How do people become governors?

There are several types of governor all with equal status on the governing body:

• Parent governors
  Elected by parents of children at the school (or appointed by the other governors).
• Staff governors
  These include the head teacher (if s/he chooses to be a governor, because of their office). Elected by teaching and non-teaching staff at the school.
• Community governors
  Co-opted by the other governors; often they are local business people or community figures.
• LEA governors
  Appointed by Manchester LEA. Some come from the local political parties, while others are volunteers from the local area with no political affiliation who would like to be a governor.
• Sponsor governors
  A governing body can choose to add up to two people to its number, who are nominated by an organisation or group that provides support to the school in some way either financially or 'in kind' e.g. a parent and toddler group, or the local Sure Start project working to support young children and their families.
• Church or religious schools also have Foundation governors
  Appointed by various religious bodies (e.g. the diocese or PCC).
• Foundation schools (ex-Grant-maintained) also have Partnership governors
  Again, appointed by various bodies or the other governors.