There are many benefits to having diverse governing boards with people of varying age groups. One of the youngest cohorts eligible to join governing boards is Generation Z (Gen Z) – those born after the mid- to late-1990s. However, only 1% of governors are aged between 18 and 29, demonstrating significant generational gaps across school boards.
As members of Gen Z start to establish their careers and identities, what experiences and qualities can they bring to the table? To encourage younger people to take up a school governor role, we’ve compiled a list of five benefits Gen Z can bring to the governance table.
- Gen Z school governors tend to focus on inclusion: Understanding that every pupil is unique and will have different needs and support is an important characteristic of a school governor. 48% of people in Gen Z say that gay and lesbian couples being allowed to marry is a good thing for society and 50% arguing that society is not accepting enough to gender non-conforming people. Gen Z also typically believe that increasing racial/ethnic diversity is good for society with 62% favouring this view. You can find out more about the importance of inclusion within the governance space through our new ‘Inclusive Governance’ campaign.
- A unique perspective based on lived experience: The older members of Gen Z only left education within the last decade, providing a great opportunity to learn what mattered to them while they were students. A governor with recent lived experience of what it was like going through the education system can make a huge difference, initiating important conversations on topics that matter to pupils.
- Environmental Consciousness: The environment and climate change are important issues for Gen Z, who seek to make a difference in their professional lives. Aligning these environmental values with environmentally and sustainability policies can help to enhance the reputation and standards of an educational institution. An additional benefit is that a governing board gets a passionate advocate for an issue that current students care about.
- Built-in qualities for governance: Despite their young age, people from Gen Z have been through a lot: fast-paced changes in technology, the Covid-19 pandemic, recessions, and other global events that have made them extremely resilient and adaptable to change. Gen Z are also very resourceful and will often look for creative solutions to problems, bringing a unique perspective as they look for ways to improve the strategic direction of the school.
- A generation of Digital Natives: Growing up around technology and its developments has allowed Gen Z to become technologically savvy, usually being able to pick up a device and find a solution to a problem with little sweat. As the world and schools become more reliant on technology, these skills are crucial for any governing boards not wanting to be left behind.
Find out more
If you are a member of Gen Z interested in making a difference through governance, why not find out more about what Governors for Schools does? Alternatively, why not discover our new ‘Inclusive Governance’ campaign and explore how we are aiming to promote inclusivity in the governance landscape?