Occupation: Development Officer

How long have you been a governor and at which school? Since May 2023 with Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School

What sparked your interest in becoming a school governor? I had been interested for a while as I am very impressed with the way the school is run. The recruitment letter that came out asked for skills in Health and Legal and I have both of them having worked in a legal team for the NHS for 23 years. My biggest motivation, though, was the desire to do something to help my daughter's school and play a part bigger than just being a parent in how she grows, learns and develops.

What do you get out of the role? It is highly rewarding. I have found acceptance and willingness to learn, real heart-warming focus on helping the children, I have been heard, I have been seen and I have already witnessed change.

What have you found the most enjoyable/rewarding? Starting to understand the mechanics and internal workings of the school has given me much greater insight into what is needed to educate children. Reflecting on the growth in my knowledge of everything that goes into the supporting systems to ensure that children have a teacher or more than one in a classroom and get the right level of teaching to enhance their life skills let alone their academic skills has brought me the most reward. Schooling is a significant part if not the most important aspect of a child's development and of helping them to be who they are in the world today. Seeing the way that the children interact and engage in their schooling during the times that we would not normally see it as parents has been incredibly enjoyable and a joy to behold. I am visually impaired and therefore classed as being disabled. One of the most amazing things has been the willingness to change and the desire to redesign where historical processes and systems have not necessarily been inclusive.

What projects have you been involved in? I am on the Resources Committee at the school and am the Governor Lead for Modern Foreign Languages. I am only just getting going in this role but already have been blessed to understand the focus on teaching languages and the approach taken to involve pupil ambassadors and let the children own their own learning and development.

What new or existing skills have you acquired being a governor? I'm learning skills about how to interact professionally with children, a skill that requires consideration of how they see the world and how the school system is set up to deliver understanding of respect, togetherness, consideration and care. I am learning all about the fabulously intricate world of education with all its acronyms and nuances. I'm also learning more about how to implement change in a system not necessarily set up to be fully inclusive due largely to historical design and buildings. Most importantly I am learning how to have the children at the heart of everything we do, including as governors.

Why would you encourage others to be a school governor? It is a very important role to have, being a governor. You can influence, check, challenge and contribute to the development and education of the next generation and you get almost immediate positive feedback from seeing and hearing how the children benefit and receive changes they are engaged in and have been designed or driven by them. The feeling of being useful and part of a team is immeasurable and you get real joy from knowing you are doing your little bit to help shape the future of our children. Do it; it's a task that is fairly easy to manage in a busy lifestyle, as is usually the case with Governors, and it is incredibly rewarding right from the off.