Ask most parents whether they have ever thought about becoming a governor and the answer tends to be some version of the same thing: that they would not be the right person. That there is a particular sort of parent who does this. That you would need to understand school budgets, or national curriculum policy. That everyone else around the table would already know what they were doing.

It is an easy picture to believe. We asked two of our parent governors whether it matched their experience, and what the role is actually like.

As Carolin Schönherr, the new Chair of Governors, explains “Governing is actually shared work. Between us we agree where the school is going, we hold the Headteacher to account for how well it is serving its pupils, and we make sure the money is spent where it does the most good. We do not teach and we do not run the school - that is the role of the Headteacher and the staff. What we do is read the papers, come to the meeting, and ask the questions that occur to us.”

Most people imagine something rather different. Demi Agrotis, parent governor since 2023, comments “I initially expected the role to be largely about representing parents and supporting the school. In reality, it is much more strategic. You gain a real insight into how the school is run, the challenges it faces and the thinking behind key decisions.”

For many parents the sticking point is the word “parent” itself. Tania Tchedaeva, parent governor since 2025, adds “A parent governor is not there to represent their own child; the responsibility is to the school as a whole, balancing the interests of pupils, parents, staff and the wider school community.”

It means that when the board is deciding something, every child in the school has someone in the room thinking about them, not only the children whose parents happen to be governors.

Demi adds “Often, the difference governors make comes from asking the right questions rather than making the decisions ourselves. There have been occasions when governors have challenged a proposal, asked for further evidence or requested greater clarity before a decision is taken. That challenge can lead to a proposal being refined, a different approach being considered or simply a more thoughtful and well-informed decision. For me, that is where governors can add real value, providing support, constructive challenge or a different perspective, while always keeping the best interests of the school and its pupils at the centre.”

The time it takes is less than most people fear. Tania explains “There are four full governing body meetings during the school year and I would allow a few hours before each one to go through the papers. Committee membership involves some additional meetings and preparation, usually less than for the full governing body.” For Demi, “there is a time commitment — preparing for meetings, reading papers and attending committee and governing body meetings — but I have found it very manageable alongside a busy job and family life.”

You do not need a finance background. You do not need to have worked in education. You do not need any previous experience of being a governor. Training is provided and paid for, and the school is a member of the National Governance Association, so its courses and guidance are open to every governor. Every new governor is also paired with an experienced governor as a mentor, so there is someone to ask the questions you would rather not ask in front of a meeting. You would not be doing any of it on your own. What helps is being willing to ask the obvious question when everyone else is nodding, and having time to read the papers before the meeting rather than during it.

Demi concludes “I would absolutely do it again. For any parent considering becoming a parent governor, I would say it is an incredibly rewarding way to understand the school from a different perspective, contribute your own skills and experience, and play a part in shaping the school’s future. It has been a real privilege to give something back to a school that gives so much to its pupils and its community.”

For Tania, “it is about helping to make Latymer stronger for both current and future pupils, while preserving the character and legacy that make the school distinctive.”

Parent governor elections are held when a seat falls vacant, and every parent is written to when one is called. You do not have to wait for that.

If you have read this far, it is probably worth a conversation: write to our Clerk, Mary Pope, at governingbody@latymer.co.uk, and she will put you in touch.

There is no commitment in asking, and if you decide it is not for you, that is a perfectly good answer. If you decide it is, you would be very welcome.