Become a Governor

Do you want to contribute to your community and make a difference to children’s lives? Become a Governor at River Learning Trust.

Every child in our community deserves the best start in life. At River Learning Trust (RLT), we believe that excellent education is built on strong, diverse communities. You don't need to be an education expert to help us achieve this, you just need the drive to make a difference. 

Why YOU Should Be a Governor at RLT

Becoming a school governor within RLT is a unique opportunity to make a real, lasting impact. It’s an investment of your time that pays off directly in the lives and futures of thousands of children across our schools.

[Find out more from some of our exisiting governors]

What's in it for you?

• Personal Growth & Fulfilment: Experience the deep satisfaction of knowing you have helped our pupils and staff do the very best they can.
• Expand Your Network: Connect and collaborate with a positive, skilled, and ambitious team of leaders from diverse professional fields.
• Professional Development: Gain invaluable board-level leadership experience at any stage of your career, developing crucial skills in strategic planning, teamwork and risk management.
• Community Impact: Bring your unique lived experience and skills to the table, ensuring that the diverse voices of our local communities are truly heard and represented.

Your questions answered

What is a school Governor within RLT?

As a school governor, you are a vital volunteer leader. Working as part of a local governing body, you are responsible for setting the school's strategic direction, holding the Headteacher to account, and overseeing the school's financial performance. You work collaboratively with the wider Trust to ensure excellent educational outcomes for all students and a safe and secure environment in which everyone can thrive.

What commitment is expected?

Generally, governors commit to attending 6-10 meetings per year (evening or after-hours), plus some reading and termly school visits. The average time commitment is 5-8 hours per month.

Do I need experience/training?

No! We actively seek people from all walks of life. RLT provides comprehensive free training tailored to your role, covering everything from induction to finance to health and safety.

What skills are you looking for?

We value skills in Finance, Health and Safety, Marketing, Digital, Safeguarding and Strategy but above all, we need commitment, curiosity and a passion for your local community.

What is it like being a Governor at RLT?

"The support of the trust I've been really impressed by. It's very advantageous to be us being a trust where there are other schools in the local area... The training is run really well and really efficiently. It's all online and it's all in the evening time. So, if you're juggling working and being a carer... it's very easy to fit that in around your other responsibilities."

"I really like being part of a community, the school community and the governor community. There's so many different people who join to be a governor and they all bring different things to the table..."

"If you have the time to spare then you can provide a great service to the school... and as well you'll develop your own ability to think strategically which can have a positive effect on your personal life and your career."

Ready to begin?

To find out more about being a governor at RLT, please get in touch directly with Louise Askew, Head of Governance and Compliance via email.