4^th July 2025

Dear Parents and Carers

ELECTION OF PARENT GOVERNORS

We currently have two Parent Governor vacancies and so must hold an election.

The Governing Body works collectively to support and challenge the school for the benefit of all. Our success is built around a shared commitment to the school bringing a blend of different skills and backgrounds.  The role of the Governing Body is a strategic one with three key functions: overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent; holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.

Parent governors, like all governors, will be most effective if they bring relevant skills and experience, such as finance, as well as the ability to work as part of a team. Parents or anyone who has parental responsibility* for a pupil on the school roll at the time of the election can stand for election**.

All parents can nominate someone for election and can vote in the election. You can also volunteer yourself to stand for election.  Every nomination must be signed by the candidate, stating that they are willing to stand. If you would like more information on eligibility and the role, please see notes below, including a factsheet about becoming a governor at our school. There is information on the role of Governors on the National Association of Governor’s website www.nga.org.uk/Be-a-Governor.

Alternatively, for more information about being a Governor here at Botley School please get in touch with our current Chair of the Governing Body, Sue Miller, by contacting our Clerk, Sarah Holmes (sholmes@acertrust.org.uk).

All nominations should be emailed to the Governing Body Clerk (sholmes@acertrust.org.uk) by 4pm on 16^th July, using the attached nomination form.  Please think about taking on the role, or suggesting someone who would be interested.

We would like to increase the diversity of our Governing Body to better reflect the school and local communities which it serves and make the governing body as effective as it can be.

Yours sincerely, 

Mrs Jo Reid                                                Sue Miller

Headteacher                                           Chair of Governors

* See Appendix 2 Definition of a Parent.** Parents who work at the school for 500 hours or more in any twelve month period – in practice this means any parent who is paid to work more than 12.5 hours per week at the school - are not eligible to be parent governors but they are eligible to vote in parent governor elections.