Poor governance precedes intervention

The National Association of Governance (NGA) have released a new study, that found schools with effective boards were better prepared for Ofsted visits and more likely to sustain improvement beyond the inspection cycle.

The report noted that analysis from the Department for Education (DfE) and NGA’s external reviews of governance (ERGs) show “governance-related issues commonly precede formal intervention”. “These issues rarely stem from bad intent or lack of commitment. More often, they arise where boards lack clarity about their role, confidence to challenge, or capacity to exercise effective oversight.”

The ERGs identified recurring patterns in weaker governance, including limited challenge to executive decisions, gaps in financial oversight and risk management and an insufficient strategic focus, with boards drawn into operational detail.