Barclays and Governors for Schools have joined forces to help drive an increase in school governors and improve education for children through the professional expertise of Barclays employees. With a nationwide presence, over 45 Barclays employees across England and Wales will be able to join governing boards and make a…
This guest blog from Stonewall discusses why it’s important that schools have a particular focus on LGBT pupils’ mental health and wellbeing, and the role governors can play in ensuring this happens. In the context of the Coronavirus pandemic, schools and colleges have had to find new ways of…
Wellbeing has been a big issue in schools for a long time, and rightly so. But the events of 2020 have put mental health and wellbeing at the forefront in schools, with lockdown, grief, uncertainty, and changes to our way of life all taking a toll on…
Governors have a strategic role, so they’re crucial in helping a school focus on mental health and wellbeing when it really matters. While governors can’t offer hands-on support, the governing board can make sure there are structures in place so that children’s and staff’s mental…
Link governors for wellbeing – or wellbeing governors – are the dedicated point of contact on a school governing board about mental health and wellbeing provision.  While it’s not a statutory role, many schools recognise the importance of having link governors for wellbeing,…
It’s hard to imagine a time when mental health and wellbeing has been more important in schools.  This September, we’re launching a year-long campaign to showcase the importance of having link governors for wellbeing on every school board. Now more than ever, schools need a dedicated…
At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in April, 46.6% of adults in employment in the UK were doing some work from home. This figure is expected to rise in the coming years as more workplaces adapt and see the benefits that a flexible approach to the traditional 9-5 can…
Has Coronavirus shifted our gaze outwards – and what does this mean for volunteering? When coronavirus became the focus of our lives back in March, everything changed on an almost daily basis. Schools in particular, along with other frontline services, were stretched to the limit. As a charity that…
Whatever your professional background, volunteering as a school governor is a chance to make a difference in your community.  Support young people into work The impact of coronavirus is already taking a toll on the job market. Young people under 25…
Inspector Allen Davis from the Metropolitan Police Service talks about the new resource the force has created to support teachers and school staff in keeping children safe online. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Guidance for Schools is a comprehensive resource that helps front line professionals in schools…
The Mental Health Foundation’s Mental Health Awareness week runs from 18th – 24th May and this year’s theme is ‘Kindness’. We couldn’t imagine the situation we’d be living through when these dates were announced months ago. The severity of global events, not only Covid-19 itself, but the measures…
It’s a challenging and uncertain time for schools and staff, and the children and parents they serve. The decision to close schools, either individually or on a national basis, is out of the hands of governing boards. But governors still have an important part to play, supporting senior leaders and…