Governance professionals - National Governance Association

Support for governance professionals

Whether you work as a clerk for a single school or manage governance across a group of schools, NGA offers best practice advice, tailored resources and development opportunities to help you stay up to date and develop effective practice.

Access to some of these resources and services is available exclusively to NGA members.
Explore NGA membership options.

Find tools and resources for your role

Essential guidance, information and model documents

Example committee terms of reference
Clerking in new contexts
Appointing and removing: governors or trustees/local governors
Electing governors and trustees: guidance and model documents
Agenda setting: exemplar and guiding principles
Taking minutes: exemplar and guiding principles
Persons with significant control: how to identify and record
Exclusions: process and an approach for reviewing exclusions

You can also access bespoke advice online or on the phone if your board has GOLD membership.

Support effective governance

Help the board(s) you work with become more effective and improve pupil outcomes

For multi academy trusts:

The role of the local tier in MATs: guidance for trustees and academy committees
Scheme of delegation guidance
Articles of association: updates to the model articles and how to make changes

For all types of governing boards:

The right people around the table: a guide to recruiting governors and trustees
Induction for new governors and trustees: tools, support and information
Governing board skills audit
Model code of conduct
What governing boards and school leaders should expect from each other
Being Strategic: a framework for formulating and monitoring the strategy
Environmental sustainability: a whole school approach
Government legislation and guidance
External reviews of governance: review board effectiveness
Bespoke training and support from NGA consultancy

Explore the NGA Knowledge Centre to find more guidance and information to support governance

Prioritise your professional development

Flexible continuing professional development for every stage of your career

Your annual appraisal and development: tools and guidance
L earning Link e-learning modules for governance professionals
Leading Governance Development for Clerks: level 3 certificate
Clerking Competency Framework
On demand webinars covering a range of topics from Ofsted to succession planning
Governing Chatters podcast - join us for the latest governance news and views
NGA blogs - hear from NGA staff and guest bloggers about sector changes and practice

Network with your peers

Support each other through the triumphs and challenges of being a governance professional

Raising the profile of governance professionals

NGA is working to increase visibility, remuneration and career opportunities for governance professionals

Role descriptions for governance professionals
Research report - Governance professionals: 2021 and beyond
Research report - Putting a price on effective clerking, 2020
NGA's Visible Governance campaign: celebrating the contribution of clerks and other governance professionals
Clerking Matters campaign page

Find your next governance professional role

Use our free Find us a Clerk a service to browse vacancies and find your next role

Manage your NGA membership

Keep your membership details up to date to make the most of NGA benefits