Skip to content
Elections to the NGA Board of Trustees 2024
Group of people in a meeting room

NGA trustees are volunteer governors/trustees from across England who are ultimately responsible for directing the affairs of NGA, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run and delivering the charitable objective to improve the educational welfare of pupils by promoting high standards and improving governance in state schools.

The board comprises a talented mix of experienced school governors/trustees who bring to the table a wide range of valued business, education and charitable sector skills and knowledge.  NGA’s board of trustees meets eight times a year – four formal trustee meetings, two strategy and risk meetings, a board development day and one strategy day.  Meetings are held at NGA’s Offices in Birmingham or remotely as required. Reasonable expenses are paid for travel and accommodation. 

Joining the NGA board of trustees is an exciting opportunity to shape the aims and objectives of the only national membership organisation for school governors, trustees and clerks/governance professionals in England. In doing so you will be making a valuable contribution towards improving the effectiveness of governing boards in both maintained schools and academies.

This year we need to elect trustees in the following areas: North East, South East and East of England. The NGA uses the regions that are formerly referred to as the government office regions of England. Your eligibility to stand depends on your membership category as follows:

  • Individual Members: Home address must be in the region in which they are standing
  • Governing Board: The school must be situated in the region in which the candidate is standing.  Nomination (for either a governor or the governance professional) must be signed by the chair or if the chair wishes to stand the vice-chair of the governing board.
  • Multi- Academy Trust: The trust must be situated in the region in which the candidate is standing. Nomination (for either a trustee/governor or the governance professional) must be signed by the chair or if the chair wishes to stand the vice-chair of the trust/governing board
  • Local Association: Must be situated in the region in which the candidate is standing. Nomination must be signed by the chair or where the chair wishes to stand the vice chair of the association.
  • Corporate: Must be situated in the region in which the candidate is standing.  Nomination must be signed by the most senior person in the organisation who is also listed on the NGA membership.

All candidates must at the time of nomination and election be:

  • serving governors/trustees, or
  • a serving clerk/governance professional to a governing body, academy trust board or academy committee (local governing body)

The election result will be announced at the Annual General Meeting of NGA to be held on Friday 15th November 2024.

The board welcomes nominations from serving governors, trustees and clerks/governance professionals (at the time of their nomination and election) who are eligible to stand in the areas that are vacant and are committed to NGA’s aims and charitable purpose and have the generic skills essential to be a trustee.  

Like any good governing board, NGA’s trustees carry out a skills audit and are very aware that the board is not as diverse as it should be, especially given our role in promoting #Visible Governance. We are particularly encouraging both younger and black, Asian and minority ethnic governors and trustees to come forward.  NGA recognises that a more diverse range of trustees can help to ensure a charity is fair and open in all its dealing, increase public confidence and accountability and can help strengthen decision-making by boards considering issues from more perspectives.  In addition, we are seeking, in particular, experience of lobbying or policy work at national level.

What should you do if you are interested in standing for election?

Before deciding to stand for election you should read and take note of the following documents:

We are holding a virtual information session for prospective candidates at 6.00pm on Monday 30th September 2024 where you can meet the current Co-Chairs of the Board Alastair Cowen and Lawayne Jefferson, and some fellow NGA trustees. If you are interested, please contact our clerk lara.angell@nga.org.uk.

If you decide to stand for election, then please complete and submit a Trustee Nomination Form. Nominations forms should be submitted no later than 12.00 noon on Thursday 17th October 2024.