Governor Support & Training
Governor Support & Training
We believe that effective governance is essential to delivering school improvements. By supporting a committed network of governors, we can help to drive systematic change in schools across Buckinghamshire.
BESST is pleased to be able to offer a full suite of support to Governing Boards. In 2025/26 BESST is partnering with expert, national organisations to ensure the highest quality and most up to date training and support. This will be supplemented with local county-specific, expert training, advice and guidance.
BESST Governor Training
BESST offer a select programme of live virtual sessions for all governors throughout the academic year on a pay as you go basis, designed to supplement the national training offered by the NGA and provide a Buckinghamshire expert view on specific key topics where the county view is essential.
NGA Membership
Gold and standard memberships to the National Governance Association are available for all schools to purchase at a discounted rate through BESST. Membership of the NGA provides boards with access to information, advice and guidance from expert leaders in school governance.
NGA Learning Link
For 2025/26 we encourage all boards to subscribe to the NGA Learning Link e-learning platform to ensure that all governors access high-quality induction and information about all aspects of governance. Learning link has over 50 interactive e-learning modules to help new and experienced governors, trustees, chairs and governance professionals develop their governance skills and knowledge, through the NGA’s Learning Link.
GovernorHub One Subscription Membership
GovernorHub have expanded their core subscription to everyone, which means boards can now do everything in one place.
Your GovernorHub subscription will now include GovernorHub together with GovernorHub Knowledge. 12 months subscription - £450 (September 2025– August 2026).
Governor Support Packages
To enable governing boards to access support in a cost-effective way, gold, silver and bronze packages are available for the financial year 2025/26.
Headteacher Recruitment Support Packages
Recruiting a new headteacher is one of the most important roles that a Governing Body must undertake. It is critical that a professional, fair, open and time-sensitive recruitment practice is undertaken, taking on board the latest safeguarding guidance and legislation to ensure a successful recruitment outcome. The Buckinghamshire Council BESST School Improvement Team and Buckinghamshire Council Human Resources Team can offer three different traded packages of support to meet the needs of maintained, academy and free schools in Buckinghamshire.
Headteacher Performance Management
Our School Improvement Advisors can offer experienced external advisor support to governing bodies. The external advisor role provides advise on the legal process, helps interpret data and other performance information and advises on how to frame Headteacher objectives for the coming year.
The Headteacher Performance Management support is for one day’s support in the Autumn term, although additional support for a mid-year review, of either a half day or a full day, with the same School Improvement Advisor is also available.
Bespoke Training for Governing Boards
The Buckinghamshire HR team can provide expert sessions for governing boards in a range of topics including safer recruitment, headteacher recruitment, capability, grievance and disciplinary action.