Governor Governing Body - Volunteer

The Orchard School, Canterbury

• Ref:KCC886-7062-274S
• Posted:13/02/2026
• Pay:N/A
• Start Date:ASAP
• App Close Date:13/03/2026 at 08:00
• Interviews:TBC

Advert

The Orchard School are seeking volunteer governors for the following roles:

• Local Authority (LA) Governor
• Community Governor 

Our governors provide a wealth of vision, ethos and strategic direction to our school as a whole.  As a governor you will be a volunteer who makes a vital contribution to the success of the school.

School governors provide three main aims:

• helping to set out long-term plans for the school, decide where improvements need to be made and how to make them.
• look at the quality of education being offered and ensures the head is doing everything possible to improve results.
• examine budgets and spending proposals to monitor whether the school is getting value for money and ensure the money is spent in the right areas.

No qualifications are required to become a volunteer governor, however the most important qualities for a governor are commitment to the welfare and achievement of the children, a desire to make a positive contribution to the school, common sense, and a willingness to commit to the role. Many of the functions of the governing body are statutory, or have a legal framework.  To carry out our core strategic roles, governors need to be able to think strategically, challenge, monitor, but also support.

As a school governor you will become part of our school community and bring with you your strengths and knowledge which will become crucial to the running of our school.  Full training is available to all our governors either in person or online which enables our governors to develop their knowledge of the school and what will be expected of them.

Our Full Governing Board commit to six evening meetings per academic year (usually one meeting per term) from 6-8pm. A governor is expected to complete a term of office for a minimum of four years.

We welcome governors from a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and experience to join our team.  You must be 18 or over to apply and all governors will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DSB) checks.  If you would to find out more about our school and our governors, please visit The Orchard School website. 

The experiences of a governorship look great on any CV, and can create career opportunities in the future.

If you would like to apply for this interesting and vital role as a voluntary school governor, please contact the school direct on Tel: 01227 769220 or email Nicki.Cox@theeducationpeople.org  

Information about the school

The Orchard School is a cross-phase special school for primary and secondary-aged pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, often alongside associated learning difficulties.

We are proud to be a Therapeutic Thinking and Inclusive school community, guided by The Orchard Way, where relationships come first, behaviour is understood as communication, and every pupil is supported to grow and thrive.

At The Orchard School, Everyone Matters, Everyone Cares. Our Mission, Vision and Values are at the heart of everything we do-shaping our approach to learning, support and personal development. We are committed to nurturing pupils’ social, emotional and mental health through trust, belonging, aspiration, voice, pride and curiosity.

Our pupils come from across East Kent and beyond. They are supported by a dedicated team who work closely with families, professionals and each other to ensure every learner feels safe, valued and empowered to succeed.

We are on an exciting journey of continuous improvement. Join us as we grow together-through compassion, clarity and purpose.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Cherith Stibbe
• Address:Cambridge Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3QQ
• Telephone: 01227 769220
• Email: cstibbe@orchard.kent.sch.uk

Fax: 01227 781589