How to make co-chairing work for you

Find out 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 7 February 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 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 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.

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.

Before diving into