The governing role has a critical role to play in ensuring equality for all staff, pupils and parents.
NGA’s diversity and equality group advises us on the role of governing boards in this arena, exploring the following topics and considering how the school or trust’s culture impacts on:
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Governing board diversity – why it is important to have diversity of thought and to reflect the community it serves as well as wider society
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Senior leadership and staffing – ensuring equality in recruitment and progression, and in policies
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Pupils – the board’s strategic and oversight role in matters such as curriculum, exclusions and behaviour.
The purpose of advisory group meetings is:
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To learn from attendees and inform NGA’s understanding of and response to issues relating to the topic
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To gain insight and ideas on how we can effectively create change, including what has already worked well for others
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To establish the practical action that governors and trustees can take through their role and the support and resources that they need to do so
We also welcome the advisory group raising with NGA other issues and needs related to equality and diversity in schools where the governing board has a role.
We welcome any individual with expertise or experience in the arena of diversity, equalities and inclusion including governors and trustees, governance professionals, educators, academics and more. Membership is fluid and different people may attend different meetings depending on where their focus and experience lies. If you want to find out more about joining, email Kirstie.Ebbs@nga.org.uk.
Also see:
NGA and BAMEed steering group on governance and race
Akin to the advisory group, NGA and the BAMEed Network have partnered to support the creation of a member-led group focussed solely however on governance and race. The group aims to ‘make things happen on the ground’ and is for all governors and trustees who want to take practical action to further race equality within schools and trusts. The group meet every 2-3 months via zoom and have discussions looking at both board diversity and the board’s role in diversity within school.
If you would be interested in joining, please email Megan.Tate@nga.org.uk