Webinars

A partnership with senior leaders:
what governing boards and school leaders should expect from each other

Emma Knights (NGA's Chief Executive) explores:

• The respective roles of the governing board and those employed to run the trust or school
• What good working relationships with senior leaders look and feel like
• How mutual trust and respect can be developed and earned
• The co-construction of the organisation’s strategy

This webinar will be particularly useful for governors/trustees who have recently joined a board and for executive leaders starting out in their role. It is not recommended for chairs or experienced governors/trustees.

NGA has other resources covering the key relationships between the senior executive leader and the chair, in particular the Chair’s Handbook . The Leading Governance development programme is aimed at chairs, vice chairs and future chairs.

This webinar is part of NGA’s Visible Governance campaign and its focus in May on senior leaders’ role in governance.

Emma Balchin, NGA’s Director of Professional Development, explores how you can prioritise, promote and monitor pupil wellbeing in your role.  The webinar will cover:

• The current situation – what data is telling us
• Promoting a whole school wellbeing culture
• Monitoring data on pupil wellbeing 
• Questions for boards to ask

Our new information sheet on making pupil wellbeing a priority accompanies this webinar.

Governance, safeguarding and the pandemic

A key responsibility for all those governing is to keep pupils safe and well. Clare Collins, NGA’s Head of Consultancy, explored some of the new experiences and practical approaches that have emerged while tackling this unexpected governance challenge.

Boards and Clerks working together

Join Steve Edmonds (NGA’s Director of Advice and Guidance) for an overview of how governing  boards and clerks (governance professional) develop strong and effective working relationships, which strengthen governance.     

The webinar will consider how the role of clerk (governance professional) is evolving in schools and trusts and:

• Why clerking always matters
• How boards challenge and support their clerk to succeed 
• How those in clerk/governance professional role can ensure their role is understood and appreciated
• Effective working relationships and a good rapport.

What does good governance look like? 

Good governance: Join Emma Knights (NGA’s Chief Executive) for an introduction to what constitutes good governance. The webinar will explore the three pillars of good governance:

• Ethical governance
• Effective governance
• Accountable governance

And how these need to be built on agreed values and a healthy culture.

Virtual Governance: Integrated curriculum and financial planning​

Join Paul Aber, NGA’s Head of Training Development for our latest webinar which will focus on ICFP (integrated curriculum and financial planning)

Virtual governance : using ICFP to help achieve your school or trust’s vision (and cope with COVID-19)

ICFP has been around a long time. Quite a lot has been written about it recently. Your school or trust may already be using it. With schools and trusts facing short and longer term financial pressures governing boards may find it useful to develop a better awareness of what ICFP is, how it can be used and what the role of the governing board is in this.

With this in mind this session will explore :

• The current context 
• Demystifying ICFP 
• Why ICFP?
• ICFP in action
• Using ICFP in your school or trust

Our Integrated curriculum and financial planning​ guidance accompanies this webinar

Join NGA’s Director of Policy and Information, Sam Henson for this webinar which will focus on governance monitoring and board reporting amidst a global pandemic

The webinar will explore what is different about governance monitoring and reporting at this time and consider

• What immediate priorities there are this term and beyond
• Questions board’s should pose in relation to recovery plans
• Monitoring the plans for and implementation of remote education
• The results and insights gleaned from our live web poll:  ‘Has your governing board been into school for monitoring visits or meetings this term?'

Our information sheet on COVID-19 monitoring priorities accommpanies this webinar.

Being strategic

Join NGA’s Director of Advice and Guidance Steve Edmonds for this webinar, which will focus on the governing board’s first core function - ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.

The webinar will introduce new, updated guidance on being strategic and explore:

• how boards and school leaders work together to develop a clear strategy;
• the importance of taking a longer term perspective on the things that matter - values, ethos and culture, and
• the role of governing boards have in influencing the culture in their schools and trusts.

The webinar will be relevant for both governing boards and senior leaders.

Virtual Governance: How to recruit a senior executive leader
with Judith Hicks, NGA Head of Governance Development

The first webinar for the autumn term will focus on the governing board’s vital role in recruiting a senior executive leader.

‘How to recruit a senior executive leader’ will give an overview of the entire recruitment process, explore key areas in more detail and signpost to additional resources.

If your board believes that they will be recruiting a senior executive leader in the next 12 months – then please watch the webinar today and start your planning and preparation now.

Virtual Governance: Planning for the Autumn term, what do boards need to know
with Steve Edmonds, NGA Director of Advice and Guidance 

This webinar explores the important issues governing boards need to consider ahead of the Autumn term. The webinar will give advice based on the latest information available and will focus on the discussion between governing boards, senior executive leaders, clerks and governance professional, which covers:

• the school/trust priorities for responding to issues created or exacerbated by COVID-19, and
• the governance arrangements needed to support and monitor the priorities, maintain the ongoing effectiveness, productivity and compliance of the board.

Succession Planning: Is your board future-proofed?
with Simon Richards, NGA Chairs Development Manager 

The challenges that every governing board will face in the future will require the right people with the right skills in the right place at the right time, especially as it is not clear yet what the new normal for schools might look like. The role of the chair is perhaps more crucial than ever, and ensuring continuity at the head of the table is one of those challenges.  This session will explore the principle of succession planning and a different approach to chair recruitment.

The role of governing boards in the safe re-opening of schools
with Steve Edmonds, NGA Director of Advice and Guidance

This webinar considers the important role that governing boards have in scrutinising their school leaders’ assessment of risk and decision making over the potential wider re-opening of schools from the week commencing 1 June 2020 at the earliest. The webinar will give advice on how governing boards might test the robustness of the risk assessments shared by their school leaders and, once a decision is made, how to demonstrate support and be an advocate. 

Disadvantage – considerations for the boards response to a widened attainment gap
with Sam Henson, NGA Director of Policy and Information

This webinar will explore:

• the barriers to disadvanted pupils caused by the impact of COVID-19
• key strategic considerations for boards, committed to challenging disadvantage in schools
• how boards look to respond in a quick, inclusive yet measured way to secure the best possible outcomes going forwards  ​

Governing boards as employers: What does COVID-19 mean for you?
with Steve Edmonds, NGA Director of Advice and Guidance

This seminar will give key messages and guidance for boards on overcoming the disruption to employment processes in schools and trusts. It will also consider how governing boards can lead the way as exemplary employers by protecting the health and wellbeing of headteachers/CEO’s and their staff teams during this difficult period and in the months ahead.  

Virtual Governance: Curriculum cultivation
with Sam Henson, NGA Director of Policy and Information

This webinar will reflect on the boards role in driving, fostering and encouraging curriculum growth and development. You will explore what should drive the curriculum and its rationale, with a focus on intent, implementation and impact.

Virtual Governance: Board dynamics, relationships and trust in challenging times
with Clare Collins MBE, NGA Head of Consultancy

This webinar outlines some of the pitfalls and will signpost some of the tools effective boards use to ensure that all those involved in the governance of their organisation can stay professional, even in fast moving and unusual circumstances.   

Virtual Governance: Connecting with and recruiting volunteers 
with Simon Richards, NGA Chairs Development Manager 

This webinar and explores how to:

• adapt your recruitment strategy for a virtual environment
• continue the principles of effective governor recruitment practice
• conduct interviews, appointments and inductions virtually

Virtual Governance: Governing through coronavirus 
with Steve Edmonds, NGA Director of Advice and Guidance.