Within the Diverse Academies Learning Partnership, the role of governors in our academies forms a crucial part of their success, offering peer support and challenge to our leadership teams. We are always keen to highlight the positive contribution that these groups of people make to our children and young people’s education, and recently one of our experienced governors and trustees has received national recognition.
Kathryn Mitford, who has chaired the governors at the National Church of England Academy in Hucknall for six years, has been selected to be part of the National Leaders of Governance (NLG). This nationally recognised scheme has been launched by the government to support the improvement of governance in academies and schools throughout the country.
The role of NLG involves five days a year supporting other governing bodies outside of their current multi-academy trust supporting them to understand how governance in their schools should look. There are a wide range of learning experiences and opportunities that the role will provide, which will ultimately benefit both the National Church of England Academy and the Diverse Academies more widely – and provide Kathryn further development and understanding of best practice within the field of governance.
Kathryn, who is also the vice-chair of the Diverse Academies trustees, says of the recognition: “I was delighted to be successful with my application to be a national leader of governance having been through a competitive process with strict entry criteria. I was pleased to be encouraged to apply for the role by acting CEO Debbie Clinton and executive principal Simon Jones, both of the Diverse Academies, and am looking forward to working with other governing bodies to better support their academies and schools.”
This news follows hot on the heels of the National Church of England Academy governors winning the Governance Award at the recent Diverse Academies Star Awards 2017, for their exceptional support and guidance to the leadership team at the academy.
