Governance
We want to help schools benefit from the best leadership possible
Research has shown that school leaders who work in settings with highly effective governance exhibit high success than those who do not.
This is why we provide training and support for so many governing bodies, directors and owners of schools around the world. For a school to thrive over the long term, and for the leaders of the school to perform to their best, there has to be excellent governance.
IMA helps to train governors in goal setting and monitoring progress. We also help leaders to identify student needs and equip members with detailed knowledge of the specific school including initiatives that will jump start success. IMA will train your governors on how to be more accountability driven spending less time on operational and more on strategic leadership to improve school performance. IMA will help a collaborative relationship with a string communication structure that informs both internal and external stakeholders.
Wherever your school is and whatever the governance challenges you face, we are here to help you.
How should your school’s governance improve?
Take a moment now to ask yourself:
- Do your board members have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities?
- Do your board members feel sufficiently informed and empowered to carry out their role?
- Do they provide support and constructive challenge to the Head and Senior Leadership Team?
- Are your Governors fully up to date and knowledgeable about such matters as safe-guarding, risk management and their legal duties or regulatory responsibilities?
- Does your board have in place appropriate oversight and monitoring structures?
- Is governance carried out efficiently?
- Do you have the right people on (the) board?
Our approach
Whatever we do for you will be tailored to address your needs and to suit your governance culture, budget and timeframe. After initial exploratory conversations, you might ask us to provide:
- A light-touch consultation exercise, looking at the relationship between governance, leadership and management
- An appraisal of the Head’s performance and of the Governors’ role vis a vis the Head
- An in-depth review of governance processes, policies, responsibilities and structures
- Confidential interviews with Board members and the school’s executive
- Assessment of the ‘communications culture’ as displayed in preparation for meetings, the conduct of meetings and the harnessing of the benefits of team working
- An introductory training workshop and presentation
- Audit of the composition of the governing body, its committee structure and membership
- Helping your board conduct an effective self-evaluation of its own performance and develop a culture of excellence
Our observations and advice are sometimes contained in a report or feedback in a conversation as part of a coaching approach, or it could be more suitable for us to deliver a presentation, followed by a series of training workshops. However we communicate our findings, we answer every question, and we always tell the truth, politely and in a supportive way – even when it may not be palatable. Our clients often learn far more than they were expecting.