There's a moment many headteachers recognise instantly. You leave a board meeting feeling vaguely unsettled. Nothing overtly "wrong" was said. Everyone was polite. The minutes will probably reflect a calm, professional discussion. And yet, something doesn't sit right. A question seemed 'too operational'. A suggestion felt more like an instruction. A comment seemed charged with something unspoken. Individually, each incident feels too small to make a fuss about. Collectively,

Governance tension rarely explodes. It erodes. A little more misunderstanding here. A little less alignment there. You tell yourself "I'll manage." But managing is not the same as thriving. The slow decline Nobody wakes up one day with a completely broken board relationship. It doesn't work like that. Instead, it's gradual. Imperceptible. Like water wearing away stone - you don't see it happening until the shape has fundamentally changed. A comment in a meeting lands slight

It's that time again. You're booking your staff Christmas dinner. Someone's choosing the venue. Someone else is suggesting Secret Santa. And then, just as you’re feeling festive, someone pipes up: “Shall we invite the governors this year?” And everyone nods. Because it is a lovely idea, isn’t it? A chance to get to know them better, to share a few laughs. And that's nice. I mean it. There's nothing wrong with creating some warmth with your board. But please, remember th