Championing Good Governance, Together
Through long-term partnerships, we collaborate with organisations committed to improving education at a strategic level.
At the National Governance Association (NGA), we are the leading independent charity for school and trust governance in England. We are the national voice of 250,000 volunteer governors and trustees, championing governance championing governance by providing boards and roles with the knowledge, support, and influence they need to lead effectively.
Our mission
To improve the educational standards and wellbeing of young people by increasing the effectiveness of governing boards and promoting high standards.
What is school governance?
School governance provides strategic leadership and accountability in schools and trusts. Governing boards, made up of volunteers called governors or trustees, work with school leaders to:
- Set the vision and values
- Monitor performance and pupil outcomes
- Oversee financial planning and compliance
- Support and challenge executive leaders
Governance is not about operational decisions; it's about ensuring every child receives the best possible education through strong strategic oversight.
Our reach in 2024
- Supporting 80,000+ members
- Representing 130,000+ governance roles
- NGA is the national voice for 250,000+ governance volunteers
- Working with 12,600+ schools, including:
52% of Multi Academy Trusts (MATs)
80% of Local Authorities (LAs) - 97,000+ active learners across 10,000+ schools
- Insight from 6,500+ governance professionals annually
Expertise you can trust
- Knowledge Centre: 1.3 million website views; 100,000+ downloads in 2024
- Advice Service: 2,250+ advice queries handled in 2024
- Training & e-learning: 95% learner recommendation rate
- Consultancy: 1,000+ external reviews via 40+ expert consultants
- Policy & influence: participation in 32 national task forces, 21 policy papers, 7 formal consultations
- Publications: Governing Matters magazine, Chair’s Handbook, Welcome to Governance, Governing in a Multi Academy Trust
- Events: 30+ regional and national conferences, webinars, and leadership networks
- Membership: tiered options for individuals, boards, and trusts
Why partnership matters
Most change in education targets classroom but lasting, system-wide impact starts with governance.
Governing boards and trustees shape school strategy, spending, and culture. If we want schools to embrace innovation, equity, and resilience, their leaders must be equipped to lead with confidence.
Partnering with NGA offers the opportunity to:
- Influence strategic decisions across thousands of schools
- Collaborate on national initiatives with real-world impact
- Co-create practical resources that reach the right people
- Contribute to system-level thinking, equity, and inclusion
Exploring new collaborations
We are actively developing new partnerships with:
- Charities
- Tech companies
- Public bodies
- Research and training organisations
- Values-aligned private sector partners
Areas of interest include:
- Toolkits, training and pilots on: Digital inclusion, AI and online safety, Sustainability, Mental health & wellbeing, SEND
- Resource development and co-branded content
- Research partnerships and policy insight
- Community engagement via governance
Campaigning for Stronger Governance
- Visible Governance: Celebrates the role and impact of governors and trustees, promotes employer engagement, and champions governance as a form of civic participation and professional development.
- Greener Governance: Helps governing boards lead on environmental sustainability by embedding climate action and sustainability into school and trust strategy.
- Diverse Governance: Encourages more representative board membership across all school types.
What we look for in a partner
- Shared values and commitment to improving education
- Strategic focus on school and trust leadership
- Commitment to meaningful, long-term collaboration
- Ability to co-create resources, training or research
- Willingness to align messaging and delivery
- Interest in thought leadership – sharing expertise, commentary or case studies via NGA’s magazine, blogs, webinars or events to inform debate, elevate governance issues, and build mutual profile and sector influence