Reflections on Eight Years as Parent Governor at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy

Reflections on Eight Years as Parent Governor at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy

This post isn’t really about technology or data. My term as parent governor at St Edmunds Catholic Academy has recently ended, and after two terms and eight years in the role, I would like to share some reflections on the experience.

Firstly, as I approach the end of my term on the governing body, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at St Edmund’s for their support over the last eight years. It has been a privilege to work alongside the headteacher, senior leaders, fellow governors and the wider school community. I have always appreciated the trust placed in me and the collaborative spirit with which the school carries out its mission. The dedication of the staff and leadership team is evident in everything they do, and it has been an honor to play a small role in that journey. Although I was not re-elected this time, I remain extremely proud of the progress the academy has made, and I will continue to take a keen interest in its future. And who knows, maybe I’ll be back someday when our youngest kids are in need of high school

How can I get involved?

While our eldest was preparing to start secondary school in 2016 and 2017, I was still fairly new to Wolverhampton and didn’t know the local schools at all. So, like most parents, I started doing some research. St Edmund’s continues to appear as a strong and well-respected school. After attending an open evening and doing the usual visits, we completed our application. And we were finally offered a place at St Edmund’s

That’s probably a topic for another post, as the admissions process today is much more stressful than when I was in school. You don’t apply; You just went to a school in your catchment area. Nowadays, it is a competitive and stressful experience for parents and children, and navigating it can feel like a challenge in itself.

But I digress.

So how do I become a parent governor? I was looking at the school’s website, getting ready to start it, and I saw that they needed a parent governor for their board. I really wanted to get an insight into how this school would operate and I thought this was an excellent opportunity to influence the school our children would most likely attend. So I wrote a letter to the Chair of Governors. There is some kind of general election. I was the only candidate, and in lieu of any competition, I was appointed

Taking on the role of parent governor turned out to be an invaluable opportunity, not only to understand how other organizations operate, but also to bring my skills and experience as a business owner into a completely different environment that would have a long-term impact on the children’s education. Throughout my time at St Edmunds, I was involved in setting the school’s strategic direction, researching academic performance, overseeing finances, participating in staff recruitment, supporting and challenging the principal, and occasionally sitting on panels for permanent exclusions and disciplinary matters.

I’m not going to lie: I really enjoyed it all.

Whatever the case, no matter how complicated the discussion, I always try to keep one question in mind, perhaps the most important question:

What is best for the children at this school?

Every decision, every examination, and every debate ultimately comes back to that single principle. It is the anchor that guides the governor’s contributions and the measure against which each recommendation is judged.

People often say that being a school governor is the same as being a non-executive director, and I think that’s a fair comparison. Serving as parent governor at St Edmund’s feels like a NED role in many ways. It’s not about the day-to-day running of the school; it’s about strategic oversight, financial management, good governance, and holding the leadership team to account in a constructive and supportive way. Like a NED, you work at the board level, shaping long-term direction while making sure everything ties back to the mission—except in this case, the mission is the education and well-being of young people.

The main difference, of course, is that governors are volunteers serving public service purposes and not commercial purposes. However, the seriousness of responsibility and commitment required is almost the same.

What is next?

Even though my term as parent governor is almost over, I am already thinking about other ways to continue contributing to society. Through my involvement in the Charity IT Leaders group, I discovered many organizations were looking for trustees with a technology or data background. There is a huge demand for people who understand the digital landscape and can help charities navigate it safely and strategically.

I’ll be taking a short break first, mainly to focus on planning the new financial year for gethynellis.com, but I fully expect to return to voluntary governance in one form or another. If your charity is looking for a trustee with experience in data, technology or digital strategy, or if you are looking for a non-executive director with leadership and technology skills, please contact us.

My eight years at St Edmunds have been a privilege, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a school that plays such an important role in my children’s education. This is an experience I will take with me, and I am proud to have been a part of it.

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