Growing Good Governance Report

The National Governance Association (NGA) has published a report that captures the state of governance practice in England. The report draws upon the analysis of over 200 external reviews of governance (ERG) reports from the National Leaders of Governance (NLG) programme and NGA’s wider sector intelligence.

The comprehensive report, Growing Good Governance, reflects positive evidence of improving and effective school and trust governance practice in England. The report calls for a shift towards proactive and strategic governance approaches, highlighting the essential role of skilled professionals in board effectiveness

Based on the findings, Growing Good Governance ends by proposing the following recommendations:

1. Prioritise strategic planning: Develop and implement comprehensive strategies that align with the school or trust’s vision, values, and long-term goals, considering the specific challenges and opportunities faced by each board type
2. Strengthen governance structures: Boards should review and refine their governance structures to ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes
3. High quality governance support: Invest sufficiently in both the recruitment and development of governance professionals, seeking the skills to help enhance strategic focus and the confidence to guide and correct where required
4. Invest in leadership development: Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for board members to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge of effective governance practices, financial management and strategic planning
5. Enhance communication and collaboration: Foster open communication and collaboration among board members, school leaders and stakeholders to ensure shared understanding, effective decision-making and a unified approach
6. Address capacity challenges: Identify and address issues by recruiting and retaining skilled board members, providing adequate resources, and seeking external support when needed – particularly around financial management and strategic planning.