Governor Opportunities at BGS
Governor Recruitment 2026 Chair of the Resources Committee & Two School Governors An opportunity to help shape the future of a leading girls’ school and make a lasting contribution to education in Bedford.
Bedford Girls’ School is a leading day school for students aged 7-18. We offer a future-inspired education in which innovative teaching combines with outstanding pastoral care, equipping our students with the confidence, skills and attributes to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We are an open, kind and inclusive community where every voice is heard and celebrated. Our students achieve excellent academic outcomes across GCSE, A Level and the IB Diploma, progress to leading universities and build exciting careers. The School also has a strong national reputation for girls’ sport.
We are seeking three exceptional people to join our governance community: a new Chair of the Resources Committee and two new School Governors. These are voluntary, non-executive roles with the opportunity to contribute experience, judgement and fresh perspective to the strategic direction of Bedford Girls’ School. BGS is at an important point in its development. These appointments offer the chance to shape the School’s long-term sustainability, its distinctive position and its commitment to girls’ education. We are particularly seeking expertise in finance, property and digital strategy across the new appointments, so that each governor adds specific strengths to the Board. School Governors should allow time for at least three School Governing Body meetings a year, committee work, reading papers, training and occasional school visits or events.
Chair of the Resources Committee A senior leader with strong financial, commercial, operational, property or professional-services experience, able to chair with authority, interpret complex financial and risk information and provide constructive strategic challenge.
School Governors People from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds who can bring relevant or transferable skills, independent judgement, curiosity and a commitment to the School’s purpose. Experience in property, finance and the digital environment is particularly sought, although previous school governance experience is not essential.
We particularly welcome candidates who will broaden the experience and perspectives represented around the governing table. The School believes diverse governing bodies encourage stronger debate and better decisions.
The School Governing Body (SGB) plays a vital role in ensuring the School achieves the best outcomes for its pupils. It supports and challenges the Senior Leadership Team to set and deliver the vision and strategies that enable the School to grow and thrive. Within The Harpur Trust structure, the SGB acts on behalf of the Board as the governing body of the School, within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and Management and the authorities delegated through the SGB Terms of Reference. It provides assurance on performance, stewardship of resources, compliance and alignment between School and Trust strategy.
The Governors role Governance is strategic rather than operational. Governors build constructive relationships with the Head and senior leaders, ask the right questions, test evidence and assumptions, and act collectively as an objective “critical friend”. Governors are also expected to attend key school events, such as Summer Prize Giving, where their presence supports the school community and demonstrates their engagement with students, families and staff. Governors are recommended by the SGB and appointed by the Harpur Trust Board for a three-year term. Governors may be reappointed, normally up to a maximum of nine years. The SGB meets at least three times each year and most governors also serve on a sub-committee. Meetings may be in person, virtual or hybrid.
Collective responsibilities ● Contribute to the School’s vision, mission, strategy and continuing development. ● Scrutinise educational and organisational performance and provide appropriate challenge and assurance. ● Ensure legal, regulatory, safeguarding and Trust-policy requirements are appropriately overseen. ● Act as guardians of the School’s property and other assets and support responsible stewardship of resources. ● Act in the best interests of The Harpur Trust, its charitable objectives and beneficiaries. ● Serve on committees or working groups where individual expertise can add value.
The Resources Committee provides focused oversight of the School’s financial and operational resources. It scrutinises financial performance, budgets and forecasts; reviews the use and development of the estate and other assets; and monitors significant operational, regulatory and financial risks. The Chair provides effective leadership to the Committee, ensuring that its collective expertise is used to scrutinise proposals, challenge constructively and reach clear, evidence-based conclusions. The Chair works closely with the SGB Chair, Head and Director of Finance and Operations, while remaining firmly on the governance side of the line.
Key responsibilities ● Lead effective, focused meetings and agree agendas with the Director of Finance and Operations. ● Promote constructive challenge, inclusive discussion and proportionate scrutiny. ● Report clearly to the SGB on key judgements, recommendations, exceptions and matters requiring escalation. ● Support scrutiny of the annual budget, medium-term forecasts, cash flow, reserves and financial sustainability. ● Monitor performance against budget, including pupil numbers, fee income, staffing costs, capital expenditure and material variances. ● Review significant business cases, contracts, investments and capital proposals for affordability, value for money and strategic alignment. ● Oversee stewardship and development of the estate, facilities, technology and other operational assets.
● Seek assurance over financial controls, procurement, insurance, fraud prevention, business continuity and key operational risks. ● Encourage regular review of Committee effectiveness, membership, succession and development.
Person Specification Essential ● Senior-level experience in finance, business, operations, property, professional services or another field relevant to the Committee’s remit. ● Ability to interpret budgets, management accounts, forecasts, business cases and risk information and explain complex matters clearly. ● Strong analytical skills, independent judgement and confidence to challenge constructively while remaining supportive. ● Experience of chairing meetings or leading senior groups, building consensus and keeping discussion focused on material issues. ● A strategic perspective and clear understanding of the distinction between governance, assurance and executive management. ● Sound commercial judgement, including affordability, value for money, risk and long-term financial sustainability. ● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, integrity, discretion and accountability. ● Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to the School’s purpose and values.
