School Governor

About the role

Roundwood Park School in Harpenden is looking for two community governors to join our friendly and supportive Governing Board. The school is a single academy trust rated Outstanding by OFSTED in 2023 and was The Sunday Times Comprehensive School of the Year for the South East 2024. This voluntary role is important, varied and valuable and has a great deal of impact. At our last OFSTED inspection, the report commented “[Governors] hold leaders strictly to account for the quality of the school’s provision and are highly effective.” With a new Headteacher leading the school from September 2025, this is an exciting time to join the Board.

Roundwood Park is an inclusive and welcoming school, and staff work closely with the governors to help every child reach their full potential whilst also enjoying their time with us. “Pupils say that this is a school where everyone’s differences are accepted and everyone is equal” (OFSTED 2023) and this is at the heart of our values: potential, excellence, kindness, inspiration, integrity, and community.

Governors do not need to be experts in the field of education. What they do need is an interest in the school and the welfare of its students and staff, enthusiasm, a commitment to making a positive contribution to the school and having the time available to get involved. Governors work strategically rather than operationally and make visits to support their understanding of the school (curriculum, facilities and resources) as well as getting the views of students and staff. This year governors have also carried out visits to deepen their understanding of the school’s work with local primary schools on curriculum, the wellbeing of students and staff, and improving race equity within the school community.

Governors are vital to the running of the school and they are responsible for developing a vision and strategy for the school; overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure money is well spent; holding the school leader to account to ensure that every student has the best possible education; and engaging with students, staff, parents and the school community to understand their views.

We would welcome applicants from within the geographical area represented by our student body: Harpenden, Redbourn, Markyate, Luton and surrounding villages.

For more information about being a school governor please follow this link to the National Governance Association. Interested in becoming a school governor or trustee? | National Governance Association. We would also encourage you to look at our school website and social media to find out more about our school.

All governors are expected to attend six full governing board meetings per year as well as six committee meetings. Regular meetings are held either after school or in the evenings and are currently a mixture of face to face and virtual. There may be additional meetings if required. Governors are encouraged to make pre-arranged visits to school during the school day, approximately three times per year. You will have access to a full training program and will be supported by our governance professional and a more experienced governor whilst you become familiar with the role and our school. Training can be undertaken via eLearning modules, face to face sessions and online courses. At least once per year we hold a full Board training event – this year it was on Race Equality and Anti-Racism.

If you are interested in this role and would like to find out more please contact our Chair of Governors, Catherine Marke, at governors@roundwoodpark.co.uk, before completing the application form so that we can explore the role and the required commitment further with you.

At Roundwood Park School, we continue to strive to build a diverse and inclusive workplace ensuring that our student body is represented in the staff and governing board and where everyone feels valued. Through our work in the last year with the Great Representation programme and the completion of the Anti-racist School Audit with HFL Education, we are actively committed to ensuring equity and inclusion is a continued priority throughout all things we do. It forms a major element of our school improvement plan in order that the work we do makes a sustained difference for all. We therefore strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups, and are committed to create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard and feels that they belong - a place where everyone can flourish.

A successful appointment will be subject to pre-appointment checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and appropriate references.