Skip to content
Back
Governing board roles

SAT Governance Essentials - Spring 2026

A focussed, setting-specific programme to equip new SAT trustees, and those seeking a refresher, with the essential knowledge and understanding to meet the specific challenges of SAT governance. It is also valuable for senior leaders and governance professionals looking to build a better understanding of SAT governance.

Book now
Individual training
04/03/2026
18:00-20:00
Zoom
training working in groups of two
Event date
04/03/2026
Time
18:00-20:00
Location
Zoom

What’s covered

  • The structure and purpose of a SAT
  • Understanding how governance contributes to SAT success
  • The duties, roles and responsibilities of SAT trustees
  • How governance works within a SAT
  • Delivering strategic leadership in a transparent and collaborative way
  • Meeting accountability and assurance expectations
  • Driving school improvement
  • Using financial oversight to establish a secure and sustainable trust
  • Meeting expectations of you as a SAT trustee

Dates of this cohort

Workshop 1

Wednesday

04/03/2026

18:00-20:00

Workshop 2

Wednesday

18/03/2026

18:00-20:00

Workshop 3

Wednesday

22/04/2026

18:00-20:00

Workshop 4

Wednesday

06/05/2026

18:00-20:00
The programme in more detail

The programme consists of four two-hour workshops spread over ten weeks. You also have the option of completing a short e-learning module covering the school and education system.

Understand how SAT governance should work: Explore the governance structure of a SAT, the roles and responsibilities of the board and its committees and what DfE expectations are

Know your legal and strategic responsibilities: Clarify the legal and statutory duties, accountability, and collective decision-making role of trustees within the governance framework

Strengthen effective governance in action: Map relationships between members, trustees, and leaders to ensure clear separation of governance layers, suitable delegation and effective communication and strong accountability.

Lead with purpose and clarity: Shape and align the trust’s vision, culture, and strategic priorities to drive improvement and take advantage of possible opportunities for collaboration through MAT-ing, federation and other options

Govern with confidence: Understand governance modes, set clear strategic boundaries, and foster transparency and a healthy organisational culture while engaging stakeholders effectively.

Anticipate and manage risk: Identify key risks, define risk appetite, and make informed, risk-based decisions within a system of audit, internal scrutiny and assurance supported by the audit and risk committee

Drive high standards and safety: Ensure every pupil receives a high-quality, safe education through effective oversight of curriculum, safeguarding, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Use data to lead improvement: Analyse trust and school performance data, monitor progress against strategic goals, and evaluate governance to secure impact.

Challenge and support leaders: Work collaboratively with the headteacher —asking the right questions, holding  to account, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement as the guardians of ambition for the trust.

Lead with financial confidence: Understand trustees’ legal and fiduciary duties and Academy Trust Handbook expectations and the roles of the chief finance officer and Accounting Officer to ensure robust oversight and accountability.

Drive sustainability: Gain insight into trust funding, budgeting, benchmarking and resource management and growth and restructure options to strengthen financial resilience and performance.

Ensure compliance and transparency: Understand the need to scrutinise financial reports, internal controls, and audits to ensure compliance and solvency.

Be an effective and impactful trustee: Understand what good governance looks like and your role within it, and how to make a meaningful contribution in meetings and decision-making and through your general behaviour and conduct.

Plan your growth and development: Consider next steps and actions, and understand how and where to seek guidance to strengthen your confidence and effectiveness in your trustee role.

Understand how schools and education are structured: Learn about the phases, key stages, and different types of schools within the English education system.

Gain insight into the school year and accountability: Explore how pupils are assessed, key events in the academic cycle, and what they mean for effective governance.

About the programme

  • New SAT trustees

  • SAT trustees seeking a refresher

  • SAT headteachers interested in finding out more about how SAT governance should work

  • Governance professionals interested in building a better understanding of SAT governance

  • Expert led focus on good practice

  • Sharp insights into opportunities, challenges and pitfalls and how to avoid them

  • Small group interactivity for richer understanding

  • Signposting and resource toolkits to help build competence post-workshop

  • High quality programme resources including the Digital edition of NGA’s Welcome to Governance

The workshops will be interactive with a mixture of participant activities and facilitator-led explanation and discussion. You will explore the essentials of good SAT governance using typical scenarios, current challenges and examples of current good practice.

Meet your facilitators

Judith Rutherford

Judith has been an NGA consultant since 2018, supporting boards and executive leaders through governance reviews, tailored training, and strategic development. A former National Leader of Governance, she worked nationally for six years to help strengthen governance practice. She has also played a major role in delivering NGA’s online development programmes for trustees. She has chaired a school governing board and is currently a trustee in a multi academy trust, serving on the audit and risk committee and with experience on finance committees. Her accountancy background as a chartered accountant brings valuable insight into financial oversight, risk, and assurance, alongside her wider governance experience. Judith works with both boards and CEOs to build purposeful relationships that support strategic coherence while maintaining the independence essential to good governance. She believes governance should be principled, strategic, and inclusive – driving improvement through trust, accountability, and shared purpose.

Janet Myers

Janet Myers

Consultant and Regional Governance Development Lead (North West)

Janet supports regional and local organisations to strengthen school governance and provides consultancy and training services, including external reviews of governance. She has facilitated on NGA’s Leading Governance programmes.

View Janet's full profile

Costs

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

Standard 1 place

£145

£180

Small group 2-4 places

£135

£160

Large group 5+ places

£120

£140

 Very Large group 10+ places

£50

£65
Book your place

Related content