"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren Bennis What is the governance role in making a school's vision become real - is it different across maintained & Trusts? #BigQuestions - Mel Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"Hiring people is an art, not a science, and resumes can't tell you whether someone will fit into a company's culture." Howard Schultz. Appointing heads is one the most important things governors have to do. How do we ensure we appoint the right person for our school? #BigQuestions by Naureen

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” Dolly Parton What are some of the good practices in managing governor workload? #BigQuestions by @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social @alricnlg.bsky.social

#3Goodthings 1. Catch up chat with one Headteacher 2. Safeguarding chat with a DSL 3. Annual Dinner at The Athenaeum

“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts." C.S. Lewis What is the board’s role in curriculum design and delivery? #BigQuestions by @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends.” Benjamin Franklin How can boards encourage commitment to governor CPD? #BigQuestions today by @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

Sunday reflections: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King, Jr. #BigQuestions by @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social

“How sad if we pass through life and never see it with the eyes of a child.” Anthony de Mello How can boards find out what pupils think of their school? #BigQuestions by @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

@smwordlaw.bsky.social “How sad if we pass through life and never see it with the eyes of a child.” Anthony de Mello How can boards find out what pupils think of their school? #BigQuestions by @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"The most dangerous creation of any society is he who has nothing to lose" James Baldwin How do we ensure all our stakeholders have 'skin in the game' in our school/trust? #bigquestions by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"No story lives unless someone wants to listen. The stories we love live in us forever" JKRowling How can we ensure the story of our school/trust is heard, loved & lives on? #bigquestions by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"We're all connected, our lives overlap, our stories intertwine & our fates are shared" Maja Kazazic How do we focus on & benefit from what we share, not why we differ? #bigquestions by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"When the world is silent even one voice becomes powerful" Malaya Yousafzai As we start a new week, what are the silences we need to talk about in governance? #bigquestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

Sunday reflection #IWD2025 weekend "The idea that women's rights are gained at the expense of men's is untrue... gender equality improves the quality of life for everyone" Anne Karpf #bigquestions today by JRodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

Weekend reflection on #InternationalWomensDay2025 "Gender equality is a precondition to reduce poverty, promote sustainable development & build good governance" Kofi Annan #bigquestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”― Toni Morrison On #WorldBookDay, how do GBs ensure our children have the tools to write their own book? #BigQuestions today from Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"A culture is strong when people work with each other, for each other. A culture is weak when people work against each other, for themselves." Simon Sinek How do we ensure our leadership celebrates our teams? #BigQuestions today by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social

"We must be impatient for change. Let us remember that our voice is a precious gift & we must use it." Claudia Flores How do we use our Governance voice for positive change? #BigQuestions today from Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced". — James Baldwin  How do we embrace change in Governance? #BigQuestions today from Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius #BigQuestions #Sundayreflections #powerofyou #wellbeingreminder today from Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Life is full of challenges, but I always have the Three Ps: Passion, patience and persistence. And the fourth one is pizza." Butch Hartman A great alternative to governance priorities...what would be your GB's fourth P??? #BigQuestions today by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social

"Rational behavior requires theory." W. Edwards Deming #bigquestions: What evidence are we using for our #governance decisions? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Seek to understand before seeking to be understood" Stephen Covey #bigquestions: What constitutes effective preparation for a #governance boardq00q meeting? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"When there's no boundaries, that's when you can get creative." Rose #bigquestions: How can we introduce some creativity into our #governance activities? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"My journey has always been the balance between chaos and order." Philippe Petit #bigquestions: How are we bringing real purpose to our #governance boards? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Everything in life... has to have balance." Donna Karan #bigquestions: What's your time management tip for #governance today? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

#bigquestions: Sunday #governance reflection. "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body." Proverbs 6:24 @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

‘'Live a life full of humility, gratitude, intellectual curiosity, and never stop learning.' Gza #bigquestions: What are we doing to embed intellectual curiosity in #governance? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

‘I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.’ Charles Schulz #bigquestions: What's a good #governance induction? @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" Aristotle How do we help governors listen to differnt views? #BigQuestions by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“For most of us… the problem is not a lack of goals but rather too many of them.” Roy Baumeister  How should GBs be using 3-5yr strategic plans to manage the number of goals we set? #BigQuestions by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"A movement starts with a clear vision of a world different than the one we live in today." Simon Sinek How does your Governance vision make a difference for tomorrow? #BigQuestions today by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

“There is little success where there is little laughter.” Andrew Carnegie How do we find humour in Governance? Is there any? #BigQuestions today by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"A good laugh & a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book." Irish proverb It's half-term; govs & sch staff, take a moment to restore, refresh & relax ❤️ #BigQuestions #Sundayreflections by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." John F. Kennedy How do we as governors see external scrutiny as opportunity to grow rather than be judged? #BigQuestions today by Melanie Stokes @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryūnosuke Satoro How do we make the most of the biggest volunteer group in the country? #BigQuestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape & mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” Helen Dyer Today is #NationalSchoolGovernorsAwarenessDay - here's to every governor & trustee who support our schools! #BigQuestions today by Melanie Stokes

"Today's mighty oak is a nut that held it's ground" Rosa Parks What do we need to be tenacious about in governance? #BigQuestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth" Plato How do we ensure governors make the truth visible without invoking feelings of hate towards us? #BigQuestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Keep company with teachers who uplift you, whose presence inspires you & whose dedication drives you" Robert John Meehan Who in governance uplifts you? #BigQuestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

Then perhaps we need to ask the so what? question. Review, repair, improve, report.

"Listen to the whispers and you won’t have to hear the screams" Cherokee saying. How is this saying applicable to governance? #BigQuestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Poverty is man-made & can be removed by the actions of human beings" Nelson Mandela How can we ensure those with few resources are supported to learn? #BigQuestions today by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendannyhan.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike" Dr Maya Angelou How can governance enable meaningful discussions at times of conflict? #BigQuestions by Jacqueline Rodden @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"Your presence will be sun in winter" Alfred Lord Tennyson How does governance shine a light in dark times? #BigQuestions by Jacqueline Rodden @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“Corporate governance should be done more through principles than rules.” Adi Godrej What are the principles which lead to effective governance? #BigQuestions POSTED BY @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"When the voices of children are heard on the green, and laughing is heard on the hill.” William Blake How does your board engage with pupils? #BigQuestions POSTED BY @5naureen.bsky.social @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

“Expect the best, prepare for the worst.” Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah What are the board’s responsibilities as far as identifying risks are concerned? #BigQuestions POSTED BY Naureen Khalid @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"He who asks a question remains a fool for five minutes" Chinese Proverb How can we help governers to become more confident in asking questions? #BigQuestions POSTED BY JACQUELINE RODDEN @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social

"The questions are always more important than the answers" Randy Pausch What are important questions for governors to ask? #BigQuestions POSTED BY JACQUELINE RODDEN @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @5naureen.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @neilayates.bsky.social