How to make co-chairing work for you

Get a reality check on how co-chairing can work in practice so you can decide if it’s the best model for you. Save time with our template so you can make a considered proposal to your governing board.

Last reviewed on 31 January 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4420
Contents
  1. Co-chairing is allowed
  2. Decide if it’ll work for you: pros and cons
  3. Plan how it will work in practice
  4. Put your co-chairing proposal to the full board for approval: download our template
  5. Make sure your school leaders update relevant policies

Our thanks to our associate education experts, Keith Clover, Brendan Hollyer, Vicky Redding and Fiona Stagg for their help with this article.

Co-chairing is allowed

As long as you keep your board’s leadership clear to everyone, you can appoint more than 1 person to the role of chair.

This is explained on page 45 of the Governance Handbook. 

If you’re on a local governing body (LGB), check with your trust first to make sure it will let you do this. Even if your LGB is responsible for electing its own chair, err on the side of caution and make sure your trust permits co-chairing.

Decide if it’ll work for you: pros and cons

Before diving into how to make co-chairing work, be clear on whether it's the right choice for you.

Pros

You’re doing it for a positive reason (e.g. succession planning), not just because you don’t

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