How to make sure your local governing bodies are effective and engaged

Trust boards and governance leads, be clear on how to develop an effective relationship with your local governing bodies (LGBs). Make sure they understand their role and access training and development, so they feel accountable and engaged to become effective players in your trust.

Last reviewed on 24 August 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 40748
Contents
  1. Make sure there's engagement in both directions
  2. Help your LGBs understand the scheme of delegation
  3. Recognise the unique value of your LGBs

Our thanks to our associate education experts Cathy Brown, Brendan Hollyer, Lizzie Oliver, Phil Preston, Julia Skinner, Sara Scott and Jill Wakefield for their advice for this article.

Make sure there's engagement in both directions

If you want your LGBs to be more engaged, the trust needs to engage with your LGBs too - it's a 2-way street.

Establish regular forums/away days Online or in person, these forums are a nice quick win to kick-start a more effective relationship in your trust. This could be: Termly chairs' forums LGB chairs across the trust can meet to discuss any updates/issues Annual trust forums The CEO, chair of trustees and LGB chairs can meet and check in Termly forums for specific governor roles (e.g. safeguarding and SEND) Bring together LGB link governors, link trustees and relevant staff

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