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 Angel s , they were preparing for the Arrival . ( TV : " The Lost " ) According to Dorothea Ames , they liked a well - run school . ( TV : " Co - Owner of a Lonely Heart " ) Similarly , Mr Armitage once told Miss 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 . They 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 " ) 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 built 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 " )