Challenge and support: what it means
Challenge and support are intertwined. It's about pushing for improvement and setting aspirational targets, and then supporting leaders to achieve them.
As a trustee, you're doing this at a distance – mainly through reports and meetings rather than by being in your schools day to day, which is what your local governing boards (LGBs) are there for.
Your job is to hold your CEO and senior leaders to account for what they're delivering, and support them to get there.
Challenge your leaders by asking hard questions to hold them to account. This is a key part of your role, and your leaders will be expecting it But you should challenge them on what they're doing in their role, rather than them as individuals – don't make it personal Support your leaders by asking what the problems are and what they need to