School governance development 2025/26
This service is available for Academies and Maintained schools
We provide support, advice and a continuing professional development (CPD) service for governors, trustees, associate members and clerks from all school settings. Select image to view brochure (log in required).
We do this by working with boards to review and challenge current practice, identify and implement solutions that best suit their needs to improve the effectiveness of leadership and management and promote school improvement.
External review of governance
An external review of governance will take approx. three to four days. Boards may wish to review governance because of an Ofsted inspection or as part of their self-evaluation process to identify best practice and areas for development. If there is any additional follow up, to review progress or provide training this is an additional cost.
Safeguarding and pupil premium reviews can also be purchased as part of ELPs school improvement–prices on application.
Governance bespoke training / support
Cost includes preparation and delivery for up to a two-hour session. Popular sessions have included:
- Preparing for Ofsted
- The role of the governing body / board of trustees and committees
- Ensuring accountability incl. monitoring and the use of visits
- Understanding data / understanding finance
- Review of governing body / board of trustees systems, structures and processes incl. flat vs committee structure
- Bespoke support for new chairs / clerks.
Governance central training
For 2025/26 this will remain as part of the CPD buy back provision. Visit Ealing CPD Online to view and book training.
Ealing Learning Partnership (ELP)
Schools that subscribe to Ealing Learning Partnership(ELP) will receive:
- Online, telephone and email advice/ support on governance issues
- Regular governance communications including half termly Directors’ Gatekeeping Report to governors / trustees, communicating local and national educational items
- Dedicated governance /clerk section on EGfL www.egfl.org.uk/governors including guidance, templates and toolkits
- Regular networks/ briefings for governors, chairs, clerks and Somali governors and in addition SEND governors, Safeguarding governors and Race equality school and governor leads networks
- Access to the central training programme for governors / trustees and clerks - online and face to face
- Induction resources for new governors, chairs, and clerks
- Governor / trustee recruitment events
- Access to annual discounted membership for, National Governance Association, GovernorHub and Knowledge. Cost paid for by the school at discounted rate
- Support in finding high quality trainers and reviewers / auditors for governance issues. Cost to be paid by the school or purchased as part of traded service or pay as you go (PAYG).
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Julie Lewis
Statutory duties
All schools receive:
- Access to a secure online membership database (all schools)
- Check and make the instrument of government (IoG) for all maintained schools and federations of maintained schools
- Nominate local authority governors for all maintained schools
- Provide and signpost information and training suitable for all governing body and trustee board members
- Set up temporary and shadow governing bodies for new maintained schools
- Arrange parent governor representatives on local authority scrutiny committees dealing with education (carried out by the Council’s democratic services team)
- Support governing bodies (GBs) of schools at risk or in a category including appointment of additional governors or interim executive board members.
Ealing Learning Partnership service, children and adults’ services.
- Therese McNulty, School workforce and governance development: tmcnulty@ealing.gov.uk020 8825 8542
- Schools governance team: governors@ealing.gov.uk020 8825 5444
