Zanib spends some of her free time working as the Chair of School Governors at Southmere Primary School in Bradford.
School Governors make sure schools are run properly and work with head teachers and management to increase pupil achievement. Being a governor is a serious commitment, but can be very rewarding.
Zanib has two children at Southmere and enjoys the challenges and rewards of being directly involved in the running of her local school.
“It was scary at first but I received a lot of help and support from the staff at the school.
“Our children are our future and a good education is so important. Being a School Governor means I can represent parents and ensure our kids make the best possible start in life.”
To find out more about school governors visit the GOV.UK website
Below is a transcript of the video interview with Zanib.
Zanib Thackray is in a classroom.
Hi I’m Zanib Thackray, I am Chair of Governors for Southmere Primary school.
I’ve been involved in communities for quite a number of years. I used to be a tenant living quite close to this school. I got involved with a lot of young people in the beginning, worked with the youth service. I do a lot of voluntary work as well as being a community learning champion as well as an active citizen.
Because I’ve been involved in a lot of voluntary stuff anyway, I think they was aware that I was involved in community groups, and from that she approached me and asked me if I was interested in becoming a parent governor. I did put myself forward and I became a parent governor, didn’t have a clue what I was getting into because I had only experience as a board member for a housing associations. I wanted to help parents; I am a parent also I have children in this school. I just wanted to be support for parents; I wanted to be able to support the school; I wanted to be able to be a part of the changes where if you’re interested in education and you find that you want to be a governor for the school.
I feel its something that you need to think about because it’s the children’s achievements and the school’s progression that you really have to be a part of that. You have to know what you’re talking about it’s a lot to learn but its fantastic.
Your relationship for parents as well. They respect you as a governor for the school, representing them, being a voice for parents, being able to understand because I’ve got children here of my own, so you understand the things that are relevant as a parent, which is important. And I would say to anybody its fantastic being a school governor and more so been the Chair of Governors. I really enjoy it and I wouldn’t change this position. I’ve just been re-elected back on thanks to all the parents and I really enjoy it. My relationship with the head teacher is amazing, she’s a friend as well and she supports me and I hope I support them in school.
I just feel that I’m giving something back I don’t really expect anything in any form of payment or anything. I just hope that while I continue to be a governor that I’m doing the best I can. I just want to give as much as I can into the school.
I personally feel absolutely satisfied, I feel full. Everytime we see something change around school, we’ve got so much going on, all the changes and its just absolutely fantastic been a part of it. Because I left school with no qualifications it’s not that you can’t do it, because you can. I was saying to the headteacher, Hayley, that I’ll never stop learning. I’ll always learn something new!