Desirable ● A recognised accountancy, finance, property, legal, risk or other relevant professional qualification. ● Experience as a trustee, governor, non-executive director or committee chair. ● Knowledge of the independent-school, education or charity sectors. ● Experience of organisational change, major capital projects, digital investment or estates strategy.
Time commitment: The Resources Committee normally meets at least three times each school year. The Chair also attends relevant SGB meetings, meets periodically with the SGB Chair, Head and Director of Finance and Operations, and may take part in strategy, training or recruitment activity. The commitment varies through the year, particularly around budget-setting and major strategic or capital decisions.
As a School Governor, you will join a collegiate governing body that combines support with constructive challenge. You do not need to be an education specialist: relevant and transferable experience, sound judgement and a willingness to learn are central to the role.
Key responsibilities ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Demonstrable leadership and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate and explain complex information. Strong analytical and evaluation skills, strategic thinking and independent judgement. An understanding of accountability and governance, or the willingness to develop this quickly through induction and training. A team-oriented approach to problem solving and change. Commercial and financial awareness. Curiosity, open-mindedness, constructive challenge and respect for collective responsibility. Commitment to the School’s and Trust’s purpose and willingness to act as an ambassador.
Skills of particular interest: The current recruitment particularly welcomes experience in property, finance and the digital environment. Previous senior leadership, governor or other non-executive experience is desirable but not essential. Practical commitment: Governors should be able to attend six or more meetings each year, mostly in person at the School, including SGB and committee meetings. Preparation, reading papers and participating in induction and development are important parts of the role.
Our governance culture Openness to colleagues, confidentiality and collective responsibility. Preparedness: reading papers and raising major questions or points in advance. Constructiveness and mutual respect in debate and challenge. Curiosity and open-mindedness: listening to build understanding and making decisions fairly. ● Self-reflection and continuing development. ● ● ● ●
What the School and Trust provide ● ● ● ● ●
A tailored induction programme to build the knowledge and skills needed for the role. Ongoing personalised governor training delivered by senior staff and external providers. Access to the information and support needed to contribute effectively. Reasonable travel expenses for physical meetings. Opportunities to network with senior professionals and counterparts across schools and sector organisations.
A role with real impact Governorship offers the opportunity to influence and shape important strategic decisions, support innovative projects and make a lasting contribution to the School community and beyond. For the Resources Chair, this includes a direct role in helping shape the School’s long-term sustainability and investment decisions.
This is a school with a clear sense of purpose: ambitious for its students, outward-looking in its approach and committed to preparing young women not simply for examinations, but for a complex and rapidly changing world. For governors, that creates a particularly rewarding environment in which to contribute. The School combines strong academic ambition with pastoral care, innovation, sport, digital learning and a commitment to the wider community. It also benefits from being part of The Harpur Trust, bringing a distinctive combination of local heritage, charitable purpose and long-term perspective.
Appointment Governor appointments are made by the Harpur Trust Board following recommendation by the School Governing Body. The roles are voluntary and unpaid, with reasonable expenses reimbursed. Appointments are normally for a three-year term, subject to the Trust’s governance arrangements.
Next steps To apply, please send a CV and a short letter by Friday 30th October explaining why you would like to become a governor and the experience and skills you would bring to Jim Francis, Clerk to the School Governing Body, via Bedford Girls’ School. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to visit the School and meet the Head and Chair of Governors. A two-governor nominations subcommittee will interview candidates and make recommendations to the Head and Chair, before the School Governing Body recommends appointments to the Harpur Trust Board. Appointments are subject to the required checks, including a DBS check, before new governors join the Board or attend school events in that capacity. A recorded search of publicly available online and social media information will form part of due diligence for shortlisted candidates, and a section 128 check is required before appointment. All applicants are asked to read the School’s Child Protection Policy before applying which can be found on the school website.
Bedford Girls’ School is one of four independent schools within The Harpur Trust, a charity with more than 450 years of history in Bedford. Founded through the endowment of Sir William and Dame Alice Harpur, the Trust’s work continues to centre on education, relieving need and supporting recreation with a social-welfare purpose. Today the Trust educates more than 3,000 pupils across Bedford School, Bedford Modern School, Bedford Girls’ School and Pilgrims’ Pre-Prep School. Its bursary programme enables talented children from a wide range of backgrounds to access its schools, while its wider community work includes grants, local education initiatives and collaborative programmes across Bedford.
£128m+
£72m+
3,000+
177
Endowed Funds
Turnover
Children Educated
Pupils benefiting from bursary awards
Cardington Road, Bedford, MK42 0BX Telephone: 01234 361900 information@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk