Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors at The Harbour School, Tipner Lane, Tipner, Portsmouth, PO2 8RA.

An opportunity to lead with purpose. An opportunity to make lives better.

The Harbour School Portsmouth is part of Southern Education Trust and provides specialist school places and Alternative Provision for pupils with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs and/or medical needs.

We provide a nurturing environment where children feel safe, understood, and supported - so they can thrive, grow in confidence, and achieve meaningful qualifications.

We are now seeking a Chair and a Vice Chair to help lead our governing body into its next chapter.

This is more than a governance role. • It’s about leadership. • It’s about creating the conditions for others to succeed. • It’s about ensuring that our most vulnerable young people receive the education, care, and ambition they deserve.

As Chair or Vice Chair, you will: • Lead and coordinate the work of the governing body • Set the tone for strong, effective, and values-driven governance • Work closely with the Headteacher to provide strategic direction • Offer both support and constructive challenge • Ensure that safeguarding, wellbeing, and outcomes remain central to every decision

We are particularly interested in individuals who bring experience of leading teams, chairing meetings, or working strategically within complex settings. This role will require a greater time commitment than a regular governor position - but it is also an opportunity to have a profound and lasting impact.

You do not need prior experience in school governance. Training and support will be provided. What matters most is integrity, sound judgement, emotional intelligence, and a genuine commitment to improving the life chances of young people with additional needs.

If you believe that education can transform futures - especially for those who have found mainstream settings challenging - we would love to hear from you.

Help us lead with kindness, collaboration and creativity - and help make lives better.

School governors will usually serve a four -year term of office although, as volunteers, that can obviously be terminated earlier if personal circumstances change.

Further information about governance within our Trust can be found on our website.

Don't forget you can add up any volunteering hours as part of Team 100 Opportunity - Hive Portsmouth or part of the Donate 100 things challenge Opportunity

Skills

Basic IT skills – all meeting papers are circulated via email and governors will type up their own school visit reports. Experience of leading teams, chairing meetings, or working strategically. Confidentiality, strategic thinking, ability to work as part of a team, willingness to devote time, enthusiasm and effort to the role of governor, willingness to make and stand by collective decisions, even if offering an alternative view during discussion.