It's important to be open & informed. When the facts change, we need to adapt and not be afraid to change direction. #UKEdGovs #UKEd

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." - Lao Tzu Mel Stokes asks: Why is it important that governance strategies are adaptable to change? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying." - Ralph Waldo Emerson How can we ensure we hear the right things and not focus on circumstances? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

We need to be clear in our purpose & communicate it to others (vision). We need to know what we stand for & demonstrate that in all our actions & interactions (values). We need to be impactful in our work & ensure this impact is positive for all our children & YP (effective/reflective) #UKEdGovs

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it - Edith Wharton As governors, how can we be both? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

I hope we're going to take a break for at least some of it and do something we enjoy with people we like being with, or on our own if that's what helps us relax and recharge. #UKEdGovs

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. –Babe Ruth. As we review the last year, what do we see as our first strike of the next year? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

‘You don't always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens’ - Mandy Hale How are we going to use the summer break effectively as governors/trustees? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done." -Bruce Lee @aizenay95 asks - How can we structure governor meeting to promote actionable decisions rather than mere discussion? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"The world needs all kinds of minds" - Dr Temple Grandin #BigQuestions @aizenay95 asks In what ways can school and Trust boards be made more accessible and appealing to neurodiverse individuals, and what strategies can be implemented to enhance their representation within governance structures?

“The power of people, when they focus on something positive, never fails to amaze me" - Ozzy Osbourne. #BigQuestions Guest question- How can fostering a culture of positivity among school leaders and staff influence decision-making and overall school ethos?

“What I think is really obvious obviously isn’t obvious” - Michael Stipe How we can help govs ask for clarification on topics without appearing uninformed or asking a ‘silly question’? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

"Don't aspire to be the best on the team. Aspire to be the best for the team" - Brian Tracy How do we ensure that we all are aspiring to be the best for the team? #BigQuestions #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

I can’t believe I have almost completed my first academic year in my role as a Governance Manager. It’s had its challenges, building on an existing role, learning the admin ropes, but essentially making it my own. Looking forward to building on this in September with new challenge and goals!!!

“Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds.” – William J. Clinton As we break for summer, a huge thankyou to all Govs/Trustees find time to stop! #BigQuestions

"Patience is the companion of wisdom." - Saint Augustine Mel Stokes asks: As we approach the final day of this academic yr, what do we need to temper patience & wisdom over? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark." - Rabindranath Tagore Mel Stokes asks: How do we feel the light in governance when the world feels dark? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” – African Proverb Mel Stokes :How do we ensure our communities come with us in the strategies we develop? #BigQuestions #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece" - John Ruskin Melanie Stokes asks: How does our passion match our skills to create a strategic masterpiece for our communities of tomorrow? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

"For a stone, when it is examined, will be found a mountain in miniature." - John Ruskin Melanie Stokes asks - How do our governance strategies aspire to be the mountain? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

If you’re interested- If you want to come along it will be at 8pm on 26/8/25! Sign up here- docs.google.com/forms/d/12AX...

”Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin How do we ask the questions to face any potential change in governance? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

By networking, keeping ourselves informed and sharing what we can with colleagues. I always support agenda items with reports and articles 'for information' so colleagues can read around a topic if they need to #AlwaysLearning #UKEdGovs

By being present - this has been on our board action plan this year and we have tried to be present with staff, parents and children in small informal ways as well as more formal meetings. Surveys are all well and good, but the personal is important #UKEdGovs

"A person needs just 3 things to be truly happy...someone to love, something to do, & something to hope for" Tom Bodett What do you hope for in governance? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social

"When the facts change, I change my mind" JM Keynes How do we ensure our governance decisions are informed by up to date information? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social

“Nobody keeps me informed,” said Eeyore ... You said ‘Hallo’ and Flashed Past... as I was mediating my reply.” A.A.Milne ‘How can we listen better as governors?’ #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social

"The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present" Audrey Hepburn Jacqueline Rodden asked Why is maintaining a long-term focus critical for governors? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

#BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

“What gets measured gets improved” Peter Drucker Should governance be standardised across all schools regardless of school type? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

