GOVERNORS are overwhelmed by the workload resulting from government initiatives, but are reluctant to give up responsibilities because of their passionate enthusiasm for their schools.
They are dismayed by having to explain to teachers why exclusions of pupils have been overturned by independent appeals panels, and are worried about the impact on youngsters of long-term staff absence or vacancies.
They sometimes find themselves caught in the middle of conflicts between heads and local education authorities - and resented by both.
These are the findings of a report based on the first year of calls to a new helpline for governors.
Governorline, run by the Teacher Support Network, which runs a similar helpline for teachers, has taken more than 7,000 calls since January 2001.
Most of the calls (2,500) were about governor roles and responsibilities, followed by teachers and staffing (1,500). But there were very few (150) regarding parents, despite governors’ role in liaising with the local community and concerns about violent parents.
Callers came from a representative spread of primary, secondary, and special schools.
Governors, 28-29
See www.governorline.info for copies of the report. Helpline: 08000 722181
