Governor Well Being

Governor wellbeing is crucial for effective school board functioning. Common stressors include heavy workloads, feelings of incompetence, time constraints, and competing responsibilities, leading to reduced productivity and increased absences.

While maintaining governors' mental health isn't the sole responsibility of any one person, several strategies can help ensure governance isn't overly burdensome.

Prioritise Induction and Training

Proper induction and ongoing training help governors feel confident, perform their best, and keep workloads balanced. Boards should:

• Have a governor induction policy.
• Appoint a link governor for induction and training.
• Create a governor/trustee pack.
• Keep a record of governor training.

Delegate Responsibilities

Sharing the workload equitably among board members can positively impact wellbeing and improve efficiency. Setting up committees, such as finance, pay, and curriculum, tailored to the board's size and capacity, helps manage workloads effectively. Regularly review committees and roles to ensure clarity and balance.

Maintain Schedules

Schedules help everyone plan and prepare for upcoming work. Boards should have:

• An annual work plan and policy review schedule ^{(xlsx, 46kb)}
• A schedule of full board and committee meetings.
• A schedule for governor school visits.

These should be readily available to governors, e.g. through a portal like GovernorHub.

Keep Meetings Focused

Efficient meeting management is essential. To keep meetings on track:

• Set a focused agenda.
• Communicate the purpose of each agenda item.
• Encourage governors to submit questions ahead of time.
• Stick to the agenda and manage off-topic discussions.
• Schedule breaks during longer meetings.

Show Appreciation

A simple thank you can go a long way. Recognise the commitment that governors give and appreciate their contributions to keep them motivated and feeling valued.

Implementing these strategies supports governor wellbeing, leading to more effective governance and a healthier, more productive environment.

(This is a summary of an article from the Key . You can read the full article here).

NGA Webinar

A recent NGA study revealed that over a quarter of governance volunteers in schools and trusts are thinking about resigning. Increasing workload and the pressure of the role is posing a threat to its sustainability, straining even the most dedicated governors and trustees and adding to recruitment difficulties.

In the webinar, NGA Head of Content, Ella Colley, and Senior Advice Officer, Adelaide Chitanda discuss the demands placed on governance volunteers and what can be done to make the role manageable. We look at potential solutions at board level and how the government might address some of the issues.

The webinar explores:
• understanding the role and remaining strategic
• the impact of board culture
• how boards can become more efficient
• making governance training work

Here is a link to the NGA webinar