Back To School: Merit PRU

I went back to school last week!

Back in August 2019 I wrote that I had updated my CV, had stopped the Scheduled Pet Transports, and had started (slowly) to look at what I did next …. if indeed I did anything.

Following that post I was contacted via LinkedIn (probably the only time to date I have ever used Linked In as it is intended) by Inspiring Governance, who look to identify and place School Governors.

We had a few exchanges, but nothing came from it and just as I was considering What Next? we entered Lockdown, and I didn’t think to much of it to be honest.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks or so ago and I was contacted to see if I would be interested in talking to Merit (PRU) Pupil Referral Unit, a short stay school in Stoke on Trent for children with medical and mental health needs, with responsibility for providing education at the The University Hospitals of North Staffordshire.

Several conversations later, my DBS completed, three online courses ‘passed’ (Safeguarding & Prevent, GDPR Awareness and Governor Overview & Effective Governance), I attended my first Management Board meeting online using Microsoft Teams (so add that to Skype, Duo, Zoom and FaceTime) where I was appointed Governor and Vice Chair of the Board.

Subsequently I have attended the school, read through a lot of previous minutes, and got involved with a couple of ongoing activities and I have to say that whilst I am enjoying being involved, the real satisfaction has been meeting the staff and getting to know a) them and b) the amazing work that they have done. Naturally have had little opportunity to meet the students, but the few I have seem very engaged with School and their teachers.

I have a steep learning curve, but it is all part of our Educational Project so in more ways than one I am very happy to back in School.