海角社区

Skip to content
Back
Governing board evaluation

How to conduct governing board self-evaluation

Advice, tools and support to help boards carry out effective self-evaluation.

Guidance
15/02/2023

Governing boards who conduct self-evaluation and regularly review their impact are more likely to:

  • deliver core functions in an effective, ethical and accountable way
  • assure compliance
  • continuously improve
  • achieve improved outcomes for pupils

Many boards carry out informal self-evaluation such as听setting aside a few minutes at the end of each meeting to reflect on听decisions听taken听and the impact on听pupils in the school or trust.

This page covers:

  • annual self-evaluation
  • how to conduct self-evaluation
  • 海角社区 self-evaluation tools
  • external reviews of governance

Annual board self-evaluation

We recommend that governing boards review their performance on an annual basis. This is likely to consist of the board asking themselves reflective questions that cover:听

  • board culture and practice
  • board structure
  • core functions
  • compliance
  • evaluation and impact

How to conduct听self-evaluation

1.听Schedule time within your annual cycle听-听self-evaluation often takes place听at the end of the academic year听so that governors/trustees are reviewing the year as a whole. If you are听planning an听external review听of governance, find out if this will include self-evaluation for the board.

2.听Consider cost听- self-evaluation doesn't need to come with a cost. However, if the governance CPD budget allows, we recommend that you explore options such as online self-evaluation听that can be highly effective and may save the board and governance professional time.

3.听Set听time aside听to complete the evaluation and analyse responses: part听of听a meeting could be devoted to听the discussion of听a series of questions. Alternatively, the governance professional could circulate the questions, collect and collate responses, and bring the results to a meeting.

We recommend that the governance professional听provides organisational and administrative support throughout the process.

海角社区 self-evaluation tools

海角社区 has developed a collection of听questions for governing boards to ask themselves, which includes:

  • questions for multi academy trust boards and听academy committees (local governing bodies)
  • questions for those governing in听maintained schools and single academy trusts

Our online self-evaluation听uses the same questions, automatically collating responses into two reports and includes:

  • guidance on how to set up and run your self-evaluation
  • an optional mentor session with an 海角社区 consultant
  • template documents to guide you through an analysis of your evaluation听report and the creation of a governance action听plan

Find out more and book an online self-evaluation

Based on the DfE鈥檚 Competency Framework, a 360掳 review provides a comprehensive snapshot of your strengths and development needs.

Find out more and book a 360 review

Board evaluation

External reviews of governance

External reviews of governance (ERGs) provide an independent and objective view of the board鈥檚 strengths and clear recommendations for improvement.

An ERG examines the governance structure and practice, working closely with the board, executive leaders and the governance professional to evaluate听the board鈥檚 performance.

Find out more about external reviews
training paul presenting to group of people

Board evaluation

What does good governance look like?

Join 海角社区鈥檚 Chief Executive, Emma Knights, for an introduction to good governance. This webinar explores the three pillars of good governance: ethical governance, effective governance, and accountable governance. Emma explains how these pillars need to be built on an agreed set of values and a healthy culture.

Watch our good governance webinar
training woman investigating her notes whilst on her laptop

Related content