Phil Martlew is a governor at the City of Liverpool College. “With semi-retirement on the cards, I was thinking about what I could do to keep myself busy using the skills I’d gained in business. I’ve worked in the private sector all my life so I wanted to give…
This year, we’re celebrating 20 years of Governors for Schools. Ahead of our birthday party at London’s Guildhall, our CEO Hannah Stolton reflects on our journey and looks ahead to our plans for the future. In 1999, struggling inner-city schools took part in a government pilot scheme inviting business…
Fridolin Wild is a senior research fellow at Oxford Brookes University. He has been a governor at Oxford Spires Academy for six months. Why did you decide to become a school governor? I work at Oxford Brooks and I received an email from the university about becoming…
Honey Clarke is a governor for Quercus Federation (Northiam and Hurst Green Church of England Primary Schools in East Sussex). Honey runs her own management consultancy business after building a successful career in Human Resources. She talks about the professional experience she brings to her schools and why now was…
Yvonne Barker-Layton is a MAT trustee at Educate Together Academy Trust in Bath. “We all know how schools are struggling with funding and managing tight budgets. But most people don’t do anything to help, often because they don’t know how. My son’s school had a new headteacher…
With the launch of our new campaign Challenge Accepted, our CEO Hannah Stolton explains why we’re calling for experienced professionals to volunteer their skills as governors or trustees – and how we’re doing it. Diversity on governing boards is important. We’re continuing to see people of different ages, professional…
Paul Montgomery is a governor at Humberstone Junior School in Leicestershire. He shares his motivations for the role and talks about the difference governors can make to children’s life chances. “I knew I needed to do something to keep my brain active since retiring recently. Being a school governor…
In this guest blog, Freya Laing from Bookmark Reading Charity shares her thoughts on what governors can do to ensure that all pupils have the chance to read and to enjoy reading. Starting from the Autumn Term, the new Education Improvement Framework (EIF) will change the standards…
Our CEO Hannah Stolton explains why understanding the professional benefits of school governance is so important, and how our new research is supporting our volunteers and partners in getting the most out of the opportunity. Upskilling employees is a priority for many of our business and university partners. By encouraging…
How can schools support mental health in children – and why is it so important? Hope Virgo is a leading advocate for people with eating disorders, having battled against anorexia. In this guest blog, she shares her story, and explains how schools can support children in looking after their mental…
In this guest blog to mark RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) Day, Catherine Hine, CEO of FASTN (Family Stability Network), and Mary Taylor, Head of Programmes at Family Links: The Centre for Emotional Health and a school governor, share their thoughts on why Relationships Education matters and how governors…
This month, our CEO Louise Cooper talks about our recent MAT survey, what we’ve learnt about the skills needed for both trustee boards and LGBs, and how the results will affect our work going forwards. Understanding how we can best support schools in finding effective governors has always been our…