Resources for new governors and trustees

NGA’s governing board model role descriptions include:

• Governor role description (MS Word)

• Trustees role description (MS Word)

• Chair to a governing board role description (MS Word)

• Clerk to a governing board – maintained school (MS Word)

• Clerk to a governing board – academy trust word (MS Word)

Explore the eight key elements to understand what makes an effective governing board.

Read NGA's blog about getting started as a new school governor or trustee covering:

• Your school and board
• Understanding governance
• The bigger picture

NGA's glossary of governing terms helps governors, trustees, clerks and others navigate the specialist terms and abbreviations of the education world.

NGA Knowledge Centre glossary

NGA's sector-leading guides include:

Welcome to Governance a guide for new governors and trustees of single schools.

Welcome to Multi Academy Trusts a guide for newly appointed trustees.

NGA recommends that all governing boards adopt a code of conduct which outlines the purpose of the board and the appropriate relationships.

NGA model code of conduct (PDF)

The fifth edition aims to improve the effectiveness of governance by developing mutually supportive and respectful working practices between those leading and those governing school.

What governing boards and school leaders should expect from each other (PDF)

The Governance Handbook is guidance from the Department for Education and sets out the roles, functions and legal duties of governing boards and describes the main features of effective governance.

Visit the Department for Education website to download a copy of DfE Governance Handbook (PDF)

Governing boards should conduct a skills audit to identify any specific gaps that need to be filled by new board members. Regular skills audits also enable the governing board to identify ongoing training needs and develop a responsive training plan.

The  Competency Framework for Governance published by the Department for Education outlines the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for effective governance in maintained schools, academies and multi academy trusts.

Visit the Department for Education website to download a copy of DfE A Competency Framework for Governance (PDF)

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is statutory guidance from the Department for Education that schools and colleges in England must have regard to when carrying out their duties to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people.

Visit the Department for Education website to download a copy of DfE Keeping children safe in education (PDF)

Access e-learning to help governors, trustees, chairs and clerks develop their governance skills and knowledge. With over 50 high-quality e-learning modules, and bitesize ‘just in time’ modules, Learning Link provides flexible e-learning anytime, anywhere.