Governors are often called 'critical friends', but we are not directly involved in the day-to-day running of the school. Our role is to build a supportive but challenging relationship with the headteacher, looking at all aspects of children's learning and wellbeing, and taking strategic decisions in the light of objective data. We ensure that policies are in place and are monitored, and work to make the school an inclusive, fair and healthy place for children to learn and thrive. Governors sit on committees to oversee the school in more detail, and report to the full Governing Board. Both committees and the full Governing Board meet approximately twice a term.

Lowther's team is small, but we can expand it to fit defined needs. The core membership is the Head teacher and a staff representative, plus one LA Governor and 2 Parent Governors, who serve for 3 years. The rest of the team is currently made up of 8 Co-opted Governors, whose skills fit the set we feel we need, in order to support and challenge the school effectively. They may serve for up to 4 years, or for a predetermined project-based term. We are also able to invite people with skills on which we would like to draw for a short or longer period to be Associate Governors.

We invite people who would like to know more, who have skills we have identified (see below) and who are interested in working with Lowther Governors, or in applying to become a Governor when there is a vacancy, to register an interest and leave contact details with the Clerk to the Governors Sharon Day: s.day@lowther.richmond.sch.uk

Anyone who joins the Governing Board needs to be able to attend meetings and be committed to the school's ethos and progress, to have good inter-personal skills, be willing to be trained, and to have an appropriate level of literacy in English and appropriate level of numeracy to understand basic data.