An introduction to being strategic
Strengthen your board's strategic thinking and leadership to help shape your school's or trust's future and deliver lasting improvement.
Bespoke training
Practical, expert-led training for boards, trusts and organisations, tailored to your group’s needs.
Expert governance training tailored to your organisation
Every organisation faces different governance challenges. Our bespoke training sessions are designed around your priorities, helping governors, trustees and leaders build confidence, strengthen decision-making and improve governance impact.
Tailored to your needs
Bespoke training designed around your board, priorities and governance challenges.
Expert-led sessions
Learn from experienced governance professionals with real-world expertise.
Immediate impact
Practical learning that strengthens decision-making, challenge and strategic oversight.
Delivered your way
Online or in-person, scheduled around your board's availability.
How delivery works
Flexible, practical sessions designed around your organisation, with delivery options to suit your board, trust or group.
Format
Virtual or face-to-face delivery
Group size
Up to 20 participants online; up to 25 in person
Scheduling
Weekdays, evenings and Saturday morning sessions available
Duration
Typically 2 hours (flexible)
Planning ahead:
Book at least 28 days in advance to secure your preferred date.
For term-time sessions, we recommend booking even earlier.
Interactive by design
Sessions are practical and engaging, helping participants apply learning to real governance challenges.
- Break-out rooms
- Real-world scenarios
- Skills practice
- Discussion
- Q&As
Training designed around your organisation
Every board, trust and governance team has different priorities. We tailor sessions around your context, challenges and development needs.
Training course search and filter
Explore example bespoke training topics
These examples show the types of governance training we regularly deliver. Every session can be tailored around your organisation's priorities, challenges and development needs.
An introduction to data and performance measures
Build the confidence to understand performance data, ask better questions and hold leaders effectively to account.
An introduction to governance: maintained school governors
An essential induction for new governors or a valuable refresher, helping you contribute confidently from your very first meeting.
An introduction to governance: MAT academy committee members
Develop the knowledge and confidence to make an effective contribution as a local governor within your MAT from day one.
An introduction to governance: multi academy trustees
Give new and existing trustees the knowledge, responsibilities and confidence needed to govern effectively within a MAT.
An introduction to governance: single academy trustees
Build the knowledge and confidence to fulfil your trustee role and contribute effectively from your first meeting.
Board dynamics and good relationships
Discover how stronger board relationships, trust and behaviours create more effective governance and better decision-making.
Creating a new vision and strategy for your organisation
Take time away from routine business to develop a clear vision and practical strategy for your school's or trust's future.
Effective chairing – an introduction
Develop the leadership skills needed to chair confidently, lead your board effectively and support stronger governance.
Effective chairing of meetings
Learn practical techniques to chair productive meetings that improve discussion, decision-making and governance impact.
Effective clerking – an introduction
Gain the essential knowledge, skills and tools to provide a professional, compliant and effective clerking service.
Effective governance of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Understand your governance responsibilities for SEND and help ensure every pupil receives the support they need to thrive.
Equality, diversity, inclusion and pupil belonging: getting governance right
Build confidence to lead on equality, diversity and inclusion while promoting pupil belonging and meeting governance responsibilities.
Financial oversight in academy trusts
Understand funding, budgeting and financial oversight so trustees can make informed decisions and secure value for money.
Financial oversight in maintained schools
Learn the essentials of school funding and budgeting to provide effective financial oversight and meet statutory responsibilities.
Forming or joining a MAT
Explore the benefits, risks and key considerations before making informed decisions about joining or establishing a multi academy trust.
Generating income: the governance role
Discover how boards can support sustainable income generation to help deliver strategic priorities and improve pupil outcomes.
Getting complaints management and investigation right
Learn how to handle complaints fairly, confidently and in line with best practice, reducing escalation and protecting valuable leadership time.
Getting stakeholder engagement right: the governance role
Strengthen engagement with parents, staff, pupils and communities to improve governance, trust and decision-making.
Getting the right people round the table
Build a stronger governing board by understanding the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for effective governance.
Governing AI in Schools and Trusts: responsibilities, risks and opportunities
Demystify AI and understand the opportunities, risks and governance responsibilities for schools and trusts.
Greener governance: environmentally sustainable schools
Explore practical ways to make environmental sustainability a strategic priority and develop a meaningful climate action plan.
Local Governance Essentials
A flexible programme that equips local governors with the knowledge and confidence to make an effective contribution within their MAT.
Navigating Ofsted – what governors and trustees need to know
Help your governing board prepare confidently for inspection and understand its role before, during and after an Ofsted visit.
Panel work: exclusions, complaints and employment
Build the confidence to undertake panel work fairly, lawfully and effectively across exclusions, complaints and employment matters.
Question, challenge and courageous conversations
Develop the confidence to ask the right questions, provide constructive challenge and strengthen accountability across your board.
Safeguarding: fulfilling the governance role
Refresh your safeguarding knowledge and understand your governance role in helping to keep every pupil safe.
Senior leader performance management
Understand the appraisal process and your role in supporting effective leadership and organisational improvement.
Successful governance visits
Learn how to plan and carry out governance visits that provide valuable insight and strengthen board oversight.
The governance role in managing risk
Build a practical understanding of risk management and how governing boards provide effective oversight and assurance.
Your governance framework: roles and responsibilities
Understand your responsibilities and how governance differs across maintained schools, academy trusts and local governing bodies.
Simple, transparent pricing
NGA delivers high-quality governance training that is both affordable and flexible. With consultants across England and virtual delivery available, we keep travel costs low while helping governing boards and trusts access expert support within their budget.
Standard Session
From £525
A two-hour training session for an individual governing board or local governing body, delivered by an experienced NGA consultant.
Tailored Programme
From £620
Bespoke training designed around your organisation's priorities, challenges and governance objectives.
Reduce the cost by sharing a session
Smaller governing boards can book a joint session with another governing board or trust, allowing both organisations to benefit from expert training while sharing the overall cost.
Ready to discuss your training?
Tell us about your governing board, preferred delivery method and training requirements. We'll recommend the best option and provide a tailored quotation.
Training and development
Why choose NGA training?
Benefit from our unrivalled expert knowledge of best governance practice.
Stay compliant
Keep up to date with latest government legislation and guidance
Relevant content
Tailored to your role and organisation
Practical learning
Clear “how to” guidance and resources to take away
Expert knowledge
Delivered by sector-expert consultants
Fast track your learning
On-demand content for your needs
Bespoke solutions
Specifically designed for your school, trust or setting
Group training enquiry
Browse our FAQs to help you find answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
If you do not find the answer in the FAQs, please use this form to submit an enquiry.
This form is for making enquiries about group training. If you are looking for training for individuals, please visit Training for individuals.
Please state the session topic(s) you want to enquire. As soon as we receive your completed form, we will arrange a short call for you and our Head of Training Development to make sure that the session you booked meets your requirements.