Firstly, the corporate nature of governance needs to be made clear. Everything is everyone’s responsibility and work is shared. Individual roles can be assigned based on your own skills and preferences. But we also need to make clear that undertaking training (especially safeguarding), coming… 1/2

…prepared to meetings, upholding the code of conduct, etc is individual’s responsibility. If thus puts people off then maybe that’s not a bad thing to ensure governance is effective. 2/2

“People think responsibility is hard to bear…..the absence of responsibility is harder to bear” - Henry Kissinger How can we GB stop thoughts of responsibility deterring new recruits? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” Helen Keller How do we ensure school leaders fully understand the role of GBs? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“An expert knows all the right answers if you ask the right questions” Levi Strauss How do we use clerks effectively other than admin? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

#UKEdGovs Thinking about one of our trickier questions. As people become increasingly busy, it is difficult to draw people into governance, which does require a certain level of commitment. Networking, continually talking about what a brilliant volunteering opportunity it presents is one way.

“Great vision without great people is irrelevant.” – Jim Collins What different marketing strategies could we use to attract new govs? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @zaki-m.bsky.social

And so it begins! The final half term of the academic year, and apparently it’s a day short of an 8 weeker! Going to be a killer but I suppose it gives me time to tie all those loose ends up!

The Sunday calm before the new half term storm: school uniforms, packed lunches, school runs, work, meetings, meetings, more meetings, why do we need so many meetings??? Doctoral work, proposal defence prep. Roll on the summer break! 53 days and counting! 😅

Time away from work and study is important. Doing the mundane things that go by the by due to meetings, research and writing can feel like a big achievement itself, even if it’s just putting that mountain of washing away. But more importantly it’s that quality time with family without distractions!

BQ from @jmrodden "Before you start pointing fingers make sure your hands are clean!"Bob Marley How can governors be good role models in education? #BigQuestions @AlRicNLG @5Naureen @9000lives_org @HoyleRosemary @melaniemay04 @neilayates @Aizenay95 @BullerSamantha @IGovS1 @UKGovChat @Vickisticks

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." Sydney J. Harris  How could we rethink training to increase participation? #BigQuestions @AlRicNLG @IGovS1 @NAGASnews @5Naureen @melaniemay04 @9000lives_org @Vickisticks @neilayates @lisajaneSmith1 @jmrodden @hoylerosemary

You are never too young to lead, and never too old to learn" - Rene Carayol How can we attract more young adults to be governors? #BigQuestions @AlRicNLG @IGovS1 @NAGASnews @5Naureen @melaniemay04 @9000lives_org @Vickisticks @neilayates @lisajaneSmith1 @jmrodden @hoylerosemary

Currently sat reading through a 99 page report for my first board meeting as a trustee for a MAT. I struggle to get my local governors to read a few pages at times so for something on this level I really hope that all trustees do read everything to make strategic calls! #EdGovernance #YoungLives

“You are young, you are precious, you are loved”. St John Bosco. How do we ensure the needs of the children are at the heart of the curriculum? #BigQuestions @AlRicNLG @IGovS1 @NAGASnews @5Naureen @melaniemay04 @9000lives_org @Vickisticks @neilayates @lisajaneSmith1 @jmrodden @hoylerosemary

“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier” Roy E Disney: Can MAT boards truly align priorities to those of the LGBs? #BigQuestions @AlRicNLG @IGovS1 @NAGASnews @5Naureen @melaniemay04 @9000lives_org @Vickisticks @neilayates @lisajaneSmith1 @jmrodden @hoylerosemary

For the first time yesterday I felt like a proper doctoral student. The excitement and fear are real in equal measures! #EdD #PhD #DoctoralResearch

Sat here reflecting about my EdD and being both a governor of a school and gov manager. Should there be a layer of volunteers that are (let’s face it) not all equally hands on, but are being held to account along with paid SLT, as a means of judging effectiveness of school leadership?

Well after last week consisted of work, meetings, Governor duties and MAT trustee duties, I have spent the whole b/h weekend studying and writing! Do a doctorate they said, it will be fun they said. I need a holiday and a good sleep!! #Governance #PhD #EdD #research

Every morning at 4am to be exact 👀😅