After 11 years at the helm of Helston Community College’s governing body, chairman Graham Vallender has handed over to someone new.

Mr Vallender rose quickly through the ranks as a parent governor to take on the vice chairmanship, and in a relatively shortly period of time had become chairman.

However, he felt with the change of head at the school – with Dr Pat McGovern handing over to Donna Bryant this autumn – it was time for a fresh start with the governors also.

Mr Vallender said: “He and I had worked so well together over a long period, we knew each other’s ways. It occurred to me the new headteacher would probably want to do things her way and I thought a good way was to stand down and let someone younger take over.

“I’m 72 and I think that young blood and fresh thinking, and just a younger mindset, is necessary.”

He has been succeeded by Chris Webb, a retired lieutenant commander at RNAS Culdrose, who was one of two vice chairs, along with Canon David Miller the college’s chaplain.

The role of chairman of governors is a large one, with responsibility for the school, the parents and working with the local authority.

Although much of that day-to-day responsibility is passed onto the headteacher and staff, it is to the chair of governors that Ofsted writes and reports.

Mr Vallender said: “It’s a responsibility that I’ve always enjoyed – but now I haven’t got it, it’s quite nice!

“It’s a team thing; no man is an island. It’s not about me. It’s simply someone who leads the team.”

The governors have a broad range of backgrounds and skills, with headteachers, chartered accounts, naval personnel and parents all involved.

One of the roles of the chairman is to match the various skills to the different tasks at hand. The governors are split into two areas, focussing on the teaching and learning aspects, and the budget and premises side of things.

Out of these come other committees, dealing with areas such as interviewing and appointing staff, and carrying out teacher appraisals.

Mr Vallender said the role of a governor had changed enormously and become greatly more complex in recent years, with members having to keep abreast with the changes in education and make sure they were implemented in classrooms.

His one “big disappointment” over the last decade has been the “wasted year” spent on drawing up plans for a major redevelopment of the school last year, only for Cornwall Council to be unable to find the funds.

However, he remains hopeful that a new bid, for money directly from the government, will finally see work take place. Of the ageing buildings he said: “We have done a lot of work and it’s much better, but nevertheless it’s not what our children deserve. They need a more inspiring environment.”

The school should know by Christmas whether it has been successful.

Mr Vallender remains a governor and has taken on a brand new role, as student liaison governor. This will see him speaking with students and then feeding back to the governors.

“I’m excited about it. The students have to feel properly represented; that they feel they have a voice,” he explained.

He is also continuing as vice chairman of Halwin Primary School.