DEI in school governance: Key themes and insights

Welcome to our dedicated page exploring the vital role of diversity in school governance.  

Strong school governance begins with inclusive representation. When boards reflect the broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within their school communities, decisions become more informed and meaningful. This visibility allows young people to see leadership as something they can aspire to while fostering a culture where all voices are heard and valued.

Diversity of thought introduces fresh ideas, challenges assumptions and supports continuous improvement. Yet many governing boards still lack representation in terms of age, ethnicity and professional background, creating a disconnect between those making decisions and the communities they serve. Addressing this gap is essential for building governance that is effective, forward-thinking and capable of preparing every student for success.

Here, we explore the importance of diversity in school governance through the reflections of experienced governors and trustees. Our discussion is structured around three key themes: why diversity matters,  its impact on decision-making, and what advice they would offer to aspiring governors or trustees. 

We are grateful to our esteemed guests who offered their insights and learnings for this discussion: Alan Howells, Director of Quality at The Learning Partnership; Petra Yazbeck, Co-Vice Chair and Chair of the Resources Committee at The Totteridge Academy; Samantha Dossetter, governance professional at Nexus Education Schools Trust; Rani Kaur, Head of Advice at the National Governance Association; Edward Vitalis, Chief Executive Officer of Invictus Education Trust; Mark Blois, Partner at Browne Jacobson and expert in education law and governance; and Sabreen Marashli, Chair of the Trust Board at Inspire Education Community Trust and Senior Advice Officer at the National Governance Association (NGA).

Why diversity in school governance matters

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“Where you've got a deprived community, those families may not have had a very good experience with education themselves and now their children are going through the education system. I think to have proper broad representation of all sectors of our community within governance is really key because education affects everybody, it affects life chances.” –  Samantha Dossetter. 

Moving beyond good intentions: what boards really need to change

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The value of different perspectives

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“I was very confident that, come what may, this (school governance) is something I really wanted to do and I wasn't going to let having a baby stop me. The board believed that and they trusted in me, which was amazing because I could prove to them the value I was going to bring despite going through such a big life change” - Petra Yazbeck.

"You look at disability, for example. And you had more a high level of representation in boards from people who have disability through long term conditions. It wouldn't be about them, of course. It wouldn't be about them sitting there, just sort of looking at agenda, sort of it's working out. You know, where, where does the disabled person kick in? It's about them bringing that their full, their full selves to it. All of their experiences, but perhaps in the education sector particularly. Looking out to make sure the angle of. At the end and disability is at the core of everything and it, but in a meaningful personal, personal way, not just not a sort of statutory obligation way, but actually this. This makes differences to people's lives." – Mark Blois.

Development opportunities for governors 

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“Initially, I wasn't sure about joining the board being in my twenties. After speaking with my manager, and being encouraged, I asked myself why not? Age shouldn't be a barrier as there is nothing about age that defines a Chair. Many young employees don't yet have management responsibilities, but governance allows them to develop skills they can add to their CV.” - Sabreen Marshali.

Getting started: support and mentorship for new governors

“Employers can support staff with school governing roles by offering flexible working options like remote work or altered hours. This allows them to attend meetings, which are planned in advance, helping to balance work and governance responsibilities effectively”– Sabreen Marshali.

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