AoC Strategic Governance Masterclass Series 2026/27

The AoC Strategic Governance Masterclass Series brings together college governors, governance professionals, clerks and senior leaders to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed for effective strategic leadership. Across six interactive online 90-minute masterclasses, expert facilitators will explore some of the most important issues facing college boards today, including inclusion, quality, accountability, risk, governance relationships and succession planning. Designed to be practical and discussion-led, each session provides opportunities to reflect on current practice, share experiences and identify actions that can strengthen governance, improve decision-making and support long-term success.

Session One: Inclusion, Equity and Community Impact, Thursday 14 January 2027 (4.30pm – 6pm)

Facilitator: Jeff Greenidge, Director for Diversity and Governance, Association of Colleges 

This masterclass is designed to help governors better understand their role in promoting fairness and inclusion for all in their college and in building stronger, more connected communities. It highlights why community cohesion is important today, where issues like inequality, division and misinformation are becoming more common. Colleges are shown not just as places of education, but as key organisations that help bring people together and create opportunities for all. 

During the session, governors take part in discussions and activities to explore what a truly inclusive college looks like. This includes thinking about whether students and staff feel safe, respected, and involved, and whether different groups are given equal opportunities to succeed. 

The programme also focuses on the role of governors in leadership. It encourages them to move beyond simply checking policies, and instead ask meaningful questions about fairness, participation, and outcomes. Governors will learn how to use evidence, listen to different voices and work with communities to improve their college. By the end of the masterclass, participants will have clear ideas about how they can make a positive difference, helping to create a more inclusive environment and stronger connections between the college and its community.

Session two: Governance, Risk and Accountability, Thursday 28 January 2027 (4.30pm – 6pm)

Facilitator: Dr. Stephanie Mason, FE Consultant

“Effective governance by the board of a nonprofit organization is a rare and unnatural act.” (Taylor, Chait and Holland, 1996, p. 36). 

It could be argued that it is even harder for college governors to achieve as they balance their role as charity trustees with that as governors of a public body. The process of governance and governing within a college (institutional governance) is linked to, and dependent on, the system governance and accountability arrangements established by government and influenced by governance frameworks for other types of entities - it could be argued that the system governance is more akin to an accountability arrangement. 

In this interactive masterclass, Stephanie Mason in conversation with a college chair considers the purpose of college governors and how they can achieve that purpose to the best benefit of their communities whilst complying with legislation and regulation. Consideration will be given to strategic governance, case studies, models in the devolved nations and new thinking for non-profit organisations, alongside some of the pitfalls you might encounter. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the issues raised, share perspectives and engage in discussion throughout the session.

Session three: A Governor’s Guide to Quality, Curriculum and Learner Experience, Tuesday 9 February 2027 (4.30pm – 6pm)

Facilitator: Dr Barbara Van der Eecken, Senior FE Consultant

This masterclass helps governors strengthen their strategic oversight of quality, curriculum and learner experience. Focusing on the power of thoughtful questioning and curiosity, the session explores what high-quality education looks like across all types of provision. Governors will learn how to interpret evidence and data with confidence, spot patterns and gaps, and triangulate information so they can see the whole picture, not just the headline results. Through practical examples and short case studies, participants will build their confidence in asking the right questions to understand whether learners are safe, included, challenged and progressing to meaningful next steps. Governors will leave with a clear framework for assurance and a bank of strategic questions to use in meetings. 

Session four: Strategic governance: From operational to influential, Thursday 25 February 2027 (4.30pm – 6pm)

Facilitator: Lisa Farnhill, Director of Governance and Compliance 

The journey of governance is a shared mission. As governors, you are the ones setting the strategic course and steering the ship. The governance professional's role is to ensure that journey is compliant, well-documented, and guided by a robust understanding of risk. This session is designed to explore how we can utilise this partnership to remain routed in strategic impact. The aim is to collectively explore practical strategies to transform our roles and maximise our impact on the board for the benefit of our students, staff and local communities. The 90-minute session will be an interactive opportunity to share the best practices we've developed from our own unique experiences.

The session will be highly interactive with polls, breakout sessions, and practical tasks. We will focus on tangible actions and behaviours that empower us to be more strategic and, crucially, to understand the inseparable link between strategy and risk. Every strategic opportunity comes with inherent risks, and every operational risk has strategic implications. The goal is to co-create a toolkit that empowers each of us to confidently and effectively influence our college's future. 

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Move beyond the data: Shift your focus from "what is the data?" to "what does the data mean for our college's strategy?"
• Link risk and strategy: Understand how to proactively identify and manage risks as part of your strategic oversight, rather than as a separate compliance activity.
• Ask better questions: Formulate strategic questions that challenge assumptions and hold executive leadership to account in a constructive way.
• Influence agenda setting: Understand how to proactively contribute to the agenda to ensure meetings focus on key strategic priorities, not operational details.
• Maximise your impact between meetings: Learn how to use your link governor role and other activities to gather insight and build effective relationships, resulting in more effective strategic oversight.

Session five: Building effective Chair, Principal and Director of Governance relationships, Tuesday 9 March 2027 (4.30pm – 6pm)

Facilitator: Paul Butler, Governance Consultant and Chair, Waltham Forest College

This masterclass will provide a comprehensive overview of effective corporate governance, focusing on establishing clear structures for accountability and upholding corporate responsibility. We will explore how active board engagement fosters performance, dissect the critical relationship between the Principal/CEO, Chair and Director of Governance/Clerk.  The session emphasises building strong relationships at all levels,  to create resilient and trusted organisations and we will explore a number of case studies.

Key learning areas:

• Accountability and corporate responsibility: Understanding how corporate responsibility extends beyond legal compliance to a voluntary commitment to societal well-being and learners.
• Board engagement and performance: Learn how to create an engaged board that actively contributes to strategic direction and monitors organisation performance.
• Leadership dynamics: Analyse the dynamics of the Principal-Chair relationship and the unique function of a governance director in ensuring robust oversight and effective decision making.
• Relationship building: Develop strategies for fostering strong relationships among board members, management, and internal stakeholders.

Session six: Succession planning: Because brilliant leaders aren’t immortal, Tuesday 16 March 2027 (4.30pm – 6pm)

Facilitator: Shirley Collier MBE, FE Consultant

Along with death and taxes, the end of a governor’s term of office is a certainty – all good things do come to an end!  Deep down, few of us really wants perpetual responsibility.  Yet some governors seem reluctant to let go when the time comes, and others depart in a hurry. There are risks in both situations.  Long term relationships can breed complacency, and a culture of “indispensability” skews objectivity.  On the other hand, when a key board member leaves without a succession plan in place, boards and executive teams are exposed by the loss of continuity.  Board recruitment starts on the back foot and time pressure puts the squeeze on making the optimal appointment.

This interactive masterclass will explore the risks of not planning for the inevitable, including some recent case studies.  More importantly, we will explore how you – whether you’re a governance professional, governor, committee chair, Vice Chair or Chair – can prepare the ground for healthy succession planning and manage that risk.  The session will focus on a practical, pragmatic approach which takes into account the constitutional framework in which FE college boards operate as well as human nature.  We’ll help you comply with the former at the same time as getting the best out of your governors.  Come prepared to share and also to learn.

Key learning areas:

• Grounded understanding of the risks of not planning for succession
• Clarity about the framework for planning
• Understanding of the responsibilities involved 
• Creating a whole board culture which supports succession planning