Research

Research into Governors and Governance

On this page you will find references and links to research papers and documents that have been produced since 2000. We apologise if we have omitted any significant research paper or document from this list.

The list is in date order, with the most recent research first. Downloads are available where possible.

Towards a New Governance of Schools? CfBT / Warwick University Research

A number of recent education policies require schools to group together to deliver for children and families the intended range of courses, activities and educational opportunities. This research has focused on the governance arrangements of these new school consortia.

Download the executive summary here

Download the full report (large file) here

This research was funded by the CfBT Education Trust and carried out by Stewart Ranson and Colin Crouch from Warwick University Institute of Education. The report was discussed at an NGA Seminar in May 2009.

NGA Annual Survey - 2009

Over 1400 governors answered the survey; this included 318 Chairs and 17 Headteachers. Most opinion poll organisations would accept this size of response as a valid national sample.

Some of the survey results were as expected, others less so. Over 75% of respondents served on governing bodies of between 9 and 16 governors, and over 30% did believe that smaller governing bodies were more effective. But a majority, over 38%, took the opposite view.

A large majority, nearly 90%, were in favour of mandatory training for new governors. We asked about payment and the response echoed previous surveys; nearly 60% were against payment, whilst a quarter of respondents were in favour.

Governors were generally confident about their ability to carry out the role effectively, whilst voicing the usual concern about the workload and responsibility.

Download the full survey as a Word document here

BITC Report - Governing our Schools

This Business in the Community report is based on research carried out by Bath University during the June and July 2008.

The NGA asked governors to co-operate with the research and over 5000 governors completed an online survey. The research conclusions are broadly in line with NGA policy. The Bath researchers concluded that:

Greater clarity is needed about the role of the governing body
Governors need to be better supported in their role
Training for governors should be mandatory
There should be a fully professional and qualified Clerking service
Governance should be properly recognised and celebrated

Download the full Bath research report >here<

The full BITC report, which is a very large PDF file, can be found >here<

Stephen Adamson's full article in The TES on this issue can be found >here<

DCSF Research report May 2008

What does the evidence tell us about school governors?

A DCSF summary of research into governance as presented to the Ministerial Stakeholder Group on Governance - established May 2008. The NGA has reservations about some of the evidence used in the document - NGA's comments on the summary can be viewed in our Press Release of 8 May 2008 on the News section of this website.

To view the DCSF's summary of research into governance click here.

The Rowntree Report

Schools, Governors and Disadvantage. Charlotte Dean, Alan Dyson, Frances Gallannaugh, Andy Howes and Carlo Raffo - Joseph Rowntree Foundation, June 2007.

Download the report >here<

This is a study of linked case studies of school governing bodies in three contrasting areas characterised by social and economic disadvantage. This report, which was given a high media profile, restates much of what is well known about school governance in the most challenging areas of England.

The NGA were deeply disappointed that the report's authors worked from the baseline of known weaknesses in the most disadvantaged areas and suggested solutions that would change the nature of governance in general.

Strengthening Public Accountability on the School Governing Body

Centre for Public Scrutiny - April 2006

Download the report >here<

This report recommends a split between the scrutiny role of the GB and its task of strategic management of the school. Written by experienced COGs, Martin Lawrence Vivienne Barton and Claudia Wade, it is a valuable contribution to the debate on governance, whether one agrees with its conclusions or not.

Governing the School of the Future

DfES (now DCSF) 2004

Download the report >here<

The ESRC Ranson Report

The participation of volunteer citizens in school governance. Professor Stewart Ranson and Dr Jane Martin, Dr Margaret Arnott and Penny McKeown. 2003

Download the report >here<

This is a study of governors and governance across the UK's four home countries. The cases included four schools which had been failing, but did not focus on disadvanatged schools. In the case of the failing schools the authors concluded that:

"governance made a profound contribution to regenerating the schools."

The NGA believes that this study offers profound insights into the nature of governance.

Governors and School Improvement

authors Earley, P. and Creese, M in Research Matters No. 20 (2003), published by and available from University of London Institute of Education

No download available

Leaders or followers? Governing bodies and their role in school leadership’

author Peter Earley, in Educational Management and Administration, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 353–67. 2003

No download available

Do the Right Thing!

How Governors Can Contribute to Community Cohesion and Accountability - author S Bird. Published by The Education Network (now the Children's Services Network) 2003

Download the report >here<

Governance Matters

published by The Education Network in September 2002

No longer available

Making it Better - Improving School Governance

Published by Ofsted, 2001.

Download the report >here<

Modernising education governance in England and Scotland: devolution and control

Authors Alexiadou, N. and Ozga, J. published in European Education Research Journal
1 (4) 676-691 (2002).

Changing forms of educational governance in Europe

authors Lindblad, S., Ozga, J., and Zambeta, E. (2002) in European Educational Research Journal 1(4) 615-624.

Joined-Up Governance

Martin, J. and Holt, A. (2002) (Adamson Books)

Bowling Alone

This is the influential American study into social isolation and the loss of community.
Putnam, R. (2000) published by Simon Shuster (New York).