Governance for Success

At FE Associates, we understand the vital role that governance plays in shaping college success. Developed in collaboration with experienced Chairs, college leaders, and governance professionals, this online series reflects the latest thinking and best practices in FE governance.

Each session is carefully designed to fit the busy schedules of volunteer governors, offering a blend of practical knowledge, strategic insight and interactive discussion. Governors will leave with the confidence to challenge constructively, support effectively and lead strategically.

This programme is designed for new governors, experienced governors looking to deepen their impact, and Chairs of governing bodies across the Further Education and Skills sector. Participants will benefit from sector-specific learning and the opportunity to connect and collaborate with peers across institutions.

• Ten Online Workshops
  Delivered online, each workshop explores a core area of governance, showcasing good practice and enabling governors to discuss challenges and ideas in a supportive environment. Sessions are led by highly experienced practitioners and sector leaders.
• Expert-Led Seminars
  Every workshop is delivered by governance experts, including experienced Chairs, governance professionals, and senior college leaders. These experts provide authoritative and up-to-date perspectives on governance in the FE and Skills sector.
• Networking and Peer Learning
  Opportunities for governors to share experiences, reflect on their roles and develop collaborative solutions to sector-wide challenges.

• Workshop 01 – The FE Landscape and Language

This introductory workshop has been designed for new or recently appointed college governors and can be used to complement internal induction programmes. During this 1.5-hour online workshop, delegates will build their understanding of current sector priorities and developments and key issues for college governing boards and gain some practical tips on ensuring governance practices support colleges to respond to the current operating environment.

Workshop leader: Matt Atkinson, Chair of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

• Workshop 02 – Strategy, Vision and Educational Character

This 1.5-hour online workshop focuses on how governing bodies can play a key role in college strategy development and how boards can operate more strategically. It will also explore how governors can discharge their duties in shaping the educational character and mission of the college and their role in ensuring the college is responsive to local educational and economic needs.

Workshop leader: Graham Razey OBE, Chair Active Kent and Medway and Chair of Audit Committee, University of Kent

• Workshop 03 – Chairs –  Leading the Board Team

Building a governing body as an effective team is a challenge many college boards face. How we bring a group of volunteers who infrequently come together to create a high-performing and effective team is part of the role of a Chair, and this 1.5-hour online workshop explores practical techniques for creating an effective Board team. The session is ideal for current and future Chairs and governance professionals and will provide delegates with the opportunity to share best practices and learn from others.

Workshop leader: Dame Sally Dicketts DBE, Chair of South Essex College

• Workshop 04 – Governance and Risk

This 1.5-hour online workshop explores the critical relationship between governance and effective risk management. It equips governors with practical tools to identify, assess, and respond to strategic and operational risks. Through real-world examples and facilitated discussion, participants will gain greater confidence in making informed decisions that support institutional resilience and long-term success.

Workshop leader – TBC

• Workshop 05 – Senior Post Holder Relationships

This 1.5-hour online workshop is ideal for Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Chairs of Remuneration Committees and focuses on best practices in ensuring effective relationships between the Board and Senior Post Holders.  Healthy, honest, supportive and challenging relationships between Boards and the executive are a feature of high-performing governance. In this relationship, we will look at practical ways of ensuring positive and appropriate relationships are built, nurtured and maintained.

Workshop leader – Rob Lawson OBE, Chair of Hull College and National Leader of Governance

• Workshop 06 – Governance, Quality and Performance

Ensuring colleges deliver excellent education and training in line with their stated missions and visions is a priority for all FE Boards. Governors have a key role in setting expectations for success, scrutinising performance and working collaboratively with college leaders to ensure key quality and educational outcomes are achieved. This 1.5-hour online workshop will look at how governors can undertake their roles effectively and explore governance best practices for supporting quality and educational improvement.

Workshop leader – Jackie Rossa, Chair of Curriculum Strategy and Quality Improvement Committee at Leicester College

• Workshop 07 – Governance and Finance

Financial resilience and sustainability are a priority for all college Boards, and governors are responsible for ensuring the organisation’s solvency. Whilst all boards will have governors with financial expertise, the majority of governors are not financial experts. Therefore, this workshop has been designed to support non-finance specialist governors undertaking their roles. This 1.5-hour online workshop will focus on the key aspects of college finance that governors need to focus on and aim to build the confidence of governors without specialist financial knowledge to ask the right questions and focus on the key metrics and challenges in the right places.

Workshop leader – Dr Molly Makota, CFO Christ The King College and Governor at Barking and Dagenham College

Workshop 08 – Digital Developments and College Governance

This 1.5-hour online workshop focuses on the growing impact of digital technology on college strategy and operations. It looks at the interplay between technological developments in colleges and the role of governors in ensuring safety, security and resilience. The session will explore key digital trends such as AI,  data management, cybersecurity, and digital learning and their implications for board-level decision-making. Governors will gain insight into how to effectively challenge and support college leadership in navigating digital transformation, ensuring that technological developments align with educational goals, compliance requirements, and long-term institutional strategy.

Workshop leader: Caryn Swart, Digital Governance Advisor

• Workshop 09 – Governance and Inspections

Governors have a key contribution to make to the Ofsted inspection process, and governance effectiveness informs judgements the inspectorate makes about the leadership and management of colleges. However, as lay people and volunteers, governors often find it difficult to understand how they can positively impact the outcome of the inspection process. This 1.5-hour online workshop will help governors understand their roles in the inspection process, build knowledge of the inspection framework as it relates to governors and learn how to demonstrate governance impact on organisational performance, all through an inspection lens.

Workshop leader: Dan Beale, Part-time inspector, former HMI and training consultant

• Workshop 10 – Governance and Inclusion

This 1.5-hour online workshop will focus on the vital role of governance in promoting equity, belonging, diversity, and inclusion in college strategy and policy.  The session examines how inclusive values can be embedded into board culture, decision-making, and strategic priorities. Through discussion and practical examples, governors will explore their responsibilities in fostering inclusive environments for students and staff, ensuring compliance with legal duties, and driving meaningful, measurable progress on inclusion across the college.

Workshop leader: Anju Virdee, Coach and trainer with college and academy governance experience.

Location:
Online (via Zoom)

Cost Options:

• £180.00 per person per workshop

• £1,200.00 per person for all 10 workshops

• £1,800.00 per institution for up to 2 governors to attend each session.

(VAT Included in all Prices)

Programme Schedule

• Workshop 1: The FE Landscape and Language – Friday 26 September 2025

• Workshop 2: Strategy, Vision and Educational Character – Friday 3 October 2025

• Workshop 3: Chairs – Leading the Board Team – Friday 17 October 2025

• Workshop 4: Governance and Risk – Friday 7 November 2025

• Workshop 5: Senior Post Holder Relationships – Friday 21 November 2025

• Workshop 6: Governance Quality and Performance – Friday 5 December 2025

• Workshop 7: Governance and Finance – Friday 9 January 2026

• Workshop 8: Digital Developments and Governance – Friday 23 January 2026

• Workshop 9: Governance and Inspections – Friday 6 February 2026

• Workshop 10: Governance and Inclusion – Friday 13 March 2026

To make one or more bookings please email Jack.Moriarty@fea.co.uk specifying whether you wish to book individual workshops (please specify which workshops), the entire workshop series for one person or the Board CPD package for all workshops for different people.