Become a Governor

About Barnet and Southgate College

We’re a large college in London with over 13,000 students, delivering hundreds of courses across four campuses. Joining us means being part of a large and vibrant community.

What’s paramount to us is being in line with the needs of our local economy and working closely with strategic partners to adapt the content of courses to ensure it’s relevant to employers and university progression.

We offer a broad range of full and part time courses in: A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, foundation degrees, technical and professional qualifications, vocational training, work skills training, apprenticeships plus education and employment pathways for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

​Responsibilities of the governing body

The Governing Board is responsible for the strategic direction and financial health of Barnet and Southgate College, the employment of the CEO and senior staff, and the framework for the employment of College staff.

As a Governor, you will be helping Barnet and Southgate College to work towards its long term vision through the achievement of short term plans and goals.

The Governing Body has formed the following committees and working groups to assist with the achievement of its responsibilities:

  • Audit Committee
  • •Search and Governance Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Quality, Teaching and Student Experience Committee
  • Property Strategy Steering Group

​Role of a Governor volunteer

The total membership of the Governing Body is ‘up to’ 20 Governors. Of these, 15 are independent external individuals, 2 are staff, 2 are students and the CEO is also a Governor. In addition, sub committees may also have co-optees. These are individuals with specialist skills and experience.

Click here to see full details of the membership of the current Governing Body.

Governors are expected to:

  • Attend and participate in meetings of the Governing Body
  • Contribute as a member of at least one committee (which meets at least one per term)
  • Attend and participate in training sessions
  • Participate in a range of governor development activities and, in particular, become knowledgeable about the teaching, learning and student experience at the College
  • Act as an ambassador for Barnet and Southgate College within the local, regional and, on occasion, national settings

Governors are required to:

  • Complete and maintain a register of Interests
  • Accept and observe the requirements of the Governor’s Code of Conduct
  • Declare that they are eligible to be a governor
  • Comply with DBS checking procedures
  • Hold the Executive Officers to account

​What personal qualities are required for being a College Governor?

The following personal qualities are required to fulfil the role of a Governor at Barnet and Southgate College:

  • A strong interest in further education and training and determination to improve student success
  • A knowledge of the local geographical area, including its socio-economic, social and political character
  • An ability to understand complex matters relating to public education and training policy, College planning, and College performance
  • An ambition for Barnet and Southgate College
  • An ability to form effective working relationships with fellow Governors and with College students, staff and stakeholders
  • An ability to scrutinise, challenge and actively support the work of the senior staff at the College
  • An ability to contribute to a learning Governing Body by example
  • A desire to work hard as a volunteer Governor for the benefit of Barnet and Southgate College and the Governing Body
  • A willingness to act honestly, openly and with integrity

As a volunteer Governor, the role can be very worthwhile and enjoyable but, a times difficult and testing of your drive and commitment to Barnet and Southgate College and its students and staff. and Southgate College and its students and staff.

Some Governors have commented on the value of their personal development and advancement through volunteering for the role of Governor and how this has helped them with progression in work and other aspects of life.

​Governor vacancies

From time to time vacancies arise for the Governors on the Governing Body. Indeed, the Governing Body is keen to maintain a balance of experienced and newer Governors to gain the full benefit of such a mix.

If you would like to be considered as a Governor, you should contact the Director of Governance in the first instance for an informal discussion.

In due course, potential governors are required to meet with members of the Search and Governance Committee which is charged with the responsibility of matching potential Governors against the personal qualities and professional experience required and the role description for a Governor. If successful, the Search and Governance Committee will recommend your appointment to the Governing Body. A term of office as a Governor is four years, re-tenable once.

​Person ineligible to be Governors

Extract from the Instrument and Articles of Government:

  1. No one under the age of 18 years may be a member, except as a student member.
  2. The Clerk may not be a member.
  3. A person who is a member of staff of the institution may not be, or continue as, a member, except as a staff member or in the capacity of Chief Executive.
  4. Paragraph (3) does not apply to a student who is employed by the Board in connection with the student’s role as an officer of a students’ union.
  5. Subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), a person shall be disqualified from holding, or from continuing to hold, office as a member, if that person has been adjudged bankrupt or is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order, an interim bankruptcy restrictions order or a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking within the meaning of the Insolvency Act 1986, or if that person has made a composition or arrangement with creditors, including an individual voluntary arrangement.
  6. Where a person is disqualified by reason of having been adjudged bankrupt or by reason of being the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order, an interim bankruptcy restrictions order or a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking, that disqualification shall cease:
    1. on that person’s discharge from bankruptcy, unless the bankruptcy order has before then been annulled; or
    2. if the bankruptcy order is annulled, at the date of that annulment; or
    3. if the bankruptcy restrictions order is rescinded as a result of an application under section 375 of the Insolvency Act 1986, on the date so ordered by the court; or
    4. if the interim bankruptcy restrictions order is discharged by the court, on the date of that discharge; or
    5. if the bankruptcy restrictions undertaking is annulled, at the date of that annulment.
  7. Where a person is disqualified by reason of having made a composition or arrangement with creditors, including an individual voluntary arrangement, and then pays the debts in full, the disqualification shall cease on the date on which the payment is completed and in any other case it shall cease on the expiration of three years from the date on which the terms of the deed of composition, arrangement or individual voluntary arrangement are fulfilled.
  8. Subject to paragraph (9), a person shall be disqualified from holding, or from continuing to hold, office as a member if:
    1. within the previous five years that person has been convicted, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, of any offence and has received a sentence of imprisonment, whether suspended or not, for a period of three months or more, without the option of a fine; or
    2. within the previous twenty years that person has been convicted as set out in sub-paragraph (a) and has received a sentence of imprisonment, whether suspended or not, for a period of more than two and a half years; or
    3. that person has at any time been convicted as set out in sub-paragraph (a) and has received a sentence of
      imprisonment, whether suspended or not, of more than five years.
  9. For the purpose of this regulation there shall be disregarded any conviction by or before a court outside the United Kingdom for an offence in respect of conduct which, if it had taken place in the United Kingdom, would not have constituted an offence under the law then in force anywhere in the United Kingdom.
  10. A person shall be ineligible to be a member if:
    1. that person is no longer eligible to be a company director or charity trustee; or
    2. that person is certified by a registered medical practitioner as being physically or mentally incapable of discharging his duties a member and will remain so for 3 months or more; or
    3. that person is, for any other reason, unfit or unable to discharge his functions as a member or his conduct calls himself or the institution in to disrepute and the Board resolves to remove that member from office.
  11. Upon a member of the Board becoming disqualified from continuing to hold office under paragraphs (5) or (8), the member shall immediately give notice of that fact to the Clerk.