What can the state sector learn from the independent sector?
Comparisons between the state and independent sector should not be made too closely, since the size and scale of the former provision is much greater, more complex and the challenges are, overall, greater. However, there may be some useful lessons to be learnt in terms of governance which may be applied in some state schools
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Earlier research into the governing bodies of 100 leading independent schools in 2008 sought to establish their composition, typical size and diversity and background. These are the key findings:
Size and diversity
1. The average number of governors is 21.
2. There are, however, significant variations which are not always based on the size of school in terms of pupil numbers.
3. The gender balance amongst governing bodies varied, to some degree, according to the type of school.
4. Of the 34 girls’ schools considered, only 10 had a majority of female governors.
5. Of the 23 boys schools, all had a male majority governing body, with only Trinity School Croydon (part of the Whitgift Foundation) having equal numbers of male and female governors.
6. The coeducational schools considered varied in terms of whether or not they are fully coeducational and whether or not their status changed in recent years (several were previously all boys). Nonetheless, all those considered had a majority of male governors.
A full copy of the report can be found here
http://www.moderngovernor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Who-Governs-the-Governors.pdf
So, the lesson is that state schools should aim to have fewer female governors?
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