Educators on Board campaign | National Governance Association

Why we need Educators on Board

We want to make teachers and school leaders aware of the opportunity to govern and the benefits of doing so, enabling them to consider whether it suits their interests and circumstances.

As an education professional, you have the unique ability to shape policies and decisions and make a valuable contribution to the governance of schools and trusts beyond your own.

Education professionals, such as teachers, middle leaders, senior leaders, and executive leaders, have a unique voice along with knowledge and expertise that will help boards become more effective.

Andy Barnard, Assistant Headteacher at a grammar school in Gloucester & chair of governors at a local maintained primary school.
“As part of my professional development, I took on a governing position to increase my experience, as my ultimate ambition is to take on headship. I’ve had a reasonable amount of experience in leadership with schools and I’ve always been ambitious to take more on.”

Find out more about this fantastic opportunity from our chief executive officer Emma Knights.

The benefits

Governing in a different educational setting - whether that is another school or another trust - is a fantastic opportunity for educators to grow professionally. It's especially beneficial for aspiring senior leaders and those wanting to share their expertise in new communities. It helps develop strategic leadership skills, gain practical governance understanding, and build networks with educators and professionals from various sectors.

Amanda Marson - a senior leader at an alternative provision primary school in Wolverhampton which is part of a MAT; governor at a community primary school in Wolverhampton.
“The school where I am employed is really supportive of me governing – after all, our focus is the same across both settings. The training that I’ve had in my role as a governor I can bring back to the school where I am employed and it benefits them too. In my training and role, I get the point of view of other professionals and perhaps things my school hasn’t considered.”

The benefits of Educators on boards

Bring and share ideas and insight from a different community, different trust or different phase, type of school.
Utilise specialist skills, knowledge and expertise from data analysis, teaching and learning, SEND, the curriculum, and safeguarding.
Use your experience to shape the culture, influence vision and help form strategy.

“It’s really valuable to have an education professional on the board because they are somebody who understands an education context.”
“It is exciting to be part of driving school improvement from another angle and to have an impact on a wider community.”
‘‘It’s been the best CPD I’ve had as a teacher in the last nine years.”
“It’s a great opportunity to get into another school and to learn from people who are being really honest, and the context is really developmental. In a governance role you get to see the best of people and you learn a lot.”

Supporting staff in your school to govern elsewhere

Governing boards have an important role to play in creating a culture of professional learning and development. Support staff in your school or trust to join a different governing board by encouraging them and giving them time to govern.

Benefit from having staff who have experience of strategic leadership and working with a board.
Bring back new ideas, insight and networks to their paid role
Access to substantial, long-term, evolving, no-cost development within an education setting.
Help create a more governance-literate staff who understand the sector and work better with the board in your school.
Help staff to understand the discussions and decisions of your board.

Our campaign has won the backing of several organisations supporting and representing education professionals.