Susan Wood, 43, is a co-opted governor at Pudsey Lowtown primary near Leeds. A housewife with two teenage children who attended the school, she joined the governors 11 years ago and is now the chair.
What made you want to be a governor?
I wanted to be more involved and have a greater knowledge of the school. I was very involved with the PTA and was a classroom helper.
Has the experience fulfilled your expectations?
I didn’t realise how much was involved in running a school, I’ve found it exceptionally interesting.
What dodon’t you like?
I don’t like it when we have to consider reductions in staff or redeployment. I find the finance and curriculum committees fascinating. I like involving new governors and I always make sure that they see the school in action, I take them round myself. We all go out for a regular meal, governors and all the staff, teaching and non-teaching, kitchen staff and the caretaker. It’s so important for governors to meet informally with the staff.
Has it changed you?
It’s made me wiser and probably more organised.
What is the worst change you’ve seen?
The number of initiatives the staff have thrown at them. Teachers still running from one change have to deal with another. More and more teachers are going on supply, because there’s no paperwork. LMS was an improvement, but it was a steep learning curve for governors, and it changes every year.
Where does governing fit into your life?
There are times when it seems to be meetings all the time. I try and keep it all on one night for the head’s sake. It’s satisfying to know you are doing some good, supporting a busy headteacher and the children. It’s such a pleasure to see the achievements of the pupils and the results of the hard work of the staff.
And who or what would you make disappear?
Paperwork.
