Clarifying Roles and Diversifying Boards for Effective Governance

To create effective and inclusive governance teams, it is vital to clarify roles and actively diversify the composition of governing boards in schools

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Confederation of School Trusts

Clarifying and diversifying governance roles is essential for fostering inclusive, effective and representative teams. However, the role of governing boards is often misinterpreted, resulting in teams that lack the diversity needed to genuinely reflect the schools they oversee. In this article, Dr. Allan Howells outlines the key steps toward building a more effective governance team.

Attracting People to the Role

One of the main challenges in attracting individuals to school governance roles is the current demographic composition of school governors, which skews predominantly white, male, and older. Recent data from GovernorHub indicates that just 0.14% of governors fall within the 18-24 age range. Additionally, 90.2% of governors identify as white, despite this group comprising only 81.7% of the overall population, underscoring the significant underrepresentation of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups. This lack of diversity can hinder the introduction of fresh perspectives and a broader range of thoughts and experiences within governing bodies.

The initial step is to assess the demographic composition of your governing body by conducting an equality and diversity survey. Gathering this data allows you to formulate targeted strategies aimed at fostering more inclusive governance practices and enhancing recruitment efforts.

Getting the Role Description Right

Clarifying the responsibilities and influence of governors is essential for demystifying their role. Many trusts have streamlined the duties of school-level governors, shifting their focus to key areas such as educational performance, student welfare and stakeholder engagement. When individuals conflate this role with traditional maintained school governance—which often encompasses finance, human resources, and other specialised skills—they may feel intimidated or lack the confidence to step into the position.

Extend Your Reach

Another important strategy for diversifying governance recruitment is to expand outreach beyond conventional channels to engage underrepresented segments of our communities. One effective approach is to connect with individuals who have strong ties to the community and invite them to join your governing board. Involving local businesses in the governing body not only fosters connections with the community but also helps develop a deeper understanding of the local talent pool and the skills that students possess.

Ultimately, fostering a governance structure that reflects the diverse makeup of the student population will lead to better outcomes for schools and the communities they serve. It’s time to rethink how we approach governance recruitment and build teams that are truly representative and capable of meeting the challenges of today’s educational landscape.