Governor behaviour

Having a good relationship with your chair is an important part of being an effective governor. If you’re struggling to build a good rapport or are concerned about your chair’s effectiveness, use these tips to help get things back on track.

Use our cheat sheet to keep your social media profiles secure and to help you understand what to do if you're contacted by a pupil or parent online.

The governing board can't function without good attendance. Be clear on who can attend meetings, why governors and trustees can only vote if they attend, and how absences are dealt with.

Make your expectations clear with our model code of conduct. It sets out what you can expect from governors and trustees, from core responsibilities to professional behaviours.

Find out what to do before, during and after a difficult conversation with a governor, so you feel confident resolving issues with your governing board.

Know how to deal with problematic behaviour from governors and trustees so you can make sure your board functions effectively. See our example scenarios and understand what steps to take to resolve disputes.

You have a duty to maintain confidentiality in your role as governor/trustee. Here’s how your board can make sure everyone is on the same page, and what to do if someone breaches confidentiality.

Understand your role when it comes to addressing major news events in school - such as the invasion of Ukraine. Find advice on how to challenge and support your school leaders to make sure they're making considered and informed decisions when responding to difficult events.

The Nolan principles are 7 rules that everyone involved in public life must abide by, including governors and trustees. Understand what they mean for you and see examples of codes of conduct that refer to them.