Anyone out there that may be a school governer?  Is it really worth complaining to them?  I knew a lady that took on the role of a governer but soon gave it up as she said it was a waste of time and effort. She went into the role full of enthusiasm and willingness to take on board this role.
Within weeks she was very dissolusioned and without going into detail she made it quite clear that if she did not go along with the rest of the panel over lots of issues then she was not wanted, any remote possibility of not agreeing with the head teachers actions or decisions were met with pure hostility, due to these reasons she resigned from the role.  This makes me very disheartened as I am considering a complaint being made to them but really feel like it's the police investigating the police, a big fat chance of an unbiased response, really furious and totally deflated that a parents only option is this procedure.  Any advice or experience with something like this would be very much appreciated. I have had to deal with my childs acute anxiety and distress due to her schools ability to be able to seem to do as they wish, at the expense of my childs mental health.  Sounds harsh and ridiculous.. yes, but also true.

It is certainly worth contacting your school governors - if only to flag up your daughters unhappiness. They should take this seriously - after all when the school is inspected Ofsted will ask parents what they think !.

How effective they are is a moot point - many do tend to go along with the head - particularly if he/she is a forceful character and appears to be running a successful school - the head however may be unaware of your daughters distress why not make an appointment to talk to him/her as well - perhaps prior to contacting the governors.

Yvonne

if you have a problem with the school first put it in writing to the headmaster, send it recorded delivery. If the outcome does not satisfy, write to the chair of goveners, via the school, again recorded delivery and attach a copy of the letter you sent to the head. A meeting will take place between you and them. if the outcome does not satisfy, you them complain to the LEA, who will investigate the school. Put everything in writing, they have to follow proceedure. Ask for a copy of their complaints proceedure, they have to provide you with it. You also have a right to the school behavioural policy, and the Anti bullying policy, and your childs full school report.

Whatever is happening, make sure you keep a diary of events, including details of any meetings you may have had, who with, and what was said. Kidscape are really good at advising, have a chat with them.

Actually, the Police investigating the Police, or 'the rubber heel squad' DOES get results, and put fear into the heart! Not a cover up, ever...

was just about to go to bed and just had a quick peep her and seen your reply calmstorm.  I wrote to the head, hand delivered, she replied back same day, hand delivered.  The response was obviously not good or satisfactory and have sat here this evening writing a letter for the chair of governers and feeling very disheartened. After reading your post I'm off to bed now feeling a bit more positive and will get onto kidscape tomorrow, thanks so much for your reply, will keep this updated. thanks again.

sorry forgot to say thank you to you trevor as well.

Good Luck, kidscape really are good, helpful and supportive. They know their stuff!

Someone I know had concerns about a HeadTeacher's treatment of children at the primary school his young sons attended. So he got himself voted onto the Governing Body in the hope that he could take some action.  He became more and more convinced that some children were being physically harmed so he reported the Head to the LEA.  Unfortunately the LEA couldn't believe that a Head Teacher would actually harm children so they chose to disbelieve the Governor and dismissed him from his role. 
Some time later it was proved that the abuse did happen but by then the Head had conveniently taken early retirement and everything was brushed under the carpet :rolleyes:
So I would say that sometimes the power and control supposedly given to School Governors is theoretical rather than a reality.

If anyone was abusing a child, this should have been refered to the Police.

It was reported to the police but they said that because the parents didn't want to pursue it, they couldn't take any action :rolleyes:
The whole thing was handled extremely badly and a lot more went on but I don't want to hi-jack the thread.