Why you need a business plan to be an effective school governor

As a school governor, you’ve taken on an important role — helping to shape the future of the school. One of the key tools that will support your effectiveness is a clear, strategic school business plan. 

What Is a School Business Plan? 

It is essentially the school’s blueprint. It sets out the vision for the school, how to get there, what resources are needed, and how success will be measured. It’s not just about money — it’s about people, priorities, and progress. 

Why a business plan matters for you as a Governor

• Gives you focus
  A business plan outlines the school’s key goals and how it plans to achieve them. This helps you understand your role in shaping and supporting those priorities. 

• Boosts your confidence
  Governance can feel overwhelming at first. A business plan gives you a clear starting point and a context for your questions and contributions. 

• Encourages better decisions
  You’ll make decisions about finances, staffing, and performance. A business plan gives you the background and data you need to make well-informed choices. 

• Supports accountability
  Governors are responsible for holding school leadership to account. With a business plan, you can track whether the school is achieving its goals and intervene where needed. 

Your role in the planning process

You don’t need to write the plan yourself <link to school governor support page> — but you do need to understand it, ask questions, and challenge assumptions. You’ll work with senior leaders to ensure the plan is realistic, ambitious, and aligned with the best outcomes for students. 

Tip for new Governors:

Start by asking to see the latest school business plan. Review how it connects to the school development plan and budget. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — that’s how you learn and add value. 

You can read our top tips for creating a school business plan on our blog 

Or for further support, contact us today.