Types of governor

A governing body will be made up of different numbers and categories of governors, depending on the category of school (ie community, voluntary aided, foundation).

The number of governors in each category will be specified in the Instrument of Government. The different categories of governor are as follows:

parent governors - elected by other parents and carers of children at the school (but may be appointed if insufficient people stand for election)
staff governors - elected by teaching and support staff paid to work at the school. This category also includes a reserved place for the headteacher
community governors - appointed by the governing body to represent community interests; those who have expressed interest in becoming a governor either by completing an application form (word) or by having their application referred by the school governors' one stop shop
local authority governors- appointed by the local authority, having been recommended by the political parties represented on the council
foundation governors - (not on community schools) appointed by the school's founding body, church or other organisation named in the school's instrument of government
partnership governors - (foundation schools only) these replaced foundation governors if the school does not have a founding body. The governing body requests parents of registered pupils at the school, staff, community organisations and other local bodies, as the governing body thinks is appropriate, to put forward names of suitable persons to serve as partnership governors, who are then elected at a meeting of the full governing body.
sponsor governors - discretionary category appointed by the governing body from individuals who have made significant (financial) contributions to the school
additional governors – may be appointed by the local authority to support a governing body where the school has gone into 'special measures'
associate members - (not governors) appointed by the governing body to attend committee meetings and / or full governing body meetings due to their particular skills or experience

The term of office can be different for different categories of governor, but not for individuals within a category. It can be a minimum of one to a maximum of four years.

For more information, see the volunteering as a school governor section.