Free School Leadership Resources

Effective governors are one of a school's strongest assets but a new governor who feels unsupported, uncertain about their role or unclear about the school's context is unlikely to contribute with confidence from the start. This free Honeyguide checklist is designed to help headteachers and senior leaders get governor induction right.

Welcoming a new governor well takes more than sending over a few documents before the first meeting. It means taking the time to explain the strategic versus operational distinction, introducing them to the right people, building their confidence around school data and Ofsted expectations, and helping them find a link governor role where they can genuinely contribute. Done well, a strong induction process means governors who are engaged, effective and a real support to school leadership.

This checklist walks you through everything you need to do, from the initial welcome through to a formal check-in at the end of their first term. It's ideal for headteachers, deputies, governance leads and chairs of governors welcoming a new governor to the board.

👉 Looking for more support for new governors? The free Start Point: New to Governance Checklist gives the new governor themselves ideas of tasks to do in their first term as a member of the governing body.

Are you a new school governor wondering where to begin? Or are you a headteacher, governance lead or chair of governors looking for a practical induction resource to share with someone joining your board? Either way, this free Honeyguide checklist is exactly what you need.

Becoming a school governor is genuinely important work but the role can feel bewildering at first. Understanding the difference between strategic and operational governance, getting to grips with school data, fulfilling safeguarding responsibilities and preparing for link governor visits all take time and guidance. This checklist breaks it all down into clear, manageable tasks, from the reading you should do before your very first meeting through to the contributions you should be making by the end of your first full term.

Whether you're a parent governor, a community governor, a staff governor or a co-opted governor, this resource will help you settle into the role with confidence. 

👉 For heads and SLT looking for ideas of what tasks they could undertake to support a new governor, see our free Start Point: Supporting a New Governor Checklist too!

Are you stepping into the role of Attendance Lead but feeling unsure where to begin or how to get a grip on everything at once? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, you're in exactly the right place – this free Honeyguide checklist is here to support your thinking from the very first day.

As an Attendance Lead, you're responsible for one of the most complex and data-driven challenges in school leadership – one that cuts across safeguarding, SEND, pastoral care, family engagement and school improvement all at the same time. That can feel like a lot, especially at the start! This checklist breaks it down into clear, manageable tasks across your first few weeks, your first half-term and your first full term, so you can approach the role with confidence and clarity.

Whether you're a newly appointed Attendance Lead or Attendance Champion, stepping up from a pastoral or admin role, or taking over from a previous postholder mid-year, this checklist will help you hit the ground running. Ideal for new Attendance Leads, Attendance Champions, Senior Attendance Champions and anyone with combined attendance and pastoral responsibilities.

Are you stepping into the role of Pastoral Lead but not sure where to begin or how to prioritise everything on your plate? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, you're in the right place – this free Honeyguide checklist is designed to support your thinking right from day one.

As a Pastoral Lead, you hold a uniquely far-reaching role – one that touches safeguarding, well-being, behaviour, SEND, attendance and personal development all at once. That breadth can feel overwhelming at first. This checklist breaks it down into manageable tasks across your first few weeks, your first half-term and your first full term, so you can feel organised and confident as you settle into the role.

Whether you're a newly appointed Pastoral Lead, stepping up from a teaching, head of year or form tutor role, or an experience Pupil Welfare Leader taking over from a previous postholder, this checklist will help you hit the ground running.

Ideal for new Pastoral Leads, Heads of Year, Personal Development Leads and anyone with combined pastoral and well-being responsibilities.

Are you stepping into the role of Behaviour Lead but wondering where to start or which tasks to prioritise? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, don't worry – this free Honeyguide checklist will support your thinking right from the start.

As a Behaviour Lead, you have the important task of supporting positive behaviour and culture across your school, something which can feel challenging as you get used to the role. But don't worry, we're here to support you every step of the way with our comprehensive list designed specifically for new Behaviour Leads. Whether you're a newly appointed Behaviour Lead, taking over from a previous postholder, or moving from assistant to lead role, we've outlined key tasks for your first few weeks, half-term and full term to help you feel organised and confident.

Taking on a new school business manager role or school finance position brings exciting opportunities alongside plenty of questions about where to begin. Whether you're stepping into your first SBM position, finance officer role, or any school finance responsibility, this new school business manager checklist supports your successful start.

What you'll get in this free resource:

• First 100 days school business manager task lists covering before you start through your first full term
• School finance priorities to help establish credibility and build relationships
• Essential SBM processes and compliance areas to master early on
• Fully editable document so you can tailor tasks to your specific school setting
• Peace of mind covering the fundamentals every new school finance manager needs

Perfect for new SBMs, school finance officers, finance leads, school administrators, bursars, finance assistants, or anyone starting school finance jobs for the first time.

Let us take some of the pressure off by supporting your thinking as you navigate this important transition into school finance leadership.

Are you stepping into your first EYFS leadership role? Congratulations! This comprehensive and FREE checklist for new early years leaders is here to provide you with different ideas for how to get started in your new post over the first few weeks, half term and term. Designed to be fully editable, adapt and amend it to tailor it to your new EYFS role. Let us support your thinking and workload so you can find balance as a new EYFS leader.

Are you stepping into the role of SENDCo but wondering where to start or which tasks to prioritise? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, don't worry – this free Honeyguide checklist will support your thinking right from the start.

As a SENDCo, you have the important task of supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities, something which can feel challenging as you get used to the role. But don't worry, we're here to support you every step of the way with our comprehensive list designed specifically for new SENDCos. Whether you're a newly appointed SENDCo, taking over from a previous SENDCo, or moving from assistant SENDCo to lead SENDCo, we've outlined key tasks for your first few weeks, half-term and full term to help you feel organised and confident.