Havering Council Seeks School Governors Havering 2026 

Key Points

• Havering Council has launched a new drive to recruit more school governors, seeking people with different experiences and from all walks of life to sit on school boards and get involved in the day-to-day life of the borough’s schools.​
• Lorraine Earle, a school governor for 15 years and chair of governors for The Aspire Learning Federation (governing Elm Park Primary and RJ Mitchell Primary Schools in Hornchurch), began as a parent-governor when her child entered reception at Elm Park Primary School.​
• Lorraine Earle stated: “At that point, I had little understanding of what the role entailed – my only frame of reference for school life was my own experience as a primary school pupil.”​
• Lorraine Earle, from a financial background, has developed additional skills through training covering wellbeing, special educational needs and other key areas of school governance.​
• In 2014, Lorraine Earle became chair of governors for Elm Park Primary School, which joined forces with RJ Mitchell Primary School in 2022; the schools are run separately but share expertise.​
• Lorraine Earle said: “I do love it. My husband thinks this is my job. It is interesting to see the children developing and getting the best outcomes for them.”​
• Lorraine Earle added: “Governance requires considerable time and dedication but is very rewarding – the more actively you participate, the more visible the benefits become – both for the school and for your own development as a governor. There are plenty of opportunities to upskill and to gain more knowledge.”​
• School governors deal with complaints, exclusions, finances, and staff performance, making people with different skills important.​
• Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “To be a school governor, you need to be committed and open to a challenge. Beyond this and the paperwork to read, governors are able to contribute fully to school life and in return they will find the role both rewarding and fulfilling.”​
• To find out more, contact the Havering Governor Services Manager on 01708 433879 or the Havering Volunteer Centre for volunteering roles.​
• A previous recruitment drive in 2022 coincided with National School Governors’ Awareness Day on 22 February 2022, seeking people from different backgrounds for roles in human resources, communications, and management.
• As reported by the London Borough of Havering website, Councillor Robert Benham, then Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “Being a school governor is an important part of school life and we’d like to tap into the wealth of talent and skills we have in the borough and share them with our schools. It will give local people the opportunity to develop themselves in a new area and they will see the benefits they can make to the leadership of a school and to the borough.”
• Anyone over 18 can apply for governor roles, with past events including virtual days on recruiting governors, workload, and wellbeing; contact [email protected] for discussions.​
• School governing bodies must include at least two parent governors, the headteacher, one staff governor, and one local authority governor, plus co-opted governors as needed, with a minimum of seven members under government legislation reconstituted by September 2015.​
• Governing bodies focus on enabling and supporting the headteacher to provide the best education, through meetings, committees, and visits to talk to children, staff, and headteachers.​
• Schools like Benhurst Primary School actively seek governors to play important roles in school life.​
• Opportunities exist for volunteering as school governors across Havering schools via platforms like Escape the City.​

Havering, London (East London Times) March 16, 2026 – Havering Council is actively urging parents and community members to step forward as school governors amid a fresh recruitment campaign aimed at bolstering local school boards. The initiative, highlighted across multiple sources including the council’s official website and local media, emphasises the need for diverse skills to support the borough’s educational landscape. This drive builds on previous efforts, positioning governance as a vital volunteer role open to those over 18 from varied backgrounds.

Who Is Leading the Recruitment Drive?

Havering Council has spearheaded the latest campaign, launching a “new drive for school governors” as detailed on their official website. The push seeks individuals

“with different experiences and from all walks of life”

to engage in the day-to-day operations of borough schools. This follows a similar 2022 recruitment coinciding with National School Governors’ Awareness Day on 22 February 2022, where the council aimed to raise awareness of governance contributions to children’s lives.

Councillor Oscar Ford, the current Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, is at the forefront, articulating the commitment required. As reported on the London Borough of Havering website, Councillor Ford stated:

“To be a school governor, you need to be committed and open to a challenge. Beyond this and the paperwork to read, governors are able to contribute fully to school life and in return they will find the role both rewarding and fulfilling.”

Previously, in 2022, Councillor Robert Benham, then Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families, echoed this sentiment:

“Being a school governor is an important part of school life and we’d like to tap into the wealth of talent and skills we have in the borough and share them with our schools. It will give local people the opportunity to develop themselves in a new area and they will see the benefits they can make to the leadership of a school and to the borough.”

What Does a School Governor Do in Havering?

School governors in Havering handle a broad spectrum of responsibilities, from addressing complaints and exclusions to overseeing finances and evaluating staff performance.

As outlined on the council’s site, “people with different skills are important” due to this diverse workload. Governing bodies, slimmed down under 2015 government legislation, must comprise at least seven members: at least two parent governors, the headteacher, one staff governor, one local authority governor, and additional co-opted governors as necessary.

Specific examples include The Aspire Learning Federation, governing Elm Park Primary and RJ Mitchell Primary Schools in Hornchurch, which operate separately but share expertise.

At Scotts Primary School, governors—comprising parent, staff, headteacher, co-opted, and local authority members—focus on supporting the headteacher through meetings, committees, and school visits to engage with children and staff. Their primary goal is “providing the best education possible for the children.” Benhurst Primary School similarly highlights governors’ “important role in the life of the school.”

Why Are Diverse Skills Needed for School Governors?

The council explicitly calls for

“people from different backgrounds and with different experiences”

to contribute in areas like human resources, communications, and management. This diversity ensures comprehensive oversight, as governors tackle complex issues requiring varied expertise. Lorraine Earle exemplifies this, bringing a financial background enhanced by training in wellbeing and special educational needs.

Councillor Ford underscores the challenge: governors must navigate paperwork while contributing meaningfully. Past drives, like the 2022 initiative, targeted skills to “improve the lives of children and young people.” Platforms such as Escape the City list Havering governor roles as skilled volunteer opportunities, reinforcing the need for broad talents.

What Do Current Governors Say About the Role?

Lorraine Earle, with 15 years’ experience and chair since 2014 at Elm Park Primary (merged governance with RJ Mitchell in 2022), shared her journey on the Havering Council website. As reported there, she began as a parent-governor:

“I began my governance journey as a parent-governor when my child entered reception at Elm Park Primary School. At that point, I had little understanding of what the role entailed – my only frame of reference for school life was my own experience as a primary school pupil.”

Earle enthused:

“I do love it. My husband thinks this is my job. It is interesting to see the children developing and getting the best outcomes for them. Governance requires considerable time and dedication but is very rewarding – the more actively you participate, the more visible the benefits become – both for the school and for your own development as a governor. There are plenty of opportunities to upskill and to gain more knowledge.”

Her story highlights personal growth alongside school benefits.​

How Can You Become a School Governor in Havering?

Interested individuals should contact the Havering Governor Services Manager on 01708 433879 for details on vacancies. The Havering Volunteer Centre offers guidance on governance and other volunteering. In 2022, applicants over 18 were invited to virtual events on recruitment, workload, and wellbeing, with emails to [email protected] for team discussions, providing name, contact number, and preferred times.

Schools like those in the Learning Federation and others maintain active boards, with co-opted governors like Cllr Mandy Anderson and Mr Mark Borrell serving terms. Jobs Go Public lists related education roles, though governor positions are volunteer-based. Escape the City promotes these as zero-salary volunteer gigs to “support education.”

What Training and Benefits Do Governors Receive?

Training is extensive, covering “all elements of school governance including wellbeing, special educational needs and other key areas,” as per Earle’s experience. This allows skill development, making the role fulfilling for personal and professional growth. Councillor Benham noted opportunities to “develop themselves in a new area.” Active participation yields “visible benefits,” with upskilling chances aplenty.

Is There Ongoing Demand for Governors in Havering Schools?

Yes, demand persists, with the March 2026 drive renewing calls amid past campaigns. Schools like Newtons, Scotts, and Benhurst detail structures needing core and co-opted members. The council’s repeated initiatives, from 2022 to now, signal continuous vacancies to harness local talent for school leadership.

This recruitment underscores Havering’s commitment to robust school governance, inviting community involvement to shape education. With contact points readily available, the borough positions itself to benefit from untapped skills.