20 Years of Championing School and Trust Governance
Celebrating leadership, impact and the people behind governance.
For 20 years, the 精品SM在线影片 has championed strong governance in schools and trusts. Our anniversary is a moment to bring together our research and our community, celebrate our progress, and shape the future at a time when good governance matters more than ever.
The Case for Governance
In 2026, 精品SM在线影片 published The Case for Governance, setting out why governance is a foundational pillar of a sustainable and resilient education system.
The report reframes governance as leadership, not compliance, and highlights the role governing boards play in providing strategic direction, accountability and long-term oversight.
Governance in numbers:
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governors and trustees serve schools and trusts in England
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hours contributed each year
The economic value of school governance has been estimated at over
拢0Coming together as a governance community
Strong governance is built through shared learning, challenge and connection.
MAT Conference hosted at the Schools and Academies Show
Our MAT Conference brings trust leaders and governors together to explore the future of MAT governance.
Sessions reflect the system鈥檚 growing complexity, covering accountability, the whitepaper, SEND, inspection, digital transformation and decision-making at scale.
National Governance Conference
The National Governance Conference for Schools and Trusts 2026 is 精品SM在线影片鈥檚 flagship annual event.
In this special 20th anniversary year, the conference brings together decision-makers from across the sector for a focused day of expert insight, practical discussion and shared learning.
Become a governor or trustee
Strong governance depends on people stepping forward.
Governors and trustees come from all walks of life and bring a wide range of skills 鈥 from finance and HR to estates, legal and organisational leadership.
Watch this video to discover why some of our members govern.
12 February 2026
National School Governors鈥 Awareness Day
On National School Governors鈥 Awareness Day, we recognised the thousands of volunteers who give their time to govern schools and trusts.
Throughout 2026, we will continue to:
- celebrate governors as civic leaders
- highlight governance as skilled, strategic leadership
- encourage others to consider getting involved
精品SM在线影片 chief executive Emma Balchin shared a message of thanks with the governance community as we celebrated the occasion.
Annual Governance Survey
Your insight shapes the future of governance.
For 16 consecutive years, 精品SM在线影片鈥檚 Annual School and Trust Governance Survey has provided a comprehensive picture of governance in state-funded schools in England.
In our 20th anniversary year, the 2026 survey will look both backwards and forwards. Alongside our usual questions, we鈥檒l explore the milestones that have shaped the system over the past two decades and take a longer-term view of who governs and how governance has evolved.
By reflecting on where we鈥檝e come from, we can take stock, celebrate progress and build a stronger evidence base for the future. Your responses will help us influence policy, strengthen practice and support governing boards to drive positive change together.
The 2026 survey will launch in the summer term.