Viv Hughes

About me:
I started as a Parent Governor at my daughter’s school more than a decade ago. Soon after this, I became the Chair of Governors at her school.

Since then I have amassed an in-depth knowledge and experience of governance in the following settings:
Primary
Secondary
Alternative provision
Maintained schools
Multi-Academy Trusts

Excellence in governance is provided by getting the Right People to do the Right Things at the Right Time in order to Work Smart. My philosophy is one of continuous improvement, individual empowerment and team working.

I have provided leadership coaching / mentoring, training for governors and led strategic vision and planning working sessions. I became an NLG in 2015.

Governance experience:

  • Trustee / Director – Bury St Edmunds All-Through Academy Trust (MAT) for 5 years; resigned Jan 2018.

  • Led the formation of Believe Engage Succeed Trust (2016) – a MAT working in Alternative Provision, and lead Free School Application (application withdrawn due to change in locality circumstances).

  • Academy conversions – Currently working with two schools to convert them to be academies and join BEST and also one school whose academy conversion is being sponsored by BEST.

  • Chair of Governors – Barrow CEVC Primary School for more than 10 years, including 2 Ofsted Inspections – GOOD and then OUTSTANDING: resigned May 2018.

  • Chair of Managers – The Albany PRU, Bury St Edmunds for six years, asked to rebuild Management Committee following Inadequate Ofsted Inspection, instrumental in achieving GOOD in two years followed by second GOOD three years later.

  • Experience with HR issues – Chaired Disciplinary Panel as well as, worked on allegations by staff and against staff, capability procedures, management letters and staff redundancy etc.

  • Various roles requested by Suffolk County Council – Additional Governor (appointed) at another CEVC Primary School in Suffolk and (invited) at a High School in Suffolk, asked by SCC to Chair Management Committee of second PRU following Ofsted Inspection rating of Inadequate, including seeing it through its closure.

  • Involvement in ConnectED TSA – Lead School

  • Experienced senior leader, line manager and project manager in both large and small business context.

NLG experience:

Support:
Provided informal and formal coaching to chairs

Completed issue analyses and training for whole governing bodies

Consultancy:
Completed external reviews of governance for LA maintained schools

Led NLG team to complete extensive and sensitive external review of MAT in difficulties to ESFA’s requirements.

Training:
NLG Induction

Essential Deployment Skills

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