Governance of schools and colleges

Effective governance is an essential part of any organisation. School, academy and college governors have a difficult task – as unpaid volunteers they are responsible for providing effective leadership, direction and control of their schools and colleges. Good governance requires an active governing board working with a strong leadership team to create effective corporate governance throughout the organisation.

Our experienced team gives you access to experts (including National Leaders in Governance) in the full range of corporate and governance issues. Those relevant to the education sector include academy projects, governance structures, multi-academy trust structures, joint ventures and commercial arrangements, collaboration, alliance arrangements and trading companies. Our team has an excellent reputation for providing practical, commercial and innovative advice.

Advising on all constitutional matters and on conflicts of interest 
Facilitating board strategy days
Governance training on a range of issues including legal duties, decision-making and board relations
Governance reviews in line with the National Leader of Governance criteria
Strategic support to boards
Advising on EFA, DfE and OFSTED requirements. 
Providing options appraisals 
Delivering horizon-scanning sessions for boards on latest developments/trends in the sector

#EdInfluence - in conversation with inspiring leaders

A well-established and traditional multi-academy trust

Supporting a well-established and traditional multi-academy trust in reviewing its governance arrangements. We provided a succinct report including a range of options that could be adopted to enhance their governance arrangements together with links and sign-posting of relevant research. The MAT were then able to use the meeting with us and the advice note to make the enhancements they wished to adopt.

A high-performing primary multi-academy trust

Working with a high-performing primary multi-academy trust that had been successfully operating for a number of years to review its approach to governance including local governance. We worked with the MAT to design a suitable approach to governance that supported their vision and values whilst also meeting the DfE’s requirements.

A multi-academy trust comprising secondary, primary and special schools

Supporting a multi-academy trust comprising secondary, primary and special schools with a number of twilight training sessions for their main board and their local governing bodies. The sessions were interactive and supported the continued development of links between the local and main boards. Following the training we then provided a short report on recommended actions that could be adopted to enhance governance arrangements at the MAT.

Child protection and safeguarding in schools

Data protection guidance for schools and trusts

Health and safety in academies and schools

Nick MacKenzie

Partner

Victoria Hatton

Partner

Hayley O'Sullivan

Principal Associate

Sue Hawley Governance Professional, Potteries Educational Trust

“They were excellent. They listened to our requirements, worked with me and our Chief Executive Officer to develop the structure for the event and activity associated with any input. They designed a session to provoke discussion on effective governance in preparation for continual improvement in the governance arrangements for our Trust.”