12 February 2026
Today (12th February 2026), we celebrate National School Governors Awareness Day, which recognises and celebrates the dedicated Governors, Directors and Trustees who help steer the Trust and our academies toward success. If you have ever wondered whether you could make a real impact in your community, the answer for you may lie in school governance.
To find out more what the role of a Director entails, we sat down with Pat Hagan, Chair of Directors at Exceed Learning Partnership, to discuss why giving back to our schools is one of the most rewarding ways to serve young people across Doncaster.
A Practical Way to Give Back
For Pat, the decision to join the Trust was rooted in a lifelong commitment to the public. "After a long career in public service, I wanted to keep contributing to Doncaster by supporting children and young people to reach their potential," Pat explains.
Governance isn't just about meetings; it’s a practical tool for change. By serving as Chair of Directors, Pat works at the helm of a team dedicated to equity and high standards, which are the very hallmarks which Exceed Learning Partnership prides itself upon.
The "Core Experience": Community and Strategy
Many people may wonder what a director does in their duties as a trustee. For Pat, it’s about the "big picture."
"I really value staying connected to the community and focusing my energy where it matters most," Pat says, adding: "Joining Exceed allowed me to help shape strategy and ensure our schools are rooted in and responsive to their communities". By focusing on pupil wellbeing and community partnerships, governance ensures that every school is a supportive environment where life chances are improved every single day.
Support, Challenge, and Vision
In Pat’s own words, governance is the art of being a "constructive critical friend" to senior leadership. It involves:
A Wealth of Perspectives
A common question people ask is whether they need a background in the classroom to be an effective Governor or Director. While the deep expertise of education professionals is a vital part of any board, Pat highlights that the Trust’s core strengths in governance also come from possessing a rich diversity of skills, and a commitment to the values which Exceed Learning Partnership embodies – every child, every chance, every day: "What The Trust truly needs are people who bring skills and curiosity, commitment, reliability, and enthusiasm for seeing the community do well and thrive.”
In return, Governors and Directors will gain incredible board-level experience and transferable skills, such as strategic planning, negotiation, and data interpretation, all while expanding their professional network.
"You’ll give a lot," Pat concludes, "but you will get even more back".
How to Get Involved
Ready to use your skills to shape the future of Doncaster’s children? We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our mission.
Reach out to our Trust Governance and Policy Administration Officer, Adam Loughran, at [email protected] for more details on how you can become a Governor or Director with Exceed Learning Partnership.