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Strategic planning
3 articles
Intervention & external support
- Guide to seeking high-quality legal advice With many different providers available, and large amounts of money involved, it's important that schools have access to high-quality, reliable legal advice. Our guide will help you choose the right provider if you don't have one, decide when you need a legal opinion, and prepare for the phone call to get the best advice.
- Interim executive board (IEB): responsibilities and priorities As an interim executive board (IEB), you have an important and challenging role. Use these pointers on what to prioritise to help you get off to a good start and ensure effective ways of working.
- Interim executive boards: appointment, membership and role What is the process for the appointment of an interim executive board? We look at when an interim executive board (IEB) can be appointed, and relay guidance on the membership and role of an IEB. We also look at access to IEB minutes and whether governors can request the implementation of an IEB.
11 articles
School improvement planning
- Coronavirus: how to set your school improvement plan (SIP) You still need to set the strategic aims in your school’s SIP for the year ahead. If you’re the chair, find out how coronavirus may (and may not!) affect this, what you should bear in mind, and what you can expect from senior leaders.
- Coronavirus: setting your school on the road to recovery Now, more than ever, is the time for you to take ownership of your school’s priorities, vision and values. Use this unique opportunity to reflect and rebuild, to make your school even better and stronger than before. Here's how.
- COVID-19 retrospective: how to help your school learn lessons from the past year Help your leaders take stock of this unique period in time to uncover positive learning points, so your school can move forward with renewed focus and confidence.
- How to evaluate and approve the school improvement plan Your governing board should approve the school improvement plan (SIP) every year. Understand the process for doing that, what to look out for and what questions to ask. The SIP is sometimes called a school development plan or strategic plan.
- Know your school: a checklist There's so much information to know as a governor that it can be overwhelming. Download our checklist to understand the key information you should know about your school and where to find it.
- School improvement plans: template and examples See examples of school improvement plans from primary and secondary schools, and a template from a local authority.
- Setting key performance indicators (KPIs) Understand your role in setting KPIs to monitor school improvement. Find out what questions you can ask when setting them and what they can focus on.
- Strategic plans: examples from schools Strategic plans can take a variety of forms. See examples from schools across the country.
- The self-evaluation form (SEF): governors' role What's the difference between the SEF and the SIP? What are you meant to do with it? Get the answers to these questions and more.
- Webinar: Governors' role in school recovery Watch the first of our 'Expert Q&A' webinar series where we discuss how governors can drive recovery as their schools open again after the lockdown.
- Your role in school improvement planning Learn about school improvement plans and your role in creating, approving and monitoring them. Use our flowchart to keep track of where you are in the process as you move through the academic year.
1 article
Structuring the school day and year
- Changing the length of the school day Read the rules on setting and changing the school day for maintained schools and academies. Get advice on how to consult on the changes, and see examples of other schools' consultations.
6 articles
Values & ethos
- Find your vision and strategy part 1: lay the groundwork You know that your school's meant to have a strong vision statement - but what does that mean? Learn what it is, why you need one and how to get the ball rolling to find yours.
- Find your vision and strategy part 2: how to run an away day Many boards take a day together in the summer term to reflect on their school’s vision and strategy. Read our facilitator’s guide on how to organise and run one for your board, both in-person or in a virtual space.
- How to embed your school's vision Understand how you can communicate your school's vision to stakeholders and how to embed the vision into the work of your governing board.
- Promoting British values in schools Read a summary of your school's duty to actively promote British values and governors' role in monitoring provision. Download our list of questions to ask school leaders to help you do this.
- School vision statements: what they are and how to create one Setting your school's vision, ethos and strategic direction is one of the 3 core functions of your governing board. Find out what that means and how to do it. You can also see some examples from other schools.
- Vision and strategy: developing a culture of inclusion and safety Find out how to take your first steps in discussing unconscious bias and sexual abuse confidently as a governing board, so you can help develop a school culture where everyone feels included and safe. Get advice on how to deliver your vision away day this year to get the ball rolling.