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School & trust leaders

Getting headteacher performance management and appraisal right

Driving leadership excellence: the role of governors and trustees in headteacher performance management and appraisal

Training & development
16/10/2025
6-8pm
Zoom
training man and woman working from same laptop
Event date
16/10/2025
Time
6-8pm
Location
Zoom

Join our practical two-hour workshop designed to equip governors and trustees with the skills and confidence to lead impactful headteacher appraisals. Learn how to support your headteacher’s professional development while driving improvement across your school.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand your role in the headteacher performance management cycle
  • Recognise how headteacher performance impacts school outcomes
  • Conduct effective headteacher appraisals with confidence
  • Use evidence to support or challenge headteacher performance
  • Set clear, strategic, and measurable objectives
  • Make informed decisions on performance-related pay
  • Monitor performance effectively throughout the year
  • Meet accountability expectations set by the Department for Education


Costs

NGA membership offers you substantial savings on this course and access to much more and there are discounts for group bookings.

Members

£85
per person

Group discounts

£75
2-4 people
£65
5+ people
Browse upcoming cohorts

Non-members

£105
per person

Group discounts

£90
2-4 people
£80
5+ people
Browse upcoming cohorts

Who is the programme for?

  • Governors of maintained schools - especially chairs and appraisal panel members
  • Trustees of single academy trusts - especially chairs and appraisal panel members
  • Members of the MAT local governance tier – especially chairs and those involved in principal appraisal
  • CEOs and senior MAT leaders who oversee principal performance
  • HR professionals supporting the headteacher/principal appraisal process

 

What are the benefits?

  • Expert-led guidance focused on your school or trust setting
  • Practical insights into common pitfalls—and how to avoid them
  • Small group format for richer discussion and deeper understanding
  • Proven templates to support the appraisal process

 

How you’ll learn

This live, interactive Zoom session combines hands-on activities with expert facilitation.

Led by an experienced NGA consultant, you'll benefit from trusted guidance drawn from real-world governance and leadership experience.

You'll also receive a resource toolkit, including templates, to support you during and after the workshop.

Meet the trainer

David Werry

David Werry has fourteen years’ experience of governance, covering all phases from nursery to sixth form, in both mainstream and special education. He has been a trustee of two multi academy trusts and is currently chair of governors of an outstanding maintained primary school. As an NGA consultant, David undertakes external reviews of governance, supports trusts and schools as an external adviser for the performance management of senior executive leaders and designs and facilitates training on a range of topics, including performance management for governors, trustees and chairs. David has over 30 of years experience in primary education, including 12 years as headteacher. He was previously one of the redesignated National Leaders of Governance in September 2021. As a qualified accountant (ACA), David worked for six years in business and industry.

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