Twenty questions for governing board self-review

Questions to support governing board self-review

Reviewing board effectiveness is good practice and self-review is one of the main methods that governing boards use to monitor and improve their governance.

Download the twenty questions for governing boards

We recommend that those governing in a multi academy trust (MAT) refer to twenty-one questions for MATs.

These questions were developed by NGA, The Key for School Governors and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Education Governance to support governing board self-review.

We encourage governing boards to:

• allocate sufficient time to the process of self-review
• make these questions an integral part of review and reflection on current practice
• adapt the questions to cover all aspects of effective governance in their context
• use independent, expert support and facilitation to make the process effective - NGA has extensive experience of carrying out external reviews of governance
• draw upon guidance and training provided by NGA and a range of other organisations to support development and strengthen governance

2020 update

This resource was updated in December 2020. The content of the twenty questions has not changed. However, we've refreshed the document and included some useful links

Further reading

• Skills audit and matrix – identify the knowledge, skills and behaviour your board needs to develop
• Governor and trustee role descriptions – adapt our model role descriptions as needed
• Model code of conduct – set out the behaviour and professional standards required
• The right people around the table – guide to recruitment and retention for governors and trustees
• Being Strategic – an annual cycle for creating, monitoring and reviewing strategy
• What governing boards and school leaders should expect from each other