The Department for Education (DfE) has contracted five organisations to provide a professional development programme for those in governance leadership roles (eg chairs, vice chairs or committee chairs) and clerking roles until March 2020.

Content

The governance leadership development programme aims:

• Increase capacity to improve the effectiveness of governing boards in line with the 'Competency framework for governance' (particularly boards' ability to provide strategic leadership and data-driven accountability for educational standards and financial performance)
• Greater involvement of governance leaders in sustainable and relevant peer-to-peer support networks that enable encouragement, support and sharing good practice with one another.
•  

The clerking development programme aims:

• Increase clerking expertise in line with the 'Clerking competency framework' to deliver professional quality clerking that ensures the efficient and effective functioning of governing boards
• Greater involvement by clerks in sustainable and relevant peer-to-peer support networks that enable encouragement, support and sharing good practice with one another.

Each provider's offer, including the duration of the programme, may be different, and so boards and individuals will need to consider which programme would best suit their needs. You can find contact details for organisations contracted to offer governance leadership and clerking development opportunities here.

Funding

Governance leadership

The DfE is funding this programme with up to £500 available for each eligible participant board.

Some may be eligible for a higher level of support, with up to £2,000 available to boards or local governing bodies (LGBs) that are either:

• governing two or more schools (including multi-academy trusts (MATs) or federations)
• governing a school that is located in an opportunity area and either rated by Ofsted as 'requires improvement', or 'good' or 'outstanding', but is identified as coasting.

Clerks

The DfE is funding this programme, with up to £350 available for each eligible participant.

 You can read further information on the programmes here.

First published 13 March 2018