Understanding Governance - roles & responsibilities

We have a statutory role in the governance and leadership of more than 120 schools, and through our parish network we know that church members serve as governors and trustees in hundreds more settings.

When we appoint trustees and governors we ask them to promote the Church of England’s Vision for Education. It is our strong desire that all children should flourish and be fulfilled, each in their own unique and individual way. We want schools to be places of rich endeavour where the God-given gifts of every child can be revealed.

To do this we need partners with a wide range of skills and experience. We need high performing professionals looking for a non-executive role that will challenge and stretch them, so we might look for people with careers in finance, law, property and HR, for instance. We need education leaders who are ready to contribute in a new way, bringing their insights and experience to support and challenge colleagues. We need community and social leaders who can speak for their context and bring rigorous local accountability.

Great trustees and governors certainly don’t always come from professional careers or have high level academic qualifications, we want to talk to anyone with a passion for promoting the vision for education and the capacity to fulfil the core work of governors and trustees:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation

Training & Support

To support great governance the diocese offers a range of training and support, we also convene governor, trustee and governance officer networks, and conduct reviews of governance.

If you would like find a vacancy on a Governing Body or Trust Board near you, email us and we will signpost you to the nearest school/trust that have a vacancy.