills and life experience
Attending half-termly Local Advisory Board meetings
Helping to ensure every child becomes an enthusiastic, resilient, respectful learner

How much time do I need to commit to being a governor?

Both Trustees and LAB Members attend 6 meetings per year. Approximately 1.5 - 2 hours in length. These meetings are often late afternoon or early evening.

Paperwork for meetings will be sent out at least 7 days prior to any meeting to allow time to read everything in advance.

There may occasionally be additional meetings in line with the School or Trust's needs. Governors may also can also take on specialist roles or sit on committees, such as the Audit and Risk Committee.

Can anybody be a governor?

To be eligible to govern within a trust or school you need:

The time to contribute
Aged 18 or over
Not to be disqualified under the relevant rules and procedures

Who are we looking for?

You don’t need to be an education expert - we welcome applications from all professional backgrounds. If you can ask thoughtful questions, collaborate well, and care deeply about improving opportunities for children, you could be a brilliant fit!

Full training will be provided for all new governors, right from induction to even joining specialist roles. We proudly partner with the National Governance Association, Governor Hub and The Key to help support all our governors and schools.

What will I gain from being a school governor?

Becoming a school governor can be a highly rewarding experience, offering several personal and professional benefits. Some of the main benefits include:

A chance to make a meaningful difference in local schools
Personal and professional development
Using your lived experience and skills to bring a fresh perspective to a governing board
Ensuring voices from different groups and communities are represented.
The opportunity to work alongside dedicated and values driven Trustees, leaders and volunteers

Applying to become a governor

At Forward As One, we’re seeking passionate, community-focused individuals to join our Local Advisory Boards as School Governors.

Governance is central to how we fulfil our mission, and we are looking for people who can bring their experience, insight and commitment to helping our schools flourish.

As a Governor, you will champion the Trust’s values of  Family, Openness, Resilience, Wisdom, Aspiration, Research and Diversity, ensuring they shape the culture and direction of each school.