Governance Leads PLLC - Session 3

Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement, Inclusion, and Governance Practice

This session will build on our recent discussions around Ofsted’s increasing focus on meaningful stakeholder engagement and, crucially, how that engagement demonstrably influences decision-making within trusts. We will explore what “impact” looks like in practice, how it can be evidenced, and where stakeholder voice feeds into governance structures and processes.

A key part of the session will be a practical exercise looking at Schemes of Delegation. Participants are encouraged to bring their current schemes with them. Together, we will consider how stakeholder engagement is reflected within them, what Ofsted expectations might imply for future development, and identify other areas where schemes of delegation can be strengthened or clarified.

We will also revisit the inclusion agenda, focusing on how governors’ roles and activities may be evolving. The discussion will consider how boards are monitoring, tracking, and making decisions around inclusion, and whether anyone has developed approaches, tools, or reporting mechanisms that they would be willing to share as examples of effective practice.

Finally, we will open up a conversation about AI and governance. With AI remaining a consistent area of interest across the group, we will explore how trusts are beginning to use AI in ways that support governance and leadership. As a longer-term outcome, we will discuss the possibility of collaboratively developing a shared resource by the end of the year - such as a set of guiding principles or a collection of short case studies—showcasing real examples of how AI is being used and the impact it is having across our trusts.

This session is intended to be highly collaborative, practical, and forward-looking, drawing on the collective expertise of the group to strengthen governance practice across the sector.