Each School Board has membership of the National Governance Association and the NGA Learning Link. 

The NGA website is full of really useful information and guidance that can support you in your role. For example:

 - academy trusts

 - Community Governor - Staff

 - stakeholder engagement

You each have access to the NGA Learning Link which contains bite-sized pieces of online training that complement Modern Governor. For example:

 - Getting it right as the staff governor

 - Holding to account - question and challenge

 - Minimising exclusions

If you don't get the magazine through your door at home every month, please let your clerk know and she will get that organised for you. It is a good read and this month contained a great article on how to monitor and support Pupil Premium work in the school.

In line with other trusts, we have seen an increase in the number of panels we need to run for exclusions and parental complaints. This is WHY we made it a requirement that all governors are trained to sit on these panels, so that we can share the load around all the governors instead of a core who currently support the schools. We are one trust, not just a group of nine schools and therefore you will be asked to sit on panels for other schools. It is often much easier to sit on a panel of a school where you are not a governor and you have no relationship with the headteacher. 

Unfortunately the government removed the ability to hold exclusion panels online and I know this changes what was a 2-hour meeting into a half day event including travel, which many of you simply can't do. We know that and so are moving the panels to 6pm to allow for you to take part. The survey below asks for some feedback on sitting on panels.

If you want to observe a panel before actually sitting on one, we can arrange that, just let your clerk know.

I know that the Ofsted visits feel like they are looming for several schools at the moment, and it can be quite a daunting prospect. Please don't worry too much. If you know your role and know your school you will be absolutely fine. The call comes into school before 2pm, to inform the Headteacher that the inspectors will be on site at 8am the following day. As soon as we at Central Services know, we all ensure each school has the support it needs. My role in that process is to arrange a meeting that same evening of the call, with the governors who will be meeting with the inspectors, to ensure you are reassured before your meeting.

I am running an Ofsted workshop on Monday 27 February 2023 - 6.00pm - 7.30pm. Email me to book a place.

I attended an Ofsted webinar that was very useful and you can view it too - 45 minutes. Don't forget to add it to your training record in Governorhub if you do.

This is a mandatory training for all new Trustees and Governors. It introduces you to the Trust and how we do governance, and where your important role fits in to the wider picture.

Monday 5th December 2022 5pm - 7pm online. 

Please email me to book a place

An update about mandatory training for governors. We know you are all busy and that you are volunteers, but with any role in public office, there is still mandatory training that we all need to complete. You will have a governor on your school board who supports (nudges & cajoles) you in your training. Speak to them if you have any questions.

 - Safeguarding training 

        - annual online update provided by DET

        - National College safeguarding training (every three years from 2023)

 - Prevent - every five years

 - Equalities - once when you start in role

 - GDPR - once when you start in role and an annual update at SB meetings

You may have noticed that we have had to cancel the Governance Event (planned for earlier this month) and you will absolutely know that we are constantly struggling to get enough governors for exclusion panels. The Trustees would like to hear from you. 

Please take a couple of minutes to let us know why you don't feel able to fully engage in the governor role at the moment. The survey is anonymous.