Addressing problems with your chair

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.

Last reviewed on 15 February 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 3901
Contents
  1. Assessing the situation
  2. Informal first steps
  3. Taking formal action

Assessing the situation

Before you decide to take action, take some time to get to grips with how serious the situation is. Start by asking yourself:

  • Are the concerns you have something that's happening constantly or is it an isolated event?
  • Does the issue have a major impact on how the board functions?
  • Is the chair behaving intentionally?
  • Do your fellow governors agree that there's a concern?

Read about the role and responsibilities of a chair or download the role description appropriate to your board below, so you're clear on what your chair needs to do. If you