With funding from the Department for Education (DfE), we aim to deliver executive education, technical training, networking opportunities, and mentoring and coaching, for the purpose of enabling governors, including office holders such as Chairs, together with Governance Professionals, to execute their duties with diligence and confidence. This will enable them to further enhance the value they add to the Board and the wider organisation, helping set the conditions for long-term institutional resilience and the delivery of the organisation’s objectives.
Chairs' programmes
Professional development opportunities for Chairs, programmes that include residential and mentoring, as well as online and self-directed training modules.
Governors' programmes
Professional development opportunities for designed for governors, including online training courses, inductions and individualised offers for students.
Governance professionals' programmes
Learning and development, including administrative and procedural requirements of Boards, leadership and strategic skills.
The DfE-funded Governance Development Programme (GDP) is aimed at developing the skills of both new and existing board members and, where appropriate, clerks/company secretaries in further education and Sixth Form Colleges. Some elements may also be applicable to other types of FE providers. The Education Training Foundation (ETF) has commissioned the Association of Colleges (AoC) to develop this comprehensive training programme for college governors.
Select from over 30 short courses covering all the key topics you need to master as a governor to be able to support and challenge your organisation. Developed in collaboration with the sector, each course is standalone, and you can dip in and out at a time to suit you, tracking your progress on your personal learning dashboard.
Chairs' programmes
We have a range of different professional development opportunities for Chairs across 2025-2026, including in-depth training programmes that include residentials and mentoring, as well as online self-directed training courses.
If you have any questions about opportunities for Chairs, please email governance@etfoundation.co.uk.
Chairs’ Leadership Programme
For 2025-2026, the Chairs’ Leadership Programme will be run for a second year by Kings College London. The programme brings together FE sector expertise and Kings College London’s vast experience in leadership and governance to explore the role of the chair. It will utilise the insights and skills of participants and facilitators to identify concrete steps that allow participants to improve their impact on the board and the wider organisation.
Governors' programmes
We have a range of different professional development opportunities for governors across 2025-2026, including online training modules and online inductions.
All of these CPD opportunities are available to all types of governors, with the exception of some targeted events, such as our student governor inductions, which provide learning content tailored to particular groups.
Governor Inductions
Online delivery
For new governors
Delivered through live online sessions, the inductions aim to help support new college governors to gain a better understanding of their role and the further education sector.
Student Governor Inductions
Online delivery
For student governors
Delivered through live online sessions, Student Governor Inductions aim to help students understand their role within their college board.
Governance Development Programme
Package of over 30 online modules aimed at developing the skills of both new and existing board members and, where appropriate, clerks/company secretaries in further education and Sixth Form Colleges.
Competency Frameworks
The Governance Professionals’ Competency Frameworks have been developed by ETF with the sector’s support and aim to help to address a DfE identified need to strengthen FE governance as set out in the Skills for Jobs white paper.
Learn more and access the frameworks:
Download Competency Framework for Chairs
Governance Professionals' Programmes
ETF has been commissioned by the DfE to design and deliver a framework of learning and development for the governance professionals of FE and Sixth Form college governing bodies.
The role of an effective governance professional has expanded to technical adviser and strategic enabler, a critical role in meeting the administrative and procedural requirements of Boards and enabling efficient, effective decision making. The courses below are therefore aimed at providing governance professionals with valuable CPD to meet these heightened expectations.
Governance Professional Development Programme (Induction Level)
Face-to-face and online blended learning
For new governors (18 months or less)
Aims to induct and mentor those who are new to clerking / governance (and possibly the FE sector), having taken up post within the last 18 months. The induction enables governance professionals to understand what their role is, what is expected of them and how this role should develop over a period of time.
Governance Professional Development Programme (Expert Level)
Face-to-face and online blended learning
For experienced governors
Building on the induction and mentoring programme for governance professionals this programme is for those wanting to learn more on an in-depth programme which aims to broaden their knowledge and give them the confidence to become the technical expert and trusted advisor of governance within their organisation.
Governance Professional Leadership Programme
Face-to-face delivery
For experienced governors
This development programme has been designed as the higher level training programme for Governance Professionals with sessions delivered by practitioners, with extensive leadership and boardroom experience.
Governance Professional Coaching & Mentoring
Face-to-face delivery
For experienced governors
Executive coaching programme for governance professionals delivered by an experienced mentor. Up to two one-hour sessions per participant available until March 2026 – private coaching support for skills, strategies, and challenges. Delivered online.
Governance Professionals’ Continuing Support Programme
Online delivery
For experienced governors
Delivered by the Good Governance Institute, Governance Professionals’ Continuing Support offers a range of workshops to provide skills and knowledge to enable governance professionals to be sound independent advisors and strategic influencers.
Explore the full ETF Leadership Journey
Take a look at all that ETF has to offer in terms of leadership. Access a huge range of programmes for every level in your organisation with everything an organisation needs to continuously grow knowledge, build confident leaders, robust succession pipelines, sustainable organisations and better outcomes for learners.