The role of the governance professional as clerk – much more than a minute-taker
In recent months, there has been a shift within governance around the job title of those working to support both governing boards and schools to ensure that governance is effective and compliant. In fact, the term Governance Professional has been given greater emphasis in the new governance guides published by the Department for Education on …
Showcasing Successful Partnerships
Governors’ and Trustees’ Annual Conference Report November 2022 Schools do not exist in isolation. They are part of a larger system. Therefore, it is only right that, as system leaders, their Governors and Trustees should naturally not only focus on their own schools as organisations, but also on how their schools fit into the system …
Self-evaluation: an Essential Tool for Self-improvement
What were your new year’s resolutions, and are you keeping to them? The start of a new calendar year is a time that many people use to make a change, but this can only come from some form of self-reflection. Shed pounds, get fit, de-clutter; these are all common resolutions borne from the identification of …
Putting the Success into Succession Planning
Sarah Beaumont BA (Hons) FRSA, Head of Governor Services at The Education Space, focuses on the importance of succession planning. The scene is set: the election of chair is the next item on the agenda, the governance professional takes the floor to invite nominations, everyone looks down at their shoes, nobody stands. Invariably, the out-going …
Do We All Need A Corporate Social Responsibility Policy?
Sarah Beaumont, Head of Governance, asks if we all need to adopt a policy on corporate social responsibility. A corporate social responsibility policy is not a statutory policy for schools and academies to adopt. However, when I recently led on developing such a policy for our organisation, I discovered how valuable it is. Hand on …
Improvement Through Governance
On a balmy evening in early September, I was scheduled to present my Governance Review report to a Governing Board who had invited me. I was unsure that the prospect of sitting in a Zoom meeting would triumph against enjoying the sunset during a surprising London mini-heatwave, but I was pleasantly surprised by the large …
It’s great to get out: the benefits of a Governor Awayday
Sarah Beaumont, Head of Governance at NPW – The Education Space, talks about governor development, cinematic showdowns, and being on a boat. Being invited to speak at a school governor awayday today was an absolute joy for two reasons: (1) it was one of the first physical events I had attended post-lockdown, and (2) it …
Is your Governing Board fit for the future?
“Governors and Trustees on the most effective Boards will not only hold the school to account, but also hold each other to account.” It is easy to just keep on doing the same things in the same way with the same people, but, when carefully planned, change can be exciting and rejuvenating, as well as …
