Guy Blakesley

About me:
I was accredited as a National Leader of Governance in January 2014, having become a governor in 1999, Chair of the Board of a local primary school in 2000 and Chair of the Board of a local secondary school in 2012. Currently the Safeguarding lead governor in both schools.During my time with these schools, we have: amalgamated infant and junior schools to become a primary; managed extensive facilities enhancement at the primary school; converted to academy status at both the primary and secondary schools; introduced a sixth form to the secondary school; brought in a 3 year Key Stage 4.

As an NLG, I have conducted External Reviews of Governance and made recommendations; worked with Boards to be ‘Ofsted-ready’; been asked by the Local Authority to support the Board of a local school whose Ofsted inspection had not gone well, whose Chair had departed, whose Vice Chair didn’t feel confident in stepping up to take on the role and whose Board were not robust in either challenge or strategic vision / operation; developed and prepared that Vice Chair to take on the role of chair; provided on-going support to that Chair and worked on the Chair / Headteacher relationship; supported a school in a neighbouring Local Authority as a member of a Headteacher dismissal appeals panel.

My background is as a professional developmental trainer, coach and NLP Master Practitioner and have developed / delivered group and individual leadership, team working, management, communication, interpersonal awareness and trainer training programmes for HMRC; BT; IBM; the European Commission; English Tourist Board; Marks and Spencer

Governance experience:

  • Infant
  • Junior
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Faith School
  • Multi Academy Trust - Member, Trustee and Chair

NLG experience:
Interim Chair
Chair development
Board succession planning
Change management
Relationship brokering / enhancement / Chair – Head relationship
Ofsted preparation / readiness
Strategic overview & responsibilities
Lines of accountability / responsibility and structures
Headteacher performance management
Head / Deputy Headteacher recruitment – advertising; assessment day; interviews; personality profiling
Consultancy: External Reviews of Governance

1. Strategic Leadership 5. Compliance
Creating a shared vision, ethos and strategic direction Understanding the regulatory framework for governance
Strategic planning for schools and boards Compliance with the Academy Financial Handbook
Strategic financial leadership Readiness for Ofsted
Strategic HR leadership Effective Safeguarding
Strategic business leadership Strategic leadership of SEND and inclusion
Leading change management Strategic leadership of Pupil Premium and provision for disadvantaged pupils
Stakeholder engagement & communication Data management and GDPR
Managing and prioritising risks Health and Safety responsibilities
Equality responsibilities
Investigations, panels and appeals
2. Accountability 6. Evaluation
Strategic Leadership of school improvement External Reviews of Governance
Creating accountability structures, SMART targets and KPIs MAT Health Checks
Planning and leading strategic monitoring Reviews of LGBs
Presenting and analysing data Skills audits and action planning
Triangulation, benchmarking and holding to account Facilitated governance self-reviews
Headteacher performance management Performance Management of Chairs
Monitoring of staff performance management Governor appraisals
CEO performance management
Chair performance management
Complaint investigation and management
3. People 7. Other areas of expertise
Team leadership Leading governance networks
Recruiting and retaining the governance team Developing governor training
Succession planning Delivering governor training
Creating a team culture Developing governance support materials
Expectation setting and conduct
Holding the governance team to account
Creating a governance development plan
Relationship management
Conflict management
Meeting management
4. Structures 8. NLG Training Completed
Governance team organisation, processes and structures – constitutions, terms of reference, role profiles NLG induction
Creating a scheme of delegation Essential deployment skills
Governance in a Local Governing Body Power of Coaching
Trust board governance External Review of Governance
Forming a Trust board Governance leadership programme (DfE)
Forming a MAT
Joining a MAT
Governance in Federations