Warwick Mansell is a freelance education journalist. He has written extensively on the academies and free schools policies and the national curriculum, assessment and accountability systems for newspapers including the Guardian, The Observer and the Times Educational Supplement. He is the author of Education by Numbers:...
Martin Matthews explains the role of NLGs, why schools might want to work with one and how to find the right NLG for your school....
A review of the Governor Live interactive workshop led by on how maintained school can objectively assess their school when considering academisation....
A review of the Governor Live session led by Michelle Gray from berg on the legal issues around safeguarding for governors....
A review of the Governor Live session led by Michelle Gray & Darren Ashworth on the legal issues around leading or joining a MAT, including HR and land....
What do the results of an NUT survey, numerous FOI requests & a voluntary DfE survey tell us about asbestos management in schools - and what don't we know?...
This year our budget has been cut by £62k. Our responsibilities have increased. Next year the cut will be the same. Not in our governing body's name....
A review of the Governor Live session led by Karen Rae on financial systems & controls and how these relate to the Academies Financial Handbook....
Details of how school governors and academy trustees can take part in the first national conference addressing the issue of asbestos in schools....
A review of the Governor Live online event "Understanding cash flows for governance"-Armstrong Watson's Karen Rae explores why this is vital in governance....
In this guest article Mike Cameron examines a DfE/EFA report into a multi-academy trust which highlights several areas of concern regarding good governance....
Warwick Mansell asks if the unregulated pay of multi-academy trust CEOs in a time of austerity could have consequences beyond MAT boardrooms....
Cathy Pearson asks questions of the governance community. What does it mean to get professional accreditation for a voluntary role, and how might we do it?...
A headteacher's position on a maintained school's governing body is described as ex officio - meaning that s/he has that position due to the leadership role s/he occupies. Most governors would probably say that having their headteacher on their board is invaluable, as we can get insights and...
Part 2 of Tony Breslin's article exploring how to ensure that school governance is distributed more evenly among all those involved in its implementation, by training in governance, not just training governors....
Dr Tony Breslin explores how three actors - governors, leadership teams & others beyond an institution's boundaries - contribute to effective governance....
Debra Kidd looks at issues governors should consider if parents from their school wish to boycott SATs test by withdrawing their children from the test....
Eylan Ezekiel describes how the governing body at Larkrise Primary School has started to explore using Office 365 to support its work with school staff....
Valentine Mulholland of the NAHT and Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) gives an overview of what governors should know about asbestos in schools....
Ben Archibald, vice-chair at a school in Kent, looks at how spending time in one's school can make the sometimes abstract process of governance more real....
A review of Mark A'Bear's book "Effective School Governance", including details of how to access an extended extract & discount code through the MG app....
As recognition of their work declines at the same rate as their responsibilities grow, NLG Martin Matthews explains how to nominate governors for honours....
Details of the Considerations for Conversion series of Governor Live seminars, supporting governors in making informed choices regarding academy conversion....
Details of the forthcoming live, interactive and free-to-attend Governor Live session, on succession planning in governing bodies, presented by Ruth Agnew....
Stephen Gorard, Professor of Education and Public Policy at Durham University, explores how common selective education systems are around the globe....
Chloe Mortimer describes her experiences as a school governor in her twenties & offers advice for governing bodies to make younger governors welcome....
Janis Maloney-subject matter expert for the newly updated Modern Governor module on headteacher recruitment-shares her thoughts on the recruitment process....
NLG Ruth Agnew reflects on stepping down from being Chair of Governors after a long time in the role and the issues around succession in governance....
With an absence of governance seemingly at the heart of a number of recent cases of poor practice in academies, what role should good governance play?...
The Secret Governor reflects on the half hour of an evening s/he spent watching Channel 4's Dispatches entitled "How School Bosses Spend Your Millions"....
The University of Birmingham's Tom Perry & Rebecca Morris ask if Theresa May's support for grammar school expansion will translate into national policy....
As an update to the "Financial Management for Governors" module is released, Michael Burke says governors should be proactive in addressing school finances....
The new chair of governors reflects on a year of experiencing the maelstrom of policy changes at school-level....
Luke Ainsworth of Berg gives an introduction to the legal aspects of school governance, broken down into six main categories....
Lindsey Thomas, an experienced senior examiner & moderator, explains the changes announced by Ofqual regarding the review & appeal process for examinations....
Rob Freathy and Stephen G. Parker examine what an all-academised school system might mean for how Religious Education is delivered in English schools....
The Secret Governor has a date ahead - but who is this mysterious 'Mat' and what are his real motives? Contains adult themes...
Penny Rabiger asks if the removal of mandatory spaces for parent governors on governing boards will guarantee a more professional approach to governance....
Nicola Ingram, a parent at an academised school, asks questions on whether governors listen to their communities when academisation is an available option....
Dominic Norrish, United Learning group director of technology & chair of governors at an academy, considers the potential risks for schools of data breaches...