Embedding staff wellbeing at governance level
The role of Staff Wellbeing Governor or Trustee is fast becoming recognised as best practice in our schools. It’s a clear, visible commitment to showing that staff wellbeing isn’t a bolt-on or a quick fix, it’s a fundamental part of how schools are led and cared for.
We already know that Governors and Trustees make a powerful impact in our schools. They give their time, insight and care to serve, offer constructive challenge, and help shape the school’s values and vision. When that leadership includes wellbeing, when governors lead with heart as well as strategy, the ripple effect can be felt throughout the whole school. Staff feel seen. Leaders feel supported. And decisions are made with people, not just policies, in mind.
Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework (EIF) recognises this too. It now highlights the importance of governing bodies supporting school leaders in managing both staff wellbeing and workload. This reflects what we already understand to be true: staff wellbeing underpins everything - from morale and retention to performance and long-term school improvement.
Having a dedicated Staff Wellbeing Governor or Trustee helps strengthen this focus. It makes sure that wellbeing has a voice at board level, and that it's built into strategic decision-making - not left to chance or resting solely on the shoulders of the headteacher or SLT. This role brings fresh perspective and advocacy. It creates space for monitoring the impact of wellbeing initiatives, asking the right questions, and keeping the emotional health of the school community firmly on the agenda. In schools where this role is in place, staff often report feeling more listened to, and leaders feel less isolated in carrying the emotional weight of the job. It’s a simple, strategic step that shows your staff they matter.
To support this important role, we’ve launched a new online workshop for 2025
Leading With Care – Essential Training for Staff Wellbeing Governors and Trustees.
This two-hour interactive session is designed especially for Staff Wellbeing Governors, Trustees and Chairs of Governors who want to lead with both confidence and compassion. It’s a practical, supportive space to explore what this role really looks like in action and how you can make a meaningful difference without taking on more than you need to.
We know many governors care deeply about the people in their schools, but sometimes feel unsure about where wellbeing fits in, or what’s expected of them. This session unpacks all of that. It covers why staff wellbeing matters, whose role it is to lead it, and how governors can offer support that is strategic, not operational.
There’s also a dedicated focus on leadership wellbeing because our school leaders are often the ones holding it all together, and they need support too. We’ll explore the unique pressures they face, the value of psychological safety in conversations, and how governors can play a key part in building a culture of care and transparency. When governors and leaders lead with care, the whole school feels it.
To find out more, click here.
