Being strategic is a guide to strategy development for those leading and governing in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). As with our other popular joint guidance for governors, What governing boards and school leaders should expect from each other, it is a collaboration between the National Governance Association (NGA), NAHT and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

It provides a framework for governing boards and leaders to refer to throughout the year and, in particular, as part of an annual conference or ‘away day’. There are two versions of the guide: one for single schools, single academy trusts and federations, and one for trust boards and leaders in a MAT that is focused on developing a strategy for the MAT as a single organisation.

We hope the guides serve as a valuable resource for governing boards and executive leaders to develop, monitor and communicate their strategy within an annual cycle.