School governors and traded services
Tower Hamlets provides a variety of Traded Services to enhance education for all pupils in our borough.
We are committed to more than just academic success. We support the overall growth of each young person. This includes their personal, social, and professional development.
We know that education is not limited to the classroom. That is why we offer a full spectrum of services aimed at improving the wellbeing of students, empowering staff and supporting the wider community.
Our approach is rooted in collaboration. Each service is tailored to meet the unique needs of schools, educators and families alike.
Explore the Traded Services we offer and discover how we can work together to impact on the lives of young people in Tower Hamlