We currently have 2 vacancies for a Parent Governor on the Governing Body of Willow Bank Junior School.  Parents (or guardians with parental responsibility) of children currently attending the school, who wish to stand for election as a Parent Governor, are invited to put their names forward.

A person is disqualified from election or appointment as a Parent Governor if they are an elected member of the local authority (a Councillor) or if they work at the school for more than 500 hours in a consecutive period of 12 months (at the time of their appointment).

We know that parents are interested in the education of their children and share the school’s commitment to ensuring the best possible education and opportunities for our pupils.  One of the most significant ways to build on this is to volunteer to be a Parent Governor.  Parent Governors play an important role in ensuring that the parent viewpoint is represented in decision making.

The main role of the Governing Body is to provide the strategic direction for the school, to hold the headteacher to account and to ensure that the school budget is well spent.  There are two meetings of the full governing body per term covering two committees (Learning & Teaching and Resources), each one starting at 6:00pm and lasting approximately 1.5 hours.  There is an expectation that governors sit on one of the committees and attend occasional training provided by Wokingham Borough Council.

The skills you have could be very useful to our Governing Body (e.g. finance, human resources, IT, health and safety) but above all we look for enthusiasm and commitment to the school’s aims, policies and ethos.  A governor’s term of office is 4 years.

If you are eligible and wish to stand for election as a Parent Governor you should:

1. Complete the nomination form (sent out on Monday 13th March via email).
2. Have your nomination supported by a proposer and a seconder, both of whom are parents of children also attending the school (you may nominate yourself).
3. You may include a brief personal statement for circulation to voters, should a ballot be required.
4. Return the form to the school, clearly marked FAO the Returning Officer, by the closing date and time.

Nomination forms must be received by 4:00pm on Friday 24th March 2023.  No nomination will be accepted after that date and time.  If the number of nominations received does not exceed the number of vacancies, all those nominated will be appointed without a ballot.  If there are more nominations than vacancies, an electronic secret ballot will be held using Microsoft forms.  If you prefer to have a voting paper, please notify the school office by Friday 24th March. Voting papers cannot be issued after this time.

The following timetable will apply, including points 3 to 5 if it is necessary to hold a ballot:

1. Monday 13th March – nomination forms sent via Arbor
2. Friday 24th March at 4:00pm – last day for returning nominations
3. Monday 27th March – electronic ballot sent to parents along with notification of the candidates via Arbor.  Paper copies sent to parents who have notified the school before this date.
4. Thursday 30th March at 4:00pm – last day for submission of vote by electronic ballot or return of ballot papers.
5. Thursday 30th March at 4:05pm – ballot count.