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

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
Non-members
Who is the programme for?
- Trustees of single academy trusts - especially chairs and appraisal panel members of maintained schools - especially chairs and appraisal panel members
- Chairs and members of local governing bodies involved in principal appraisal
- CEOs and senior trust 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 context
- 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.

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.