The Governance Services Team held the 2024 Bolton Governance Conference on Saturday 16 November 2024 from 8.30 am until 2.00 pm at Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel, Blackrod, Bolton.
The theme of the conference for this year was “Working Together for Wellbeing” and looked at workload, wellbeing and resilience in education. The day provided governors and trustees with practical advice and guidance in order f to support the wellbeing and resilience of operational leaders, but also recognising when their own workload concerns and mental health requires addressing.
We also looked at how strategic leaders, through effective challenge and support, can help to promote the health, welfare and wellbeing of children, in an inclusive, healthy and thriving school environment.
Feedback of the event had been extremely positive and will be shared via the spring term briefings.
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Conference Programme |
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| 8.30 am – 9.00 am | Registration, Refreshments & Light Breakfast | |
| 9.00 am – 9.05 am | Welcome from Governance Services | John Ashworth, Governance Services Manager |
| 9.05 am – 9.15 am |
Introduction from Assistant Director of Children’s Services |
Geraldine Whitehead, AD Inclusive Education and Learning |
| 9.15 am – 10.30 am | Key Note Speech – Supporting Leader Wellbeing and Resilience | Dr Emma Kell, CEO of Those That Can. |
| 10.30 am – 11.00 am | Refreshments & Networking | |
| 11.00 am – 12.15 pm | Through the Eyes of our Children – Strategic Oversight for our Children’s Welfare and Wellbeing | Mr Paul Hodgkinson, CEO of the Bolton Impact Trust |
| 12.15 pm – 1.15 pm | Governing Well – Workload and Wellbeing for Strategic Leaders | Mrs Janet Myers, NGA North West Regional Lead & Consultant |
| 1.15 pm – 1.20 pm | Conference Close & Final Comments | |
| 1.20 pm | Light Lunch & Networking | |
Our Key Note Speaker
Our keynote speaker, Dr Emma Kell, is director of Those That Can Ltd with 26 years of experience as a teacher and leader in UK schools. Emma works with professionals within and beyond the world of education to provide research-based, practical sessions to promote wellbeing and effectiveness and stakeholder engagement. She is a qualified Performance Coach and experienced speaker and facilitator. Emma writes for a variety of publications including TES and BBC Teach. She has completed a doctorate on teacher well-being and parenting at Middlesex University and is a published author. Emma is also Mum to two teenagers and a golden retriever!
Our Sessions and Presenters
| Supporting Leader Wellbeing and Resilience |
| Head Teacher and Leaders are responsible for managing their schools through challenges and successes and often bear a significant burden. This is an enormous ask, that carries with it an emotional and mental toll. Boards have a duty of care for their staff and leaders, to safeguard their well-being and ensure that provision is made to help them overcome emotional, psychological and practical challenges of the role. An NAHT survey in 2023 found that almost half of school leaders in the study said they have needed mental health or wellbeing support in the last 12 months, with 38% having accessed professional support. This session will look at the wellbeing and resilience of school leadership, consider workload and work-life balance and look at how boards can promote effective time management and flexible working practices. Having a healthy, resilient, and supported leader, can help to maintain a healthy and thriving school environment. This session aims to provide strategic leaders with an understanding of wellness and wellbeing to provide pragmatic support to their head teachers and leaders.
Dr Emma Kell, CEO of Those That Can |
| Through the Eyes of our Children – Strategic Oversight for our Children’s Welfare and Wellbeing |
| Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Through their strategic leadership, boards must ensure that the wellbeing and welfare of all children in their setting is a priority. Schools have a statutory responsibility to ensure that children have the right help and support; preventing impairment of mental and physical health or development. All Leaders and school staff should ensure the best outcomes for all children in their care and provide support as problems emerge. School and academies support children’s physical and mental health and wellbeing through inclusive education and support strategies, including identifying support through multi-agency working, where required. This in turn should reduce escalation of behaviour and possible suspensions and exclusions. This session will provide Governors and Trustees with practical knowledge and examples of good practice. Strategic leaders should know their school well and ensure that the necessary policies and procedures are in place to promote pupil welfare and able to provide constructive challenge and support to leaders.
Mr Paul Hodgkinson, CEO of the Bolton Impact Trust |
| Governing Well – Workload and Wellbeing for Strategic Leaders |
| School governors and trustees play a vital role in education and make a difference by shaping the future of children and young people. At its best, the role is a rewarding experience that can make a difference to your community whilst developing your leadership skills and allowing you to build professional skills and networks. However, being responsible for the strategic leadership of a school or academy can sometimes be daunting, and at times governors and trustees might feel unappreciated and lonely.
This session will explore NGA’s research into governance workload and wellbeing, what can be done to make the role manageable, and how NGA is lobbying political parties to improve workload. Mrs Janet Myers, NGA North West Regional Lead & Consultant |
Governance-Conference-2024-Flyer.pdf (1880.9kb)
