To improve awareness, knowledge and understanding of the role of governance in schools and trusts, the National Governance Association (NGA) has today (11 January) relaunched its Visible Governance in Schools campaign which will run throughout 2021.
The campaign will celebrate the power of governance, the people that volunteer for the role and the value that good governance brings to the school system. It also aims to improve the education system’s and public’s knowledge and understanding of the role.
In January and throughout the spring term, the campaign will focus on encouraging individual governors, trustees and clerks to promote and celebrate their role, and on helping people to nominate those who have made an exceptional contribution to school governance for a national honour. In addition, nominations for NGA’s Outstanding Governance Awards 2021 are being sought to recognise outstanding practice and significant achievements by boards, clerks and lead governance professionals.
Other planned action over the year includes work with employers, parents and pupils to improve understanding of the role and increase volunteer numbers. Attention will also be drawn to crucial elements of governance including the role of clerks and governance professionals, the relationship between boards and executive leaders, and the difference that good governance makes to schools and trusts.
Emma Knights, chief executive of the National Governance Association said:“School and trust governance is a force for good, not an insurance policy to pick up the pieces when things go amiss. It is a central component of a successful organisation. Yet it is almost always invisible when it is working well, and very much in the spotlight when things go wrong. Making the role more prominent will further improve the education of pupils – through increased volunteer recruitment, through more effective engagement with stakeholders, and through a better understanding of the benefits of good governance. During the pandemic, boards and governance were forced to become more visible than usual; we hope the campaign keeps this newfound visibility alive. This is a platform for the whole governance community and wider education sector to celebrate, champion and raise the profile of governance.”
Find out more visit the campaign page.
To collaborate with NGA on this campaign, particularly if you are a local authority, education organisation or trust, please contact visible@nga.org.uk.