Below you will find a series of short videos "Governor Shorts", a series of concise, engaging videos designed to fit around your busy schedule. Each video is 20 minutes or less, covering key aspects of governance specific to our trust. After each video, you’ll find additional resources such as further reading, references, links, or a quiz to deepen your understanding.

Developed by experts across our trust, Governor Shorts ensures you receive high-quality, relevant training to support your role. Keep an eye out for new videos as we continue to expand the series!

There will of course still be face to face sessions, and those too are detailed on this page. Governors may also be interested in the compliance and safeguarding sessions detailed in the menu on the right of this page.

CAT Professional Networks 
https://youtu.be/QU5r5rfz_ZA

This governor short is an introduction to the CAT Professional Networks, explaining why these are important and enabling you to support your headteacher to evaluate the impact of the professional networks.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Understand the importance of the Professional Networks in contributing to school improvement
• Have knowledge of the range of Professional Networks
• Understand how the Professional Networks can have impact on pupils, teachers and schools

Ensuring Excellence in Governance
https://youtu.be/FcNyoumNvB4

High Quality Governor Visits 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcNyoumNvB4

An effective governor visit to a school is a vital component of strong school governance.  Such visits help governors to understand the school's environment, challenges and successes, while reinforcing their role in ensuring the highest educational standards.  This short looks at what an effective visit should look like.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Understand the purpose of a governor visit
• Have an understanding of what a governor visit is and is not
• Understand the etiquette around a governor's visit
• Consider innovative ways to develop an effective governor visit
• Have some resources to help you conduct a successful visit
• Reaffirm Governors role in our charter

Governors NEW to governance
https://youtu.be/0MI1l2aWB8g

For those new to school governance, this short is an introcution to the vital role that school governors play within our trust schools.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will:

• Have a clear understanding of what school governance is, why it matters and what it entails within our trust
• Understand key roles and responsibilities and the expectations for governors
• Feel informed, supported and ready to make a meaningful impact

 

An Introduction to Complaints Policy and Panels
https://youtu.be/NpN4rGHonpw

This short is an introduction to complaints and the governor's role in this process.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will:

• nderstand the trust complaints policy and why this policy is essential
• Understand the difference between informal and formal complaints
• Understand the complaints process and the governors role in complaints
• Understand the Panel hearing and decision making

Introduction to Clerking at CAT
https://youtu.be/SUMKIO6j5xE

This governor short is an introduction to clerking for governance clerks supporting the SSCs in our trust schools, covering key topics to form a foundation for your important role in supporting governance.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will know:

• How governance works in a muti academy trust
• The role of members, trustees and the SSC
• The role and responsibilities of the governance clerk
• Important governance documents you should be aware of and where to access them

Governor Short on Podcast

Similar to our Video Shorts, these podcast episodes will cover essential topics to support your role, keeping you informed and empowered as a CAT Governor. Follow “Governor Shorts” in your RSS Feeds for notifications of new episodes as they're published.  We hope you find this podcast an invaluable resource to enhance your governance journey. 

Audio Short: Recruiting a New Governor
Recruiting a New Governor

In this audio short we discuss the essential steps and considerations for recruiting a new governor to join your school’s SSC. Learn about identifying the skills and qualities that complement your SSC, finding the right candidates, and conducting an inclusive recruitment process. Tune in for practical tips to strengthen your governance and ensure a positive impact on your school community.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will know:

• Why recruiting new governors is important
• Where to look for new governors and qualities to look for in a governor
• The recruitment process for a community governor
• Trust support available