Hear from our volunteers
As we celebrate 25 years of service to school governance, we're putting a spotlight on the volunteers shaping education.
Serena Kern-Libera
Hearing students say, “I didn’t realise such a career path was possible”—that’s when you know the work is making a difference.
As a school governor, I had the privilege of driving change on both strategic and personal levels. During my tenure, we made several critical decisions, including a full restructuring and rebranding of the school, which proved to be transformative. Alongside these larger initiatives, I was keen to prioritise direct engagement with students to understand their needs and aspirations more deeply.
Many of our students came from families where higher education isn’t a common experience. Recognising this, I championed initiatives to bring in role models from diverse career paths—law, science, finance, the arts—providing students with a glimpse into futures they may not have previously imagined. Regular visits to the schools allowed me to connect meaningfully with students and staff alike, asking, “What’s working, and what isn’t?” These types of conversations are instrumental in fostering a school culture that truly supports students from all backgrounds.
One thing that often goes unrecognised is the immense pressure schools and teachers face. They’re expected to manage countless policies, achieve ambitious goals, and cater to individual student needs—all with limited resources. Teachers truly are unsung heroes and supporting them is an essential part of a governor’s role. It’s crucial to ensure that teachers receive the recognition and support they so richly deserve for the vital work they do every day.
Daniel Ingman
At the school where I volunteer, many nearby hotels host asylum seekers, creating a transitional student population. The school has become a safe and grounding place for these children, many of whom speak English as a second language, with a high percentage of their parents also speaking little English. The children learn the language at school and often teach it to their parents at home, creating a strong sense of community, with the school at its centre.
As a school governor, my main focus has been on resourcing – looking at the school’s finances and ensuring any surplus is used to directly benefit the children. We have a large number of students with special educational needs, many of whom are still on waiting lists for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). I’m keen to make sure that any available funds go directly into supporting them, creating opportunities to employ additional teaching assistants and staff where possible. In order to manage the finances well, it’s important that those resources go to the kids who need them most.
Harry Atkinson
Four walls, a desk, and a whiteboard alone doesn’t work for some kids. I was a straight B/C student at best. I always had passion, but I didn’t have an orthodox education background – my father was in the army, and I moved around a lot. I knew there were other children in a similar situation, and I wanted them to feel supported when I became a governor. Our school has a high proportion of Pupil Premium children, many children with autism, and several for whom English is a second language. These students aren’t just learning English, Maths, and Science — they’re also trying to fit in. In the right environment, these kids can thrive; some just need more attention than others because of their background.
School visits have been a great opportunity to see how the teachers interact with the kids, and to connect with them. As a board, we’ve been working to support the teachers and help push the school in the right direction despite challenges with funding. We’ve worked really hard on a four-year budget to keep the school alive. That’s meant cutting certain things but making sure we continue extracurricular activities like our popular cooking class; It’s a place where the children can learn about fresh food and what they should be eating.
Ajay Sharman
My role as a STEM Ambassador was the catalyst for getting involved in school governance, initially taking a Governor role in Parkside community primary school, before becoming a Governor of a secondary school the following year. Back in 2008, I applied to become a governor at the Community College Whitstable – a secondary school facing significant challenges. It was exactly where I wanted to be, contributing to a school that needed support, and from day one, I knew we were embarking on something transformative.
It’s now seventeen years later, and that transformation has been remarkable. One moment that sticks with me is when I bumped into a former student. She said, ‘you really inspired me to look at science and technology differently,’ and now she’s building her own digital marketing company! That’s the kind of impact you dream of having.
Beyond Whitstable, taking on trustee roles at Dartford Science and Technology College has been equally rewarding. Serving on multiple trust boards brings a wealth of strategic insight, and it’s remarkable to see how a well-planned vision can transform schools. Navigating Whitstable’s transition to an academy was one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced as a vice chair and interim chair of governors, but today, the school is thriving – oversubscribed, with better results. Throughout it all, transparency and accountability have been our guiding principles, and I’m proud to say that the tough decisions we made were the right ones.
Kuowei Chang
I’ve been thinking a lot about how to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in engineering and STEM subjects. As a chartered civil engineer, I saw school governance as a great opportunity to engage with young people outside my profession and get to know the UK education system. Since taking on the role, I’ve been working to link the school with resources and opportunities related to STEM education. I’ve shared research opportunities and collaborations from my company and suggested how they can be integrated into the curriculum.
I’ve also valued meeting other school governors from different backgrounds – understanding how they think and learning from their skills. Some have expertise in finance, and it’s impressive how they can look at a report, pick out one figure, and ask a question I hadn’t even considered.
Become a school governor
From overseeing resources to raising aspirations, school governance is a great way to make a tangible impact on education. We'll work to find you a suitable role in your local community.