The key area for Link Governors is establishing what development individual governors need.  This will be influenced, of course, by which roles the governor will be taking and what s/he already knows.

It may be useful to keep a record of your governors’ skills and experience, and also what roles they would prefer. This can then be fed into the succession planning activity.  An appropriate way to collect this information is by having a chat with each governor once a year around the following questions, noting the relevant points.

• What experience and training have you had in any of the following areas?
  
  
  • Managing people:
    • appointing
    • appraising or performance managing
    • organising in a club, office or other group
    • coaching
    • leading a team
      
      
  • Helping young people through work in:
    • Social Services & other agencies
    • clubs, eg scouts, gymnastics
    • business link programmes such as Young Enterprise
    • caring professions
    • bringing up a family
      
      
  • Premises and/or environment
    • upkeep of your home, or at work
    • DIY capability
    • health and safety issues
    • planner or architect
    • building services role, eg building, plumbing, maintenance.
      
      
  • Plan and/or projects
    • at home
    • a hobby
    • organising a holiday/event/party
    • helping with a group/club
    • planning or project management role at work
      
      
  • Budget
    • at home
    • in an office or business
    • in running a club
    • book-keeping or accountancy
      
      
  • Education & Training
    • teaching, lecturing or assistant role
    • curriculum area
    • particular age-group
      
      
  • Any other relevant areas?
    
    
• Have you any school governor experience? If so, in which areas?
  
  
  • Chairmanship and/or other specific roles
    
    
  • Committee membership:
    • Curriculum
    • Finance
    • Staffing/personnel
    • HT objectives
    • Staff appointment
    • Pay
    • Premises
    • Letting/management
    • Health & Safety
    • Out-of school provision
    • Marketing
    • Any others
      
      
• Have you had any governor training? If so, what and when?
  
  
• What areas of school governance are you are interested in moving into?