The Governors

The Governors were a system of authority installed at Coal Hill Academy by EverUpwardReach Ltd. (TV: Brave-ish Heart) They studied the cracks in space and time at Coal Hill, believing that they were placed there for a purpose. (TV: The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did) Under the guidance of the Weeping Angels, they were preparing for the Arrival, as depicted within a stone tablet. (TV: The Lost)

According to Dorothea Ames, they liked a well-run school. (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart) Similarly, Frank Armitage once told Andrea Quill to try not to get into any "special measures" as "the Governors wouldn't like it". (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo)

Members
The main circle of Governors was led by the Chair. He was responsible for recruiting Dorothea Ames as an asset in the advancement of their cause. (TV: The Lost)

The previous head teacher, Frank Armitage, also had some, if little, knowledge of the Governors. He was the figure responsible for the renovation of Coal Hill and kept their interests in mind during his final months. (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo)

Knowledge
The Governors were academics engaged in the gathering of knowledge in preparation for the Arrival. (TV: The Lost) They were collectors of advanced technology, including a Metaphysical engine, and used evidence to calculate the chances of various scenarios occurring. (TV: The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did) To some degree, according to Dorothea Ames, they were able to "manage time" within Room M17. (TV: The Lost)

They held personal fact-files on individuals at Coal Hill, including one on Charlie Smith, referenced as file 091072. They were aware of Charlie and Miss Quill's origins on Rhodia and of their relationships with other individuals, including the Doctor and his relationship with UNIT. The file also showed that they had knowledge of various alien incursions at the school, including those of the Shadow Kin, the Leaf Dragon and the Lankin. (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart)

History
The "new" Governors were installed at Coal Hill Academy by EverUpwardReach Ltd around the time of the spring 2016 renovations of the school grounds. (TV: Brave-ish Heart)

Shortly after the start of the autumn term, the Governors sent a robot to masquerade as an Ofsted inspector named Paul Smith in order to evaluate Miss Quill's class. Miss Quill discovered their label in the robot's wreckage after it was destroyed by a Leaf Dragon. She was intrigued as to who exactly the Governors were. (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo)

They arranged for Dorothea Ames to become the new head teacher of Coal Hill Academy, succeeding Frank Armitage. Ames claimed that the Governors were capable of removing the arn in Miss Quill's brain, which would free her from Charlie's control. (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart)

At some point, they captured Ballon, an alien refugee, and kept him prisoner until he became useful in furthering their cause. They instructed Ames on use of the metaphysical engine and were behind the operation to remove the arn from Miss Quill's brain. (TV: The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did)

When she was deemed no longer useful, the Governors turned their backs so that a Weeping Angel could kill Dorothea for her failure. (TV: The Lost) The Governors subsequently made a bargain with the Coal Hill defenders, working to restore a girl to her body. During this time the Chair acquired Charlie Smith's diary. (AUDIO: Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince)