{"id":240861,"date":"2026-01-27T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=240861"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:51:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:51:13","slug":"schools-with-good-governance-better-prepared-for-ofsted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/schools-with-good-governance-better-prepared-for-ofsted\/","title":{"rendered":"Schools with good governance ‘better prepared for Ofsted’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ministers are being urged to recognise the role played by governors as a \u201ccore component\u201d of the accountability framework for schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comes as a new study, released today, found schools with effective boards were better prepared for Ofsted visits and \u201cmore likely to sustain improvement beyond the inspection cycle\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, penned by the National Governance Association (NGA)<\/a>, also stated \u201cgovernance-related issues commonly precede formal intervention\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NGA chief executive Emma Balchin challenged leaders to \u201cdevelop a system-wide understanding of governance as something to be acknowledged, celebrated, scrutinised, invested in, and kept firmly on the agenda\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bad governance precedes intervention<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Emma Balchin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The report noted that analysis from the Department for Education and NGA\u2019s external reviews of governance (ERGs) show \u201cgovernance-related issues commonly precede formal intervention\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese issues rarely stem from bad intent or lack of commitment. More often, they arise where boards lack clarity about their role, confidence to challenge, or capacity to exercise effective oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ERGs identified \u201crecurring patterns in weaker governance\u201d, including limited challenge to executive decisions, gaps in financial oversight and risk management, and an \u201cinsufficient strategic focus, with boards drawn into operational detail\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governance and inspections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The report added effective governance provided leaders with \u201cintelligence\u201d through \u201cregular oversight of performance, finance, risk and culture\u201d. Consequently, boards \u201care often the first to identify emerging issues\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ERGs showed \u201corganisations with effective governance are better prepared\u201d for Ofsted<\/a> visits. They are \u201cmore able to respond constructively to findings, and more likely to sustain improvement beyond the inspection cycle\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn this sense,\u201d NGA said, \u201cgovernance acts as a form of system readiness, helping organisations translate external judgement into long-term action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Core component\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The report urged government to \u201cformally recognise governance as a core component of the national accountability framework\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also told policymakers to \u201cinvest in governance training, development and research\u201d, including impact assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools should also \u201ctreat governance as an overarching strategic priority\u201d and \u201ccommit to regular external reviews and internal self-evaluation\u201d, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A ‘side note\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The NGA study also offered a vision for the sector if governance is recognised as \u201cessential infrastructure\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this happened, \u201cinspection, regulation and intervention would be designed to complement and reinforce\u201d the work of boards, \u201crather than bypass it or relegate it as a side note\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Where governance is strong, external accountability can be lighter-touch and more proportionate; where it is weak, support and development can be targeted earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch an approach would reduce duplication, improve coherence and make better use of system capacity.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Those with effective boards ‘more likely to sustain improvement beyond the inspection cycle’, report finds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311204,"featured_media":132068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[28,239,294,1218,25],"post-theme":[2385],"class_list":["post-240861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-dfe","tag-education-policy","tag-governance","tag-national-governance-association","tag-ofsted","post-theme-leadership-and-governance"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t