Research School Network: Empowering Governors

Recently, I have led a number of Governor training sessions about the importance of ensuring the decisions we make, as leaders of schools, are research informed and evidence based. With a focus on optimising the impact of pupil premium funding, governors explored the EEF toolkit for ​‘best bets’ to narrow identified gaps. They used this resource to question whether (often expensive) interventions used in their schools every day were having the desired effect, as well as identifying promising alternatives.

One of the aims of the training was to empower governors to understand that they are obliged to ensure they are able to effectively challenge school leaders around progress, standards and decisions made in their schools. Feedback from training overwhelmingly supports the fact that the toolkit allows them to be better informed to support their schools to make the best decisions for each child to progress as an individual.

I also introduced the implementation guidance report to support governors to effectively monitor the implementation of new initiatives and change. Governors in our trust use the guidance to ensure that any new initiatives and projects implemented have the best chance of sustainable success in securing positive outcomes for the children we serve.

“The EEF toolkit helps me to challenge in a supportive way. I now feel able to question decisions made and make suggestions about something we really should try which has shown impact in the same areas we are working on.” – Governor of an Aspire Educational Trust school.