It’s National School Governors Day on February 12 – but what does governance include and can you really make a difference?
When James Wright, a parent at Borrow Wood Primary School, first considered becoming a trustee at the Odyssey Collaborative Trust, he wasn’t sure he was the right fit.
After all, he’d spent his career at Severn Trent Water leading IT and change projects — not working in classrooms.
“I really had no background in education,” he says. “But that’s exactly what the Trust told me: don’t be put off. They want people with different life experiences and different perspectives.”
Four years on, James is now approaching the renewal of his term — and says becoming a trustee has been one of the most interesting, challenging and rewarding things he has ever done.
A role for real people, not education specialists
Trustees don’t run schools. Instead, they provide oversight: checking that leaders are following the right processes, managing money responsibly, and making decisions that benefit children across all schools in the Trust.
“It’s not an operational role,” James explains. “Our job is to make sure the Trust is being run in the right way. None of us are education experts — that’s not what you’re there for.”
The Trust provides training, support and clear steps for every major decision.
“It was a steep learning curve, but a supported one,” he says. “And you’re never doing it alone — there’s healthy debate, different personalities, and you always come to a consensus.”
Making an impact — without a huge time commitment
One of the biggest myths, James says, is that trusteeship takes over your life.
“It really doesn’t,” he insists. “Our main board meetings are quarterly. There are some additional meetings, but it’s all manageable — especially because we’re not involved in day-to-day operations.”
And as Trustees he gets to be part of decisions which make a real difference, such as the Trust Reserve Pooling, which changes the way school finances work, reserve money to be pooled together and allocated to specific projects within schools which they may otherwise have not been able to afford.
“I really do feel like that will make a tangible positive impact for the schools and children,” he said.
Each trustee also acts as a link with a school in the Trust to which they are allocated. James works with Asterdale Primary School, another Trust school in Spondon.
“It keeps you grounded in the real setting while still thinking about the whole Trust, not just your own child’s school,” he says.
Skills for life — and your career
Being a trustee is not only a way to give back. It’s also a professional development opportunity. Since taking on the role, James has become Managing Director of Creative Business Solutions in Derby.
“Trustees are directors of the company — that’s a significant role,” James says. “It has stretched me, given me new skills, and even helped me in my career. People see it as a sign of the kind of person you are.”
He recalls supporting the Trust through Ofsted inspections, helping with decisions on finance and estates, and contributing to Trust-wide strategies.
“You really do feel you’re making an impact,” he says. “Seven people around a table, making decisions that shape children’s lives — that’s powerful.”
Why the Trust needs more people like you
Like many organisations nationally, Odyssey Collaborative Trust is seeking new trustees and governors.
James’s message to anyone considering it is simple: “You absolutely don’t need to be an expert. If you care about children’s education and you’ve got a perspective on life, you have something valuable to offer.”
Ian Dewes, Chief Executive Officer of Odyssey Collaborative Trust said there are several myths around school governors which he thinks need busting.
“There’s a long-standing myth that parents pursue personal agendas,” said Ian. “In reality, we’ve found the opposite. Parents usually go out of their way not to discuss anything related to their own child to avoid the appearance of bias. What they do bring is a powerful mix of professionalism, community insight, and a deep commitment to ensuring every child succeeds. Parents are the beating heart of our governance structure, they’re not just stakeholders—they’re partners. We have parents involved at every tier: one trust member, two trustees, and typically two parent governors on each local governing board.”
Ian is keen for more parents and others in the community to step forward and become governors or trustees.
“Governance thrives when the right people are in the right roles – it is not one-size-fits-all. Some volunteers want the hands-on experience of supporting a single school, seeing rapid change and building relationships in one community. Others prefer a strategic role across multiple schools where decisions have a system-wide impact.”
This article was written by Kirsty Green on behalf of Odyssey Collaborative Trust. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
