I can think of no quicker way of demotivating the generality of governors than to pay chairs of governors. Neither is tinkering with the stakeholder model the answer. What is really needed is better trained governors, and if it requires an element of compulsion to achieve it, so be it. If some governors are not prepared to commit to undertake training then they should not become governors. Thankfully, the governments in both Cardiff and Westminster are now beginning to take this on board.

Allan Tait, Chair of governors for two primary schools in Cwmbran, South Wales.