The Foundations of Strong Governance

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Please note all prices include VAT

How do governors fulfil their professional and ethical responsibility?

This session will give you an insight into the crucial role of governance in supporting and challenging school leaders to develop and sustain excellent educational/wellbeing outcomes  for all pupils. It will also illustrate how governance is becoming more complex, requiring  greater accountability of educational standards and management of key risks.

Course objectives: 

  • Explore the three core functions of school governors: vision and direction, holding leaders accountable, and financial oversight.
  • Address pressing issues such as the impact of cost-of-living, staffing challenges, and pandemic-related learning recovery costs.
  • Delve into promoting equalities duties through the lens of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, with a focus on legal frameworks and practical strategies.
  • Emphasise the importance of diverse governing boards, detailing how diversity enhances education quality and outcomes.
  • Cover ethical behaviours expected of governors, providing examples of best practices and potential issues in governance.

This training is suitable for:

  • New governors (induction)
  • More experienced governors (refresher)
  • Clerks 
  • School Business Managers

Facilitator: Maggie Kalnins 

 

Free for Hackney schools. Non Hackney schools £108.00 incl. VAT

  • Target audience:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Included in package:
  • Governance
  • Primary
  • Secondary

From £0.00

(incl. VAT)

How do we govern financial performance and ensure money is well spent?

Governing boards in schools, irrespective of their status, play a key role in overseeing finances. This session delves into how they fulfil core financial functions, covering planning, compliance, risk management, and fiscal responsibility. Emphasising effective financial management and benchmarking, the training aims to pinpoint areas for efficiency improvements, curbing wasteful spending for enhanced financial sustainability.

This session will focus on: 

  • What do governing boards do to ensure that money is being well spent? 
  • How do effective governing boards link their strategic development plans to a 3 year financial plan and prioritise money to invest into improvements. 
  • How do governors ensure robust monitoring of the annual budget, undertaking of  financial health checks and manage budget reductions. 
  • What guidance and support is available to help governing boards and school  leaders make sure money is well spent to maximise the value for improving life  chances of all children.

This training is suitable for: 

  • Finance Committee Chairs 
  • School Business Managers 

 

Facilitator: Sajeed Patni, Interim Head of Finance, Hackney Education.

  • Target audience:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Included in package:
  • Governance
  • Primary

£108.00

(incl. VAT)

How do you strategically assess and manage risks in your schools?

Governors and trustees require the competence to purposefully identify, evaluate, and prioritise organisational risks. This session explores how school leaders manage risks in core operations, including progress, teaching quality, pupil behaviour, and safeguarding. It also examines how schools establish systems for sustained service quality and development, and mitigate disruptions during significant risks.

This course will focus on:

  • Understanding how schools / governors might identify risks, evaluate to quantify the severity and assess the level of priority of each risk.
  • How to identify effective reduction, avoidance or mitigation of key risks by addressing the underlying causes of common and significant risks.
  • Considering effective risk management controls that help prevent problems, detect them when they occur and ensure they are dealt with correctly.

This training is suitable for:

  • Chairs of Governors & Governors
  • Senior Leaders
  • Clerks
  • School Business Managers

Facilitator: Maggie Kalnins

  • Target audience:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Included in package:
  • Governance
  • Primary

£108.00

(incl. VAT)

How does the Chair of Governors shape strong governance and what is distinct about this role?

The chair of governors, a volunteer fulfilling a public duty, leads the board with distinctive responsibilities. Elected by the group, they share power and authority but hold unique duties in leadership. This session emphasises the importance of strong governance for inclusive education, delves into the chair's specific responsibilities, and showcases best practices for effective, ethical, and accountable school governance.

 Course objectives: 

  • Essential Governance:
    • Explore governing boards' role in shaping vision and strategy.
    • Understand core functions: vision clarity, accountability, and financial oversight.
  • Chair's Unique Responsibilities:
    • Lead ethical governance and foster team diversity.
    • Drive continual improvement and address emerging issues.
  • Equality and Ethics:
    • Implement Equalities Duties and adhere to Nolan principles.
  • Effective Team Practices:
    • Define roles and categories, promoting best practices and independent thinking.
  • System Improvement and Risk Management:
    • Ensure clarity in mission and oversee financial performance.
    • Address challenges, evaluate common issues, and advocate for diversity to avoid groupthink.

Facilitator: Maggie Kalnins

 

Free for Hackney Schools, £90 + VAT otherwise. 

  • Target audience:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Included in package:
  • Governance
  • Primary
  • Secondary

From £0.00

(incl. VAT)