You are here: Home: Education and learning: Schools: School governors

School governors

Governor training and development

Training and development is a vital part of becoming an effective governor: it assists governors in dealing with the many issues that occur regularly; in keeping up with the many changes taking place in education; and in supporting schools to raise standards.

Governors play a key role in the life of a school and their job is demanding in terms of time, skill, energy and commitment.  With so many expectations and challenges facing them, training and development for governors has never been as important as it is now.

The training aims to support governors in:

• fulfilling their strategic planning role in the school;
• understanding and fulfilling their accountability role by providing information as required;
• acting as a critical friend in the management of the school;
• developing appropriate skills and knowledge to be an effective member of a governing body;
• working in partnership with senior management, staff, parents, the local community and, where appropriate, the diocesan authorities.

Governors rightly recognise the importance of in-service training for staff in schools yet frequently forget that they, too, are key players in raising standards and that they need support and training to an equal degree.  We are committed to supporting governors so that they can become skilled and knowledgeable.

Training is readily available for all governors. This may be through the Calderdale Governor Training Programme.  Eighty per cent of our schools purchase this as a traded service, or pay-as-you-go when the school will be charged for attendance. All schools have funding for governor training through the Standards Fund.

Governor Training Programme 2009/10

The Governor Training Programme brochure is reviewed annually. It provides excellent training and development opportunities on current issues relating to education and school governance. All governors and clerks to governing bodies of Calderdale schools are eligible to attend governor training courses.

Governor training and development courses are facilitated by a range of highly skilled experts from the education service and outside consultants.

• Governor training programme 2009-10 [PDF file 1616KB]|

  Includes details of venues, costs and charges, course listings by term and more information on how to apply.

• Governor training application form [PDF file 93KB]|

How to apply

Completed application forms can be returned via the school packet or sent to:

• Name
• Governor Support and Training Team
• Address
• Heath Training and Development Centre
  Free School Lane
  Halifax HX1 2PT
• E-mail
• linda.butterworth@calderdale.gov.uk
• Fax
• 01422 394083.

Please note:

• If a course is fully booked, you will be offered an alternative course (if available) or the option of being placed on a waiting list for a cancelled booking.
• Over-subscription may result in additional courses being provided.
• Low bookings may result in a course being re-scheduled/cancelled.

back to top