A school governor is an influential member of the school community so you can expect to be subject to a rigorous criminal record check if you wish to apply to become a school governor for a UK school.

Statutory checks for anyone who wishes to work in or with a school are called DBS checks. These high-level background checks are a legal requirement for all those involved in work which involves close contact with the public.

As a school governor, you will be a well-known figure throughout the school and attend lots of events and meetings on school premises. Your influential role in an environment for children will mean a stringent type of DBS check is necessary for your application to be complete.

A DBS check for a school governor is an enhanced DBS check. The need for this degree of background check is set out in the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Under the terms of the act, you will not be able to hold the position of a governor in a UK school without the check.

An enhanced DBS check for a school governor will require a search for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, as well as further non-conviction information obtained from relevant police forces.

This type of CRB check can only be requested by your employer. To find out more about DBS checks and how they may affect your application to become a school governor, visit: unlock.org.uk or Keeping Children Safe in Education.