Pathway to Governance in Buckinghamshire
What is Pathway to Governance
Pathway to Governance is a unique, CPD-certified programme designed to help make school governance accessible and relatable. It’s particularly suitable if you’re aged 18-25, and living or working in Buckinghamshire. You might be:
- starting out on your career journey and looking to gain valuable skills that can support your professional development and boost your CV.
- a young adult with more recent lived experience of the education system who wants to use this to help the generation of learners.
- someone who brings a diversity of skills but not necessarily from a professional background.
- interested in giving something back to your community, but aren’t really sure what school governance involves and whether it’s right for you.
Apply for a free place on the Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire here.
This programme is valued at upwards of £350, and should take no more than 8 weeks to complete. Learning is done online, at your own pace and convenience.
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Why is it important?
You might assume you do not have the right skills and experience to be a school governor. This may be simply because you’re just starting out in your career, still studying, feel you’re ‘too young’, or because you don’t hold professional qualifications.Â
However, the reality is that schools need school governors with a broad range of skills and perspectives to help them run effectively, and younger volunteers like you are an essential part of this equation.Â
- Young adults have more recent first-hand experience of the modern education system. This allows you to offer unique viewpoints on a range of issues affecting today’s schools.
- Younger school governors tend to be more sensitive to the importance of inclusion and sustainability.
- Growing up in the digital era means younger volunteers understand the kinds of skills younger generations will need in their personal and professional lives.Â
The Pathway to Governance programme is designed to empower participants to have the confidence to apply to school governance roles and lend their voices to boards across Buckinghamshire.
This opportunity will help you understand the valuable contribution you can make to your community through school governance while equipping yourself with the skills and knowledge you need in the role.
Lots of people also think you have to work in education or have children to be a school governor, but this isn’t true. School governing boards need people from all backgrounds to function effectively.
Apply for a free place on the Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire here.
How does Pathway to Governance work?
The Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire is being generously funded by the Heart of Bucks Community Fund, who support the people and communities of Buckinghamshire.
Once accepted onto the programme you’ll receive:
- A dedicated Pathway to Governance contact who can offer support and guidance through the programme.
- Access to Governors for Schools eLearning materials designed specifically for those who are new to school governance, such as our CPD-certified ‘Become an Effective New School Governor’ series. These are all online and can be done at your own pace.
- A live school governing board simulation experience, where you are able to apply your skills and learning to a real school governance context.
- 1:1 application support to become a school governor.
Apply for a free place on the Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire here.
How can the Pathway to Governance programme impact skills development?
Pathway to Governance isn’t just about helping you share your skills with schools. The programme also offers participants a fantastic opportunity to develop their own personal and professional skills base. These skills can then be brought back to the workplace or studies. Research conducted on the experiences of school governors working in professional fields revealed a close match between the skills used in a school governance context and in a corporate/professional context. In particular, school governors recognised significant overlap in the following areas:
- Providing challenge and asking probing questions.
- Strategic planning and developing professional relationships.
- Leading, persuading or influencing others.
School governors reported strong development in these transferable skills, which in turn has led to enhanced performance in the workplace. In addition to the areas set out above, school governors also reported strong growth in:
- Preparation, flexibility and agility.
- Analysing performance data and KPIs.
- Financial skills and value for money.
Apply for a free place on the Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire here.
What makes Pathway to Governance unique?
Pathway to Governance is an innovative and immersive learning programme. The programme gives you the unique opportunity to try out being a school governor before actually becoming one. Led by experienced school governors, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how a governing board meeting works. You’ll also get the opportunity to scrutinise board papers, and prepare effective challenge/questions in a real governing board meeting context.
Above all, you’ll be supported throughout the process in order to effectively apply the learning developed during the independent study phase of the programme.
Apply for a free place on the Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire here.
Apply for a free place on the Pathway to Governance programme in Buckinghamshire
Get started on your governance journey today!
Want to know more?
Email Emma Hawker, the Pathway to Governance delivery manager with any questions or queries!