As part of the University’s widening participation and social responsibility strategy, our award-winning School Governor Initiative (UMSGI) seeks to provide opportunities, training and support for staff from across the University to become and succeed as school governors to support local schools in Greater Manchester.

A shortage of suitably skilled volunteers on governing boards is recognised as one of the biggest challenges to schools. Over the years, we’ve worked with current staff and our alumni to create a network of governors that are making a difference to schools across the Greater Manchester and beyond.

UMSGI enables schools and colleges to draw on the vast range of skills and experiences that our staff and alumni can bring to a Board of Governors. In turn, it offers unique and rewarding CPD experiences to staff, and a chance to ‘give back’ to our wonderful city region.  We are proud to have supported over 1,000 volunteers through the initiative and currently have 200 members in our network of current and aspiring governors. 

One of our current staff governors has this to say about their experience: “Being a governor has been such a worthwhile role. It’s enabled me to develop my skills in data and report analysis and ability to think strategically; increased my confidence in asking challenging questions and having difficult conversation. I also get to see first-hand the impact excellent educational interventions and pastoral support can have on a young person’s life, especially if their home life has its own challenges. Being able to play a small part in this is hugely rewarding and I’d really encourage colleagues to apply to be a governor”. Roz Webster, Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability Projects Officer and Governor for Safeguarding and SEND at Burnage Academy for Boys.

Alice Littlehailes, head teacher at St Luke’s C of E primary school, said: “I really value the commitment the University gives to developing good governors. Governing is such an important role in schools and what the University does has a profound impact.”

• Watch our Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement thank our School Governors for all their work. 
• Find out more about the work of UMSGI and how we got to 1,000 volunteers on our webpage.
• If you are a staff member interested in learning more about becoming a part of UMSGI, please feel free to contact governors@manchester.ac.uk for more information.