Governors for Schools and FTI Consulting

Ongoing improvements to charity’s impact five years on 

Governors for Schools is a charity that finds and places skilled volunteers on the governance boards of schools and multi-academy trusts. It also works with companies and individuals to support professionals to become governors. 

Problem 

Governors for Schools first reached out to PBE in 2018, when it was in the very beginning stages of assessing its impact. It needed help to do that rigorously. So PBE paired Governors for Schools with three volunteers who delivered an impact assessment report. The assessment, covering the service delivered between 2014 to 2018. The report provided Governors for Schools with key metrics to measure against, highlighted successes, and recommended improvements.  

In response to the recommendations, Governors for Schools began offering support to governors before and during their placements, and increased its support in areas outside of London. Since 2018, Governors for Schools has operated entirely as an independent charity and expanded its operations into Wales. 

In 2023, Governors for Schools turned to PBE again. Now, with deeper insights into its service, it needed assistance in understanding how its impact had evolved since 2018. 

Solution 

PBE Economist Rachel Gomez met with Governors for Schools to understand its needs and expectations, as well as to determine how we could best help. Given the scope of the project, we tapped into our corporate partnership with FTI Consulting for volunteer support. After we shared a brief about Governors for Schools request, FTI assigned Vesko Karadotchev, Senior Consultant, to lead the project. Vesko relied on the help of a highly skilled team to deliver the work: Salman Mallick, Jie Mei, and Bori Toth.  

They worked with Governors for Schools during 2023 to produce an assessment report that explored the difference its service made. The report covered the period from 2018 to 2023, updating and extending the previous findings from the 2018 report. 

Will Durham, Head of Impact and Corporate Partnerships at Governors for Schools said: 

“PBE responded quickly to our enquiry to revisit this report, and we appreciate that they could match us with FTI to take on the project. FTI were prompt, considered and a pleasure to work with. We want to give special thanks to Vesko Karadotchev for leading the project and delivering excellent work with the team.” 

Benefits 

The volunteers delivered an independent report with valuable impact data. They estimated that in the last academic year (2022-2023), governance volunteers appointed through Governors for Schools since 2018 contributed £13.5 million worth of time to their schools. The report also indicated that 85% of volunteers had a positive experience as governors, and 89% of schools were delighted or happy with the governance volunteers provided. 

Governors for Schools has used the findings in its communications with funders and other stakeholders, and it has also planned to incorporate elements from the analysis into funding proposals and strategic development.  

“Governors for Schools is in the initial stages of our latest strategic development period. The report helps us tell compelling stories about our work to involve all stakeholders in this journey. As an example, we have developed five key aspirations for our sector. The report is helping us to launch these and provide context for the changes we wish to see.” Will Durham, Governors for Schools. 

The benefits of the work do not stop there, because the volunteers also benefited from the project. Vesko, FTI Consulting, said:   

“Pro bono work is a great way to gain experience in project management and client interaction, as teams are smaller, and each member is involved in all aspects of the project. For more experienced colleagues, it is a great way to use their specialised knowledge, which would often be inaccessible to a charity at market rates, to support a cause they feel passionately about.” 

We would like to thank FTI Consulting and the volunteers for all their hard work on this project.