Governance

The latest news, analysis and advice covering all areas of school governance, including new policy, compliance, regulation and more

Monday

2nd Jun 2025

DfE issues MAT investments guidance as reserves fall
‘Much-needed’ guidance on how to invest surplus funds comes as more trusts dip below DfE’s 5% reserves threshold
DfE MAT investments reserves fall

Tuesday

20th May 2025

How to get governance right in international schools
Governors can be ‘a powerful force for good in a school’ – but setting up an effective board isn’t easy, according to a panel of experienced chairs and governors who share their practical advice
International governance

Tuesday

13th May 2025

How Estonia became education’s newest rising star
Estonia is one of Pisa’s biggest success stories, but what’s behind the country’s impressive results? Henry Hepburn finds out in an exclusive interview with education minister Kristina Kallas
Estonia montage
How do we evolve the relationship between MATs and LAs?
We don’t have to wait for structural reform or the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, because joined-up relationships are shaped locally, says this MAT chief executive
Wooden footbridge across creak

Tuesday

29th Apr 2025

How should a trust board manage risk?
Nuanced understanding of risk is crucial to inform decision-making at board level. But what does that look like in practice?
Trust Essentials: How should academy trust boards approach risk management?

Wednesday

23rd Apr 2025

3 ways to tackle the rise in complaints against schools
A MAT director explains the changes that need to be made to protect schools from the rising number of parent complaints, especially those that cross the line
Incoming call by angry parent

Friday

4th Apr 2025

Sats: Scrutiny over transcripts fuels rise in alleged cheating
Increase in cases of alleged maladministration has been fuelled by concerns over transcripts for pupils with illegible handwriting and test administrators ‘over-aiding’
Sats ‘maladministration’ up by 58% over two years
Exclusive

Friday

7th Mar 2025

What a recent High Court case ruling means for school exclusions
Court judgement potentially has major implications for how discrimination and human rights claims could be made by those challenging exclusion decisions, a lawyer explains
What a recent High Court case ruling means for school exclusions

Friday

14th Feb 2025

Why trusts need an appetite for risk
Risk can be a scary word – but if you want to innovate, then knowing where you’re comfortable taking risks and articulating this to trustees is vital, Dan Worth discovers
Standing on cracked ice

Thursday

13th Feb 2025

How teachers seeking leadership roles can gain valuable experience
When teachers add their expertise to a charity’s board of trustees, they also gain valuable skills that will prove useful in progressing their career, says Paul Bisland
How teachers seeking leadership roles can gain valuable experience

Tuesday

4th Feb 2025

Schools legally required to report use of reasonable force
The government has updated its 2013 guidance on how schools should use reasonable force and other restrictive practices
Pupil sitting against a wall

Tuesday

7th Jan 2025

5 key skills MAT trustee boards need for 2025
In a complex and ever-changing world, these are some of the big areas trusts will need to turn to their boards for help on
5 key skills MAT trustee boards need for 2025