ISBL

NGA marks 20 years and launches new governance report

Written by ISBL Team | Jan 29, 2026 10:06:29 AM

Earlier this week, ISBL colleagues had the pleasure of attending the National Governance Association’s (NGA) 20th anniversary celebration – an occasion that not only recognised two decades of impact, but also marked the launch of The case for governance, a significant new report.

NGA’s work highlights the critical role governing boards play in connecting schools and trusts to the communities they serve. Their anniversary report shines a light on the distinctive contribution of more than 230,000 governors and trustees who volunteer their time and expertise to provide strategic leadership and help ensure every pupil receives the best education possible. It’s a powerful reminder of the depth of commitment underpinning the education system.

Many of the report’s insights closely align with the research report The three strands of leadership, which we published jointly with NGA and ASCL last year. Together, the two reports offer a clear and coherent vision for how governance, educational, and business leadership work interdependently to secure sustainable, high‑quality provision:

  • Governance leadership – providing strategic vision, accountability, and external perspective, acting as the guardian of organisational purpose beyond immediate pressures.
  • Educational leadership – translating that strategic vision into operational reality, with a focus on pedagogy, curriculum, and school improvement.
  • Business leadership – ensuring operational excellence through finance, HR, estates, IT, procurement, and compliance – increasingly recognised as mission‑critical.

Both reports reinforce the same conclusion: the strength of our education system rests not on any single role, but on the alignment and mutual respect between these three essential strands.

You can explore both publications here:
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