Beyond the balance sheet: why I volunteer as an FE college Governor

Many of our college partners will know Ed Whittle as Mindful Education’s Head of Finance (and eagle-eyed accounting learners may recognise him a presenter on our VLE!) – but in his spare time, Ed volunteers as a governor at an FE college.

In this blog, he shares the important role governors play in the college community, along with his own highlights and challenges.

Tell us about your role at Mindful Education
As the Head of Finance, I lead our finance team. Some of my responsibilities for Mindful Education include: accounts payable and accounts receivable, company payroll, management accounts and budgeting, and liaising with colleges and suppliers.

Prior to joining Mindful Education, I trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant and tax adviser with the international professional services firm EY.

What appealed to you about becoming a college governor?
Part of the reason I wanted to become a college governor was to gain greater insight into our sector and to try and understand the issues that colleges face. I also felt that my accountancy and financial background would allow me to bring some expertise to the role, in order to advise the college on financial matters. I also it as an opportunity to make a positive contribution to learners and the wider community.

What does the role of a Governor entail?
The role of a governor is to support the college with key decisions and hold them to account for their actions, as well as representing the college to its stakeholders. Some of the responsibilities of a Governor include reviewing college KPIs, quality improvement plans, strategy planning, auditing, risk management and dealing with safeguarding issues.

What about your role specifically?
My primary responsibility on the board of governors is chairing the Resource committee which oversees the college’s use of resources such as:

• Budgeting & management of accounts
• Treasury management (loans, assets, banking)
• Reporting financial health to the ESFA
• Staff pay discussions
• HR, staffing and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Property strategy

The Resources committee works closely with college leadership, including the Principal, Deputy/Vice/Assistant Principals and the Executive Director of Finance.

Tell us about some of the challenges of the role
Colleges face lots of challenges for their leadership team to navigate. In my governor role we’ve dealt with a variety of challenges such as funding changes and regulations, levels of student deprivation, gang exploitation and recruitment issues. Dealing with these issues reminds me of the importance of colleges for many people: it’s not just about shaping education, but about social responsibility and the role colleges play in their local community.

What about the highlights?
I’d say the main highlight of being a governor is seeing learners excel and being able to celebrate their achievements. I also enjoy working with my fellow governors and so many capable people from the college and the local community. 

How can others take on governance roles?
Anyone can become a governor for a college or school, regardless of experience or skills. You can contact colleges, trusts and your local council about vacancies and the possibility of volunteering yourself for the position. For more general information and support, you can also visit the FE Governor recruitment service.