🧭 Purpose of Governor Self-Evaluation
Governor self-evaluation helps ensure the governing body is:
- Fulfilling its strategic role effectively
- Supporting and challenging school leadership
- Contributing to school improvement and learner outcomes
✅ Key Features of Effective Governor Self-Evaluation
1. Regular and Structured
Self-evaluation should be a routine, termly process.
It should align with the school’s own self-evaluation and improvement cycle.
2. Evidence-Based
Use a range of evidence: meeting minutes, school performance data, stakeholder feedback, and training records.
Governors should observe school life (e.g. learning walks, pupil voice) to inform their understanding.
3. Reflective and Honest
Evaluate what’s working well and what needs to improve.
Include governor training impact, effectiveness of meetings, and how well governors understand the school’s priorities.
4. Linked to Improvement Planning
Findings should feed into a governor action plan with clear priorities, responsibilities, and timelines.
Align with the School Development Plan (SDP) and national priorities (e.g. ALN reform, curriculum for Wales).
5. Collaborative
Involve all governors, including parent and staff MER teams
Consider using external facilitators or peer reviews for objectivity.
🛠️ Tools and Resources
- Estyn’s Thematic Reports and case studies
- Welsh Government’s National Resource: Evaluation and Improvement
- Governor self-evaluation templates
🧩 What to Evaluate
- Strategic leadership and vision
- Understanding of school data and performance
- Support and challenge to school leaders
- Engagement with stakeholders
- Training and development
- Meeting effectiveness and governance processes
🏁 Final Tip
Effective self-evaluation is not about proving performance—it’s about improving it. It should lead to clear actions that enhance governance and ultimately benefit learners.