Celebrating the best of school and trust governance
With a record number of entries this year, we were excited to be joined by the boards and governance professionals who had made it through the rigorous judging process, and whose achievements are set against a backdrop of such an exceptional and difficult time for our schools and wider communities.
Achievements were recognised in six categories:
- Outstanding clerk to a governing board
- Outstanding lead governance professional
- Outstanding vision and strategy
- Outstanding governance in a single school
- Outstanding governance in a multi academy trust
- Outstanding governance in a federation
''Governance has never been more critical to the education of our nation’s young people... I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to you today, and to the many thousands of governors, trustees, governance professionals and clerks across the country, for your work in schools and the way you have responded to the pandemic. You have pulled together to deliver the best for our children and young people.''
Before presenting the awards, Baroness Berridge, then parliamentary under-secretary of state for the school system, addressed the finalists and guests, saying: “I am honoured to have been asked to present these awards. They recognise both the excellent contributions that each of you are making and the importance of working together as a team. That collective endeavour ensures that children are receiving the best education possible, giving them the best start in life.
Outstanding clerk to a governing board
Introducing the first award, celebrating the integral role of the professional clerk, judges Mandy Parsons from Hampshire County Council and co-chair of the National Co-ordinators of Governor Services, and Charlotte Harding, NGA head of National Leaders of Governance support, commended the passion of our finalists for improving governance and the excellent practice taking place across the country.
Kate Williams for service to SMART Trust (Cornwall), and Beth Yap for service to Frontier Learning Trust (London) were both recognised as finalists in this category. For her outstanding practice and considerable expertise in clerking both the maintained and academy sector, Lesley Hardwick from The Education People Clerking Service (Kent) received a highly commended award.
Winning the outstanding clerk to a governing board award was Sarah Steven of The Galaxy Trust (Kent). From writing handbooks and welcome packs for governors and trustees to redefining the role of local governing boards, Sarah ensures that the trust and its committees are focused, stay strategic and effectively carry out their duties. The trust CEO praised her diligence, efficiency and, above all, “unwavering dedication to the pupils and staff”.
Outstanding lead governance professional
This new award recognises the growing role of those responsible for leading and managing clerking teams and governance support. Category judges Peter Swabey, from the Chartered Governance Institute, and Amy Wright, NGA clerking development manager, described the four finalists as excellent role models for governance professionals and values-driven leaders embedding a culture of effective and ethical governance in the organisation(s) they support.
Karen Froggatt, for service to Wellspring Academy Trust (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire), and Ann Adams, for Support Services for Education Governance, were both recognised as finalists.
Becky Poynter from Unity School Partnership (East of England and East London) received a highly commended award, recognising her commitment to the values of her trust and empowering others through support and guidance.
Our winner was Carina Sawyer for service to Magna Learning Partnership (Wiltshire). Carina showed exceptional professionalism, attention to detail and knowledge of governance. She has achieved outstanding clerking through training and developing her clerking team and worked with people across the trust to build a governance structure fit for the future. The judges concluded: “Carina’s skill and clear leadership epitomises the essence of the lead governance professional award.”
Outstanding governance in a single school
Our long-running award for those governing in a single school recognised the achievements of four finalists who had faced a range of challenging circumstances and opportunities and were united by the quality of their strategic leadership and their courage in making bold decisions in the interests of children and young people.
Caroline Haslett Primary School (Milton Keynes) and Snaith Primary School (East Riding of Yorkshire) were both recognised as finalists in this category.
Excelling in its outward-looking strategy, child-centred approach, and considerable contribution to its local community, Pathways Learning Centre (South Gloucestershire) received a highly commended award.
Winning the outstanding governance in a single school award, the board of Cleeve School in Gloucestershire was described by category judge Lynn Howard as “energetic and focused on driving improvement and ensuring the best for each pupil at the school”. Placing inclusion at the heart of improvement, from deep dives into pupil attendance and exclusions to ensuring school trips and educational experiences are accessible to all, Cleeve demonstrates what can be achieved with an engaged and effective board.
Outstanding vision and strategy
Four boards that have an inspiring vision and can demonstrate how it is effective in practice were recognised in the vision and strategy category. Each of the finalists has collaborated with its school community to create a truly shared vision that makes clear an ambitious and aspirational expectation for its pupils.
Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (Teesside and North Yorkshire) and Wellspring Academy Trust (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire) were both recognised as finalists.
Learn Academies Trust in Leicestershire was recognised as a winner of the outstanding vision and strategy award as the trust’s vision “resulted in a focus on pupils flowing throughout the organisation with people at all levels being clear on their role in achieving the vision. The board works to preserve the unique character of each school and by providing rich learning experiences and having unconditional positive regard for all pupils is achieving its ambition for more pupils to reach age-related standards or above.”
The second winner of the outstanding vision and strategy award was Riccall Community Primary School in North Yorkshire. Judges were impressed with the innovative and outward-looking approach taken by the board in embedding its new vision for 2021. The board learned from local schools, worked collaboratively with the leadership team and found ways to engage even the youngest pupils in the process.
Outstanding governance in a multi academy trust
In its third year, this award showcased finalists evidencing how their governance practice across the trust has evolved over time and demonstrated the stories of success where central and local governance work together as one organisation to best serve their schools.
Nexus Multi Academy Trust (Yorkshire), Northern Star Academies Trust (North and West Yorkshire) and Unity Schools Partnership (East of England and East London) were all recognised as finalists.
The first winner was Anglian Learning in the East of England. The board is driven by a strong moral purpose to provide the best educational outcomes and experiences for pupils. When taking on a smaller trust of five schools, they balanced moral purpose with effective challenge, scrutiny and risk management in considering the proposals, and managed the transition successfully.
STEP Academy Trust in South London and East Sussex was the second winner. Category judge Sam Henson, NGA director of policy and information, praised “the board’s ongoing reflection about the effectiveness of its practice” and “an impressive record of school improvement”. The board’s trust-wide roadmap to becoming an anti-racist organisation underlines STEP’s commitment to equality and social justice.
Outstanding governance in a federation
A new category for 2021, this award was given to two federations providing excellent strategic leadership and who have faced real challenges to which the strength of governance made a difference.
Our first winner, Castle Church of England Federation in Hertfordshire, impressed the judges with the “professionalism, commitment and high-quality practice” shown by the board who “take bold decisions when needed to improve provision for pupils and ensure the federation’s sustainability”. Prior to the federation, one school had a long period of financial and leadership instability, but a single governing board with a common desire to deliver high-quality education has benefited both schools.
Our second winner was Islington Futures Federation. Judge Emma Knights said: “The board has a clear understanding of the priorities, characteristics and challenges of each school – and how to tailor their approach to achieve the best for all.” This board took a decision to take on a school requiring improvement. The judges recognised the consideration of the board in weighing up the school’s difficulties with the potential to benefit more pupils.
Sharing good practice
This year’s awards complement NGA’s Visible Governance campaign, which aims to champion and raise the profile of the impact of good governance on schools. Stories of excellence and sharing best practice helps underline that governance truly contributes to the success and sustainability of our schools and the educational achievement and wellbeing of children and young people. Many of the finalists will be telling other governors, trustees and governance professionals about their achievement and experiences in future editions of Governing Matters.