Core modules for new governors/trustees

A suite of 8 modules covering key governance areas, perfect for those new to governance or those looking for a refresher. (These modules are included within each of the categories below).

 Good Governance

These modules aim to help you improve the effectiveness of your governing board, including visiting your school or schools, Ofsted inspections and succession planning.

 Vision, ethos and strategic direction

Covering risk management, evaluating effectiveness and your role in school improvement, these modules will help you shape your school or trust’s strategic direction.

 Pupil success and wellbeing

These modules focus on the core purpose of your schools or trust – the quality of education it should be providing to pupils.

Stakeholder engagement

Find out about key partners and stakeholders, how to develop relationships with them, and how engagement with stakeholders can lead to better outcomes for pupils.

Module	Duration
Stakeholder engagement: the governance role	15 mins

 Staffing

These modules cover the key stages in the lead executive recruitment process and the critical role the board has in holding executive leaders to account through effective headteacher appraisal.

Module	Duration
Headteacher recruitment - succession planning	55 mins
Headteacher appraisal and capability	55 mins
Setting performance objectives for executive leaders	15 mins
Recruiting a senior executive leader	1 hr

 Finance

These modules will provide you with the tools and approaches for developing financial efficiency in your school or trust

Module	Duration
Resources: making the most of what you’ve got	2 hrs
Understanding schools finance	1 hr
Managing academy Finance	1 hrs 15 mins
Using Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP) to resource the best curriculum for your pupils	15 mins
Management of workload and wellbeing: the governance role	15 mins

 Compliance

Covering key areas of compliance such as safeguarding, health and safety and admissions, these modules will make you aware of the most important points from legislation and guidance.

Module	Duration
Compliance: assuring your organisation, keeping it safe, secure and solvent	1 hr 30 mins
Equality and diversity: a practical guide for governors and trustees	1 hr
Getting to know the law	55 mins
Governing board duties on compliance	1 hr
Safeguarding: the governor’s role	1 hr 30 mins
Health and safety	1 hr

  Clerking

These modules will help new and experienced clerks to get a better understanding of their role and how to carry it out well.

Module	Duration
Clerking in new contexts: Academy trust boards	2 hrs
Clerking in new contexts: LA maintained governing board	2 hrs
Clerking in new contexts: MAT local governance tier	2 hrs
Panel work: an introduction	25 mins
How to: run an effective exclusion panel	45 mins
1. Welcome to the Introduction to Clerking programme	10 mins
2. What does the governance professional do?	40 mins
3. How governance works	40 mins
4. How to: clerk in different types of school organisation	40 mins
5. How to: find and use key sources for governance	30 mins
6. How to: arrange meetings	20 mins
7. How to: minute a meeting effectively	40 mins
8. How to: manage information and documents	10 mins
9. How to: support the recruitment, appointment, election and retirement of governors and trustees	30 mins
How to: run an effective complaints review panel	45mins
How to: run an effective HR review panel	45 mins
How to run an effective admissions appeal panel	45 mins

 MATs

This module explores key challenges for multi academy trusts, common pitfalls, and what effective MAT governance looks like.

Module	Duration
Effective MAT Governance	1 hr 15 mins