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Governing board evaluation

Governing board self-evaluation questions

Use our questions to reflect on your board's effectiveness and agree clear priorities for improvement.

Guidance
30/09/2025

NGA encourages governing boards to carry out a self-evaluation every year. Our self-evaluation questions—often referred to as the 20 and 21 questions—help boards reflect on their effectiveness and agree priorities for improvement.

We provide tailored question sets for multi academy trusts (MATs) and academy committees, single academy trusts (SATs), and maintained schools, so each board can focus on the areas most relevant to its context.

The questions invite boards to explore:

  • Culture and engagement
  • Strategic leadership
  • Accountability and assurance
  • Employer responsibilities
  • Governance structures
  • Governance practices
  • Compliance

Exploring these areas as a team helps boards turn reflection into collective action and lasting improvement.

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