CUREE brings the same evidence-based approach to governance as it does to leadership and teaching and learning. We draw on the published evidence; we do empirical research ourselves and several members of staff are actively engaged as governors and chairs and in supporting other governors. Paul Crisp (pictured above) leads for CUREE on governance issues. He is a National Leader of Governance, a governor and a chair of a multi-academy trust. He is trained and experienced in conducting External Reviews of Governance, has undertaken governor training, coaching and other forms of support. He advises schools contemplating conversion to or joining stand alone or multi-academy trusts. He has written extensively about governance blogs about it from time to time and has made several presentations (here's a recent example) and is the author of a guide for primary schools as a Pathway resource in the OUP Oxford Owl series (forthcoming).
The Services
- Coaching and peer support - This is the core role of an NLG; supporting Chairs and other governors through a mentoring or coaching approach. This is a confidential service, usually one-to-one on any and all aspects of governance. It has involved working with a new chair helping her grow confidence in dealing with conflict in board meetings. In another case, the chair was struggling to connect with the local community of schools and needed some brokerage help in making connections. A common feature is helping chairs establish an effective professional relationship with the head. This service is usually free (but would become chargeable after a - clearly signalled initail period)
- External Review of Governance - we have undertaken reviews for all types of school in all phases. Most commonly our reviews have been triggered by an Ofsted recommendation to a school found to Require Improvement but we have also worked with schools in Measures and with those already good and aiming for Outstanding. A distinctive feature of our Reviews - one which is singled out for praise - is the practical recommendations often drawing on successful approaches we have found in other schools
- Skills Audits - Often linked to an External Review, governors responding to the every increasing demands on them to manage their business professionally, look to CUREE to provide a straightforward and efficient means of assessing the skills they need agains the skills they currently have represented on the board
- Headship appointments - conventionally, governing bodies used professional advisers for headship appointments where the adviser was a School Improvement Partner, LA adviser or ex-head. These often do a good job but come at it from a particular perspective. Increasingly, governors want the advice of experts who understand the appointment process from a governors' perspective. We can offer that service
- Training - we offer a range of training services including bespoke packages direct to individual schools, to multi-academy trusts and others working with groups of schools and via imputs on LA-run events (we do not currently offer the NCTL licensed chairs and governors training) Pupil Premium Audits - a new requirement from Ofsted, schools with an RI judgement are usually required to undertake a Pupil Premium Audit. CUREE's extensive work on Closing the Gap and our portfolio of evidence based tools and resources perfectly equips us to undertake the PP Audit and to offer a practical action plan which is straightforward to implement
- Academy conversion - thinking about it, or forced by external circumstance to go down this route, we help you weigh up the alternatives, work out whether to set go it alone, set up an academy or join an existing one. We can help with the negotiations or guide you through the conversion process
- Research and publications - Ranging from informal Blogs to heavyweight research papers, CUREE's R&D activities are frequently of relevance to governors and leaders alike. We, for example, completed a project on the Local Leadership of Education which examined the responses necessary from leaders and governors to the growing trend of devolution to City regions (such as Greater Manchester).