Guidance and training for governors

New and existing governors need all the help they can get. This page covers our induction package for new governors and our ongoing training offer for all governors.

New governors

Training and induction

Being a new governor can be a daunting experience. So, we automatically book all new governors onto our induction training session, which is free to attend. We also send them an induction pack, which includes: 

  • new governor induction training information
  • the instrument of government for your school
  • details of you governing body’s membership
  • most recent Tower Hamlets director’s report
  • NGA model governor code of conduct
  • Tower Hamlets annual training package
  • useful acronyms

For schools clerked by governor services will receive additional information in their new governor pack. This information can also be found on GovernorHub.

You can read more about the role in the DfE (Department for Education) handbook for school governors

Smiles all around

Training for all governors

thep logoTower Hamlets Governor Services run an extensive annual training package to keep governors up to date. All governors are encouraged to attend training to improve their effectiveness and to keep up with new developments.

The training offer includes both virtual and classroom-based training sessions and workshops. Sessions are run by trainers with extensive knowledge of governance. They include National Governance Association trainers, members of our own Safeguarding in Education team and members of the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership.

Courses are free to individual governors - governing bodies pay any costs incurred out of the appropriate school budget.

Governing body training

As well as training for individual training courses, we can arrange training for your whole governing body. These can be tailored to meet specific training and development needs. These are usually held at your school if they have an SLA (Service Level Agreement) with Governor Services.

Link governors 

Some governing bodies nominate a link governor" who takes responsibility for ensuring that individual governors training needs are identified and addressed.

NGA training

We also offer discounted access to training modules from the National Governance Association. 

Training offer for 2023-24
Session Date/timeVenueCost

Directors Meeting
Facilitator: LA

Tuesday 26 September 
6 to 8pm

New Town Hall

Free

Accountability, Support & Challenge: using evidence and asking good questions 
Facilitator: THEP

Tuesday 10 October
5.30 to 6.30pm

Virtual

Free

Governor induction
Facilitator: LA

Saturday 14 October
9.30am to 2pm

Virtual

Free

Oftsted
Facilitator: NGA

Tuesday 19 October
5.30 to 7.30pm

Virtual

£55 (10 per cent discount - SLA School) 

Poverty Proofing
Facilitator: LA

Tuesday 7 November
5.30 to 6.30pm

Virtual

Free

Organisational Change (Poss move to Feb)
Facilitator: NGA

Thursday 9 November
5.30 to 7.30pm

Virtual

£55 (10 per cent discount - SLA School) 

Complaints - panel
Facilitator: NGA

Tuesday 14 November
5.30 to 7.30pm

F2F

£55 (10 per cent discount - SLA School) 

Headteacher Performance Management
Facilitator: THEP

Thursday 30 November
5.30 to 6.30pm

 Virtual

Free

Sustainable Leadership
Facilitator: THEP

Tuesday 16 January 2024
5.30 to 6.30pm

Virtual

 

Free

Directors Meeting
Facilitator: LA

Tuesday 30 January 2024
6 to 8pm

New Town Hall

Free

Wellbeing session
Facilitator: Unison Project

Thursday 1 February 2024
5.30 to 7.30pm

Virtual

Free

THEP - Finance
Facilitator: THEP

Tuesday 20 February 2024
5.30 to 6.30pm

Virtual

Free

H&S in Governance
Facilitator: LA

Thursday 29 February 2024
5.30 to 6.30pm

Virtual

Free

Roles and Responsibilities
Facilitator: NGA

Thursday 7 March 2024
5.30 to 7.30pm

Virtual

£55 (10 per cent discount - SLA School) 

Exclusions training
Facilitator: NGA

Thursday 18 April 2024
5.30 to 7.30pm

F2F

£55 (10 per cent discount - SLA School) 

Director meeting
Facilitator: LA

Thursday 23 April 2024
6 to 8pm

Hybrid

Free

Governor Induction
Facilitator: LA

Saturday 11 May 2024
9.30am to 2pm

Virtual

Free

Oftsted
Facilitator: THEP

Thursday 11 May 2024
5.30 to 6.30pm

Virtual

Free

Inclusive Recruitment Workshop 
Facilitator: Know Wonder

Thursday 13 June 2024
5.30 to 7.45pm

TBC

TBC

Inclusive Recruitment Workshop 2

Facilitator: Know Wonder

Thursday 20 June 2024
5.30 to 7.45pm

TBC

TBC

Inclusive Recruitment Workshop 3

Facilitator: Know Wonder

Thursday 27 June 2024
5.30 to 7.45pm

TBC

TBC

Taking the Chair

Facilitator: Know Wonder

Saturday 8 June 2024
9.30 to 1.30pm

Virtual

Free

Contact us  

To find out more, call 020 7364 3141 or email governor.servicessection@towerhamlets.gov.uk.