Schools across the Diocese of Truro have vacancies for governors and trustees. Do you have the skills to help improve the education of young people?

Sue Morrish is a governor who gives her time to two schools, St Mellion and St Dominic. Sue has been on the board of governors for almost five years and has been chair of the board for the last four years.

Sue became a governor within weeks of retiring. “My husband and I had downsized and moved into the village where my daughter lived. My grandson went to the local school and one day my daughter turned up with a letter. The school was looking for governors and my daughter pointed out that the skills they were after was just what I had!”

Sue had spent the last ten years working as a manager in an economic development enterprise agency. “I had business, strategic and management skills and they were easily transferable although the school context is very different to business and I had to learn the language and all the acronyms!”

“We take care of business”

Sue’s abilities were quickly utilised and she became vice chair of personnel before becoming chair of the governors a year later. Sue is very clear what the role of the governing body is. “We are there to take care of business and the better we do that, the better position the school is in to take care of teaching.”

While all schools are different, Sue currently chairs a board meeting once a term and all board members sit on two or three of the committees but Sue is keen to point out it isn’t all work!

“I get the fun bits of it all really”

“I am very hands on so I do give a lot of time. I think it is important to be visible and I do get a lot out of it. I try to go to all the events and I get to judge competitions and take part in Christmas lunches. I get the fun bits of it all really.”

Sue says the children are the highlights. “One day I was doing my shopping and suddenly I felt this tug on my arm and when I looked down there was this little boy. He was probably about six years old and he said to me ‘hello miss! I know who you are!’”

Her advice to anyone considering becoming a governor: “Do it, you will love it! Take all the training offered to you even if you think you know how to do it.

“School is all about giving a good education to children”

“When you retire, you have a lot of skills and it’s really good to continue using them and sharing them. I am proud that I have been able to use my business skills as chair of the board of governors to ensure our meetings run formally in a business-like way. If the governing board runs well, the school runs better and the school is all about giving a good education to children.

“Ultimately, it’s about providing a school that will give the best teaching and learning experience for the children and if you can understand that, you’ll make a good governor.”

For more information on becoming a governor or trustee, click here or email Clare Kendle, education governance lead.