NCoGS commissioned us to explore with them the implications for Governing Bodies of the New Relationship with Schools and the role of the School Improvement Partner. As part of our solution we held a conference in association with the Regional Development Agency ONE North East.

Northern Education and their Associates helped to shape the whole concept of the National SIP programme throughout the period we tested the policies in schools and local authorities. The NFER’s independent evaluation praised the action based learning approach taken in the trials and much of the success of the national programme can, I believe, be traced back to the development work undertaken at that time.

Chris Tweedale Senior Adviser, Department for Children Schools and Families

Northern Education proposed a one day conference with invitations to selected and experienced school governors across the North East region – a model of a two way learning experience: (i) the governors learning from Northern Education experience and (ii) Northern Education and NCoGS increasing understanding of training and information needs.

Since this was a regional initiative, the opportunity was taken to inform the governors of the development of the regional schools’ partnership, Schools North East, with the Regional Development Agency ONE North East and to seek their views about potential school governing representation. The Regional Development Agency generously funded the conference.

Topics covered included:

• The New Relationship with Schools and the School Improvement Partner role – the Newcastle Pilot and national roll out programme
• What makes a good School Improvement Partner – the key competencies and the need to involve governors in judgements about the quality of the School Improvement Partner
• Regional Economic Regeneration – the wider context for schools: Regional networks and the Every Child Matters Agenda
• The central importance of the SEF – Issues from experience