Notes from the governance table
Articles, field observations and practical reflections for chairs and aspiring chairs.
What this blog is for
This is the place where Leading Governance publishes its news and articles. Entries are written for people who chair governing bodies, people preparing to take on the role, and the colleagues who support them.
The posts focus on the practical side of governance: how a board runs a difficult meeting, how a chair keeps focus on children and young people, and how leadership skills develop over time.
Published articles will be added below this introduction as they are released. Each one will stand on its own, so readers can dip in wherever their current question sits.
Woodland light. Good governance, like a healthy wood, depends on many layers working together.
What you will find here
Each article is written to be read in one sitting. We aim for plain language, clear examples and a single idea that a chair can take back to the next meeting.
- Short accounts of governance practice in schools and settings
- Guidance on preparing for meetings and holding useful debate
- Updates on the Leading Governance programme and its partners
- Reflections from chairs on developing their own leadership skills
Open ground. Longer views help a board see where its decisions will lead in three years, not only in the next term.
Writing for the chair
Chairs carry a particular load. They shape the agenda, hold the room and speak for the board in public. Our articles keep that role in view and avoid abstract theory that cannot be used on a Tuesday evening.
Contributors draw on the experience of the Eastern Leadership Centre and the National Governors' Association, and on the everyday work of governors who want to do the job well.
New growth. Aspiring chairs are the next generation of governance, and their first steps deserve careful support.
Reading the programme in context
Articles on this blog sit alongside the programme itself. For a full description of how the programme is delivered, return to the home page.
New articles are published here as they are ready. Check back regularly, or follow updates from the programme team.
Working notes. Every article begins as a set of questions from people doing the work.