John Ellis is a Conservative local authority governor and chair at the 1,000-pupil Cockburn high school in south Leeds. He started as a parent governor in l986 and is a retired chief superintendent of West Yorkshire police.
What made you want to be a governor?
I wanted to take an interest in my son’s education, so there was a certain amount of self interest. As time went on I felt more and more of a commitment to the children of south Leeds who suffer from lack of ambition which can affect the children, parents and even teachers. It was a commitment to doing what I could to change that.
Has the experience fulfilled your expectations?
Yes, I feel we have been able to influence policy and the hearts and minds of teachers and parents. It is so easy to label these children, who are deprived of the chance to perform as well as those who have everything behind them. It is important to fight against low expectations. We have a successful school because of team enterprise.
What dodon’t you like?
Time commitment grows, with target setting, financial planning, panels and appointing senior staff. But I enjoy giving a little back to the community in which I live.
Those of us who retire early in life have so many different qualities and skills to give back.
What is the biggest, best or worst change you’ve seen during your time as a governor?
I liked the power education authorities used to have to monitor what schools were doing. They provided continuity and were able to get to grips with problems. With a free-for-all there is little central control, schools could go all sorts of different ways, for example purchasing computer systems which are incompatible with each other. The new Education Leeds (which has taken over education services from the city council) is doing a tremendous job to get an overview here.
The best change is in the school. Once we were on a downward spiral, but now we have a first-class head and team, it is full and has pupils queuing to get in.
If you could wave a wand, what would you wish for the school?
I would hope to see some of the children have a better social life, to be well provided at home as well as at school.
Who would be your ideal fantasy governor?
I think some of the best are from modest backgrounds, attending meetings regularly with an admirable commitment and ability to be there at short notice.
