School governor resources

Governors’ Forum: Spring 2026

Our next Governors’ Forum will take place on Thursday 22 January 2026, 6.30pm via MS Teams.

This is a free session provided by the School Governance and Liaison Service and is therefore open to all school and academy governors/trustees.

Following extensive uptake by Cheshire East schools and settings of the Inclusion Strategy training with Gary Aubin last term, we are keen for all our governors and trustees to receive the same information. Therefore, we invite you to attend this tailored session from Gary, which will focus on The Graduated Approach and Ordinarily Available and Inclusion Provision (OAIP).

Gary Aubin, from SEND Matters UK is a national speaker who leads on a SEND School Improvement programme with Whole Education. He is also the Education Endowment Foundation’s SEND Associate and has recently sat on the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review panel.

We will also be joined by Sharon Bradshaw from Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub who will provide an overview of the latest statutory careers guidance and the governing body’s role/responsibilities.

We will also be joined by Sharon Bradshaw from Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub who will provide an overview of the latest statutory careers guidance and the governing body’s role/responsibilities.

The Governors' Forum Agenda (PDF, 665KB) is now available. 

Further details and bookings can be made via GovernorHub (for subscribing schools) or by emailing the School Governance and Liaison Service at schoolgovernance@cheshireeast.gov.uk.

2025 Annual Governors’ Conference

More information can be found on the School governor conferences page.

Director of Children's Services Report

The Autumn Term 2025 Directors Report (PDF, 424KB) is now available.

Previous Director of Children's Services Reports

School governing board duties

• The Department for Education has published guides on the strategic leadership and governance of local-authority-maintained schools and academy trusts. These guides replace the Governance Handbook 2020.
• the governor's role in exclusions
• governor responsibilities for cared for children and previously cared for children
• complaints about schools
• admissions appeals

 Contacts

• chairs of governors’ email addresses

Cheshire East School Governor training programme

The latest governor training programme is now available on Governor Hub or by contacting the School Governance team.

Governor training

• Modern governor e-learning
• Governing Board self-evaluation questions (NGA)
• Governor/Trustee Skills Audit (NGA)
• Annual conferences
• Training liaison governors 

External school governor resources

• Department for Education Website
• National Governors' Association Website
• Governors for Schools

How to become a school governor

• parent governors
• local authority governors