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Equality, diversity & inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion campaign

NGA has published a series of commitments to demonstrate how we have committed to improving diversity on governing boards, particularly in relation to race. Read the blog on our commitments. We are also involved in various projects and initiatives around diversity and governance, and engage with governors, trustees, governance professionals and education professionals to understand experiences, needs and insight.

Campaign
15/05/2023

Commitments and progress

1. NGA will conduct research on the experience of governors and trustees from Black, Asian or minority ethnicities and those aged under 40, and on the views and perceptions of people from these groups that do not currently volunteer. 

Our action: We published the Increasing participation in school and trust governance report in June 2021. 

2. Improve our information, guidance and e-learning for governing boards on equalities and diversity and ensure it is threaded through our suite of information and guidance. 

Our action:

3. Support the creation of a BAMEed Network governance hub. 

Our action: We developed the NGA and BAMEed steering group on governance and race with the BAMEed network. The group focussed on promoting ways in which governing boards can action on the ground to improve race diversity on governing boards.

4. Re-energise the Everyone on Board campaign.

Our action:

  • We hosted a podcast on Increasing participation in Governance. Speaking to three Chairs and Governors, we discussed why diversity on boards is important. We explored how boards diversified their membership and supported new governors and trustees when they joined.

  • We hosted a podcast on Being a young governor (episode 18). In their own words two members of NGA’s Young Governors’ Network, talked about their experiences of being a young governor, the importance of diversity of thought and representation on boards and what they have learnt from governing. 

  • We arranged for three governors of Black and mixed heritage to take part in a the ‘conversations about race’ series on BBC Radio 4 World at One
  • We have developed partnerships with organisations including Operation Black Vote which include writing articles for their publication and presenting at events.

5. Continue to work with other national representative organisations to ensure as an education sector we are making progress and coordinating activity to maximise impact.

Our action: We have met and shared insight and progress with other national representative education organisations. In particular, we have met with representatives of ASCL’s BAME, women and LGBT networks and of NAHT’s Leaders for Race Equality network to hear directly from senior leaders about their experiences, what support they would like for their boards and to develop solutions for these needs.

NGA is a co-signatory to the sector-led statement of action and commitments published in June 2021 and updated annually since.

6. Summarise and promote to governing boards a range of race charters, frameworks and audit tools that have been created for schools/trusts.

Our action: You can find the round-up in the Knowledge Centre.

7. Continue to report on the diversity of our own board.

Our action: NGA’s trustees recognise that, while reflecting the school and trust governance community, the board does not reflect wider society and the community schools serve. For its autumn 2020 and 2021 election, NGA encouraged members to nominate Black, Asian and minority ethnic governors, trustees and clerks for its board and promoted the opportunities widely. Diversity of our own board continues to be a key consideration. 

 

Our other EDI work

  • NGA is a co-signatory to the sector-led statement of action and commitments on equality, diversity and inclusion in educatio. View the Statement of Action.
  • NGA is signatory to the Department for Education’s statement of intent on diversity, which was published in October 2018. Read more about the statement and our commitment.
  • NGA is a strategic partner of the BAME forum, a local Birmingham network, where we have been involved in delivering a session on governance to current and aspiring leaders on the BAME forum’s development programme.
  • Submitted a response to the government’s Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities consultation in November 2020.

Resources for schools

Click here to view a comprehensive list of our available equality, diversity and inclusion resources for schools and boards.

Contact us

Get involved
  • We welcome and encourage feedback on our work – please do send us any suggestions, comments or questions
  • If you are a governor or trustee from an underrepresented group, and are interested in participating in our work on equality, diversity and inclusion eg by sharing your story with us or being willing to share your experiences in the media, please get in touch
  • If your governing board has taken action to improve its diversity and inclusion, or has done proactive work in developing its role in equality, diversity and inclusion, no matter how small, we’d love to hear from you to share your practical tips with others

Please email adelaide.chitanda@nga.org.uk to get involved.

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