This is a copy of a powerpoint given in July 2018 to schools in Kent. I do NOT own the copyright to the pictures so please do not copy. It may raise a wry smile!

1. Fiona Stagg
National Leader of Governance and independent clerk
@dogpaws23

2. What is Governance…?
 Do we all understand it to be the same thing?
 Can everyone in school describe governance?
 How do we know what is good governance?
 What is the impact of weak/ineffective
governance?

3. What does governance mean to you?
Ethical governance
Governing boards must act in the best interests of children and young
people, and as guardians of the organisation’s ethos they must be
willing to challenge any unethical behaviours or decisions? NGA 2018
But what is governance?

4. 100 words for governance
• What do you know already?
• How does it make you feel?
• What can you do next? What should/must you do next?
• Why does it matter?
• How do you define governance in your setting?
• Have you asked this questions?

5. Let’s play a game…

6. Is it a numbers game?
3 core functions
7 principles of effectiveness
200+ competencies
All the key guidelines, legislation, documents
1 board + MAT board?
3 FGB + lots of committees?
1 Chair, 1 clerk, 1 Head + some governors/trustees
Lots of pupils and students
Staff
Stakeholders…

7. Rock and a hard place

8. Solution focused

9. It’s not just about the money

11. Evidence based decisions

12. Oh, no not more paperwork…

13. Is it a case of..?

14. A thousand cuts?

15. Questions, questions
1. What are governors doing now?
2. Do you know what you should be doing that they aren’t doing?
3. Do you know what you should be doing and/or are you not doing
whatever it is you should be doing?
4. Are they doing something really well?
5. When do we need to challenge and do we do this well?

16. What do these words really mean in practice?
Conflict – power?
Challenge – question?
Critical – aggressive?
Courageous - brave - powerful?

17. INSIGHT
What did you do?
What happened?
Why did it happen?
HINDSIGHT
What could you
done differently?
What was the cause?
OVERSIGHT
Why did you do it?
FORESIGHT
What will you do
differently next time?
?
Improving governance

18. 7 Cs of Governance
Committed Confident Curious Challenging
Collaborative Critical Creative

19. What conversations should be …
Types of question
• Collaborative
• Rhetorical
• Competitive
• Challenging
• Introductory

20. Ask your self this…
What do I know about how
governance works in my school
and how am I going to play a
part in improving outcomes?
What is my impact?

21. And finally…
fiona@swbgovernance.co.uk