Support for Chairs – Mentoring Scheme Martin Lawrence Vice-chair COGS Stephen Adamson Vice-chair NGA

Why Mentoring? Useful tool for supporting chairs in a range of situations: Useful tool for supporting chairs in a range of situations: –A new chair –A chair of a new school or fresh start –Where a chair is supporting a new head teacher with little experience of a governing body

Why Mentoring? (2) Useful in new or challenging situations: Useful in new or challenging situations: –Chair taking over from an IEB –Chair leading the governance of extended services –Chair implementing change or training

Why Mentoring? (3) Useful in difficult situations: Useful in difficult situations: –Chair in a school in an Ofsted category –Potential breakdown in relationships between the chair and the head teacher or other members of the governing body

What is mentoring? A process in which a more skilled or experienced person supports a less skilled or experienced person in developing confidence and expertise. A process in which a more skilled or experienced person supports a less skilled or experienced person in developing confidence and expertise. Support is offered in a non- judgemental way, face-to-face, by telephone or . Support is offered in a non- judgemental way, face-to-face, by telephone or .

Benefits for mentors Increased self-confidence Increased self-confidence Increased motivation Increased motivation Sense of satisfaction from helping others and seeing them progress Sense of satisfaction from helping others and seeing them progress Greater understanding of the role Greater understanding of the role The chance to build networks The chance to build networks

Existing schemes Essex Essex Surrey Surrey Derby City Derby City Wiltshire Wiltshire Hackney Hackney Thurrock Thurrock

Getting Started Have clear aims and objectives Have clear aims and objectives Covering costs Covering costs Recruitment and selection Recruitment and selection Training Training Matching Matching Code of Practice Code of Practice

Getting Started (2) Implementing the scheme Implementing the scheme – As a follow up to Taking the Chair –Joint working between the LA and GA –Developed through clusters of schools –As part of the intervention strategy of the LA in schools causing concern

Getting started (3) Consult with head teachers, SIPs and clerks Consult with head teachers, SIPs and clerks Advertise and encourage uptake Advertise and encourage uptake Co-ordination role Co-ordination role On-going support and recognition On-going support and recognition Payment or expenses Payment or expenses Collecting feedback and evaluating Collecting feedback and evaluating