Workshops offered by Optimal School Governance

How long is it since your board members have received expert training in their distinctive roles as school governors?

OPTIMAL SCHOOL GOVERNANCE offers an extensive range of workshop sessions that can be tailored to the specific individual, distinctive needs and characteristics of each school board.

Workshops can provide orientation for new board members, regular training for trustees of highly effective boards to fine-tune and ensure continuing ‘best practice’, and help can also be provided to support boards that are functioning sub-optimally, and even boards that are in crisis.

Among the popular (and often necessary) topics for workshops with school boards and heads are the following:

Board leadership
Governance vs Management
Managing risk
Directing and managing change
Dysfunctional boards
Healthy boards
Staying focussed in a crisis
Preparing for a future that embraces disruptive change
The Board-Head relationship
Board composition and succession
Board meetings and dynamics
Board policies
Board engagement with the faculty, staff, alumni, parents and the community
Ethos (the mission, school policies, environmental sustainability)
Strategic thinking and visioning
Board duties (legal compliance, finances and resources, risk management, reputation)
Oversight of the school (engagement, program oversight, demographics)
Truth
Ethics
Perspectives on Christian leadership
Evaluating the board
Evaluating trustees’ performance

Our workshops consistently receive high ratings and positive feedback. For details of feedback we receive from school boards, click HERE.

Do you want to ensure that your school board is operating with long-term health, stability and effectiveness?

Schools in New South Wales:

Optimal School Governance is a NESA approved and accredited training provider of courses relating to proper governance in non-government schools. Read about our NESA courses HERE.

Are you certain that your board is functioning optimally to enhance the school’s mission, vision and strategic direction?

Optimal School Governance is a Council of International Schools affiliated consultant in the areas of Leadership Training and School Governance, Appraisal and Professional Development, and Strategic Planning.

We offer:

Workshops and programs to enhance board effectiveness
Support for managing strategic and/or operational change effectively
Diagnostic tools for board self-evaluations and external board evaluations
Simple diagnostic tools for annual trustee evaluations
Performance appraisals for Heads and Senior Executive staff
Support to address specific issues such as dysfunctional teamwork, lack of trust and conflict
Assistance with improving board-head relations
Support for board restructuring
Orientation workshops for new board members
Mentoring and tailored support for boards and school leaders

Presentation or Masterclass to a board, faculty or staff:

Typically 1 to 2 hours, this is a standalone single-topic presentation with questions and discussion, either on a standard topic or a school-specific topic that has been identified by the board or school.

Governance Workshops:

Depending on the depth of analysis and extent of discussion required, these can be organised as half-day, full-day, two-day or week-long courses. Workshops cover a range of governance-related topics selected from the list (above) or as specified by the school or board.

Full Effective Governance Review:

Depending upon the depth and range of issues involved, this is usually a flexible 3 to 5 day process involving onsite visits and a formal questionnaire for board members and stakeholders.

Ongoing Governance Support:

An annual critical friendship, including monthly and ad hoc consultations, up to four campus visits per year (each of which may be up to two days), incorporating any or all of the above plus coaching for trustees and/or senior staff.