Supporting a New Governor Checklist

Effective governors are one of a school’s strongest assets but a new governor who feels unsupported, uncertain about their role or unclear about the school’s context is unlikely to contribute with confidence from the start. This checklist is designed to help headteachers and senior leaders get governor induction right.

Welcoming a new governor well takes more than sending over a few documents before the first meeting. It means taking the time to explain the strategic versus operational distinction, introducing them to the right people, building their confidence around school data and Ofsted expectations, and helping them find a link governor role where they can genuinely contribute. Done well, a strong induction process means governors who are engaged, effective and a real support to school leadership.

This checklist walks you through everything you need to do, from the initial welcome through to a formal check-in at the end of their first term. It’s ideal for headteachers, deputies, governance leads and chairs of governors welcoming a new governor to the board.

Also available: Looking for more support for new governors? Our New to Governance Checklist gives the new governor themselves ideas of tasks to do in their first term as a member of the governing body.

Both of these checklists are available for free on our Honeyguide website.