THE SLEEPING GIANT AWAKES

14 February 2006

What happens when you take the largest group of volunteers in the country, organise them and give them a powerful national voice?

We may soon find out, because on 15 February at Westminster the National Governors’ Association (NGA) is launched (16:00 at the House of Commons). Jacqui Smith, Schools Minister, Lady Howe and Lord Puttnam will all speak to welcome the new organisation. Representing over 300,000 school governors in England and Wales, the new organisation, formed by the merger of two influential groups, aims to ensure that the views of governors will have a new prominence.

The National Governors’ Association has been created to lobby and campaign on behalf of governors, many of whom are also parents. Unlike many of the other powerful groups lobbying in the world of education, the NGA has no vested commercial, political or professional interests other than the well-being and education of the nation’s children. According to Jean McEntire, Chief Executive of the new organisation, “Much of what happens in schools is the responsibility of the governing body and not just the head teacher. For example, school governors are directly responsible for spending many £millions of public money. School governors have been like a sleeping giant. But we’re waking up. For too long we have been ignored and marginalised by successive governments. Not any more. Our new organisation aims to give governors an equal voice with the various teacher unions and professional associations”.

Membership of the NGA is open to every single governor, governing body and local school governor association. Jean’s enthusiasm for the new organisation is infectious, "We have a well organised structure which gives us a unique position to quickly canvass and represent the views of governors nationally”.

“Over a third of our members are parents. We believe the time is long overdue for politicians to really listen to the voice of the people and parents who are actively engaged in supporting the education of our children,” says Jean, ”Which is why we have come to Westminster as part of out launch programme. The NGA is actively campaigning on a number of issues including healthy school meals, fire safety in schools and the provision of appropriate insurance for school governing bodies”.

Lady Howe is President Elect of NGA. She founded the first national organisation for governors 35 years ago.

Lord Puttnam will emphasise the importance of the role of governors in implementing many of the provisions of the White Paper.

The parliamentary reception is hosted by Liberal Democrat MP Andrew Stunell. From now on governors will be setting the agenda, not just reacting to it.

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