We provide a number of services providing governors and trustees with specialist advice and guidance to help them fulfil their roles successfully.

• Governance helpdesk
• Governance Leadership Service
• Governor recruitment
• GovernorHub and GovernorHub Knowledge

Governance Helpdesk

An independent and impartial helpdesk supporting governors and trustees on matters relating to statutory legislation and help solve governance related issues. The Governance team has significant experience in governance and is proud of its strong and close working partnership with schools, academies and trusts. Capitalising on its wealth of experience, the Governance team, via the helpdesk, offers the following services:

Maintained schools

The Governance helpdesk is funded for all maintained schools in Hertfordshire. Comprising unlimited advice, covering:

• Safeguarding
• Governor recruitment and election
• School-based complaints
• Reconstitution, including processing of new instrument of government

Schools subscribing to this service receive:

• Unlimited telephone and email support for governors
• A welcome letter for all new governors, ensuring they are fully aware of the training opportunities available to become a skilled and functioning member of a governing board.

Academies and multi-academy trusts

• Academies or multi-academy trusts can purchase this service comprising unlimited advice, covering:
• Safeguarding
• Governor recruitment and election
• School-based complaints

This service is intended to offer advice and guidance to trusts and local governing boards, e.g,. support with handling a complaint or developing effective governance. It is not intended to act as a legal service.

Governance Leadership Service (previously known as the Chairs' Service)

Whether you’re a new or experienced Chair of Governors, a Vice-Chair with an ambition to step up, or a Committee Chair looking for a more senior role, the HFL Education Governance Leadership Service is the perfect opportunity to grow and develop your skills and knowledge.

Our dedicated training and informative briefings are a reliable and effective way for governance leaders to be kept up to date on relevant topics and themes relating to school governance and their role in it. The service includes:

• A termly Governance Leadership Briefing (previously called Chairs’ Strategic Briefing)
• Half-termly Governance Leadership bulletin
• Termly Governance Leadership Network meetings (previously called Chairs Networks), where Chairs can meet together to share concerns and discuss best practice
• Being an Effective Governance Leader training (previously called Being an Effective Chair training)

The Governance Leadership Service provides opportunities to work collaboratively on bespoke training programmes such as Being an Effective Governance Leader training, which is designed to meet the specific needs of chairs and governing board leaders who want to develop their knowledge and skills.

The Governance Leadership Portal (previously called the Chairs Portal) on GovernorHub also provides users with news and information, guidance, tools and templates to enhance the effectiveness of their role, and additional useful and targeted support materials.

GovernorHub and GovernorHub Knowledge

GovernorHub helps your board to work together better, keeps members connected, and provides a ready-made body of evidence when you need it most. Features of the full package include:

• A noticeboard for easy collaboration
• A calendar to stay organised
• Secure document storage with easy online access 

GovernorHub Knowledge comprises the full GovernorHub package with an added online resource that provides role-specific, expert-led guidance for every member of your governing board. 

Adding Knowledge to your existing GovernorHub package will:

• Help new governors and trustees to hit the ground running
• Guide your board on how to support your school effectively
• Keep your board up to date with the latest sector news and next steps

Subscribed to and trusted by more than 12,000 schools and academies across the UK,  GovernorHub Knowledge is the country’s leading provider of sector intelligence, services and resources, and gives education leaders the knowledge and guidance they need to run their schools.

Governor Hub and GovernorHub Knowledge are available at a reduced cost if purchased through HFL Education.

Find out more

For full details of all our services, including prices please contact our Governance team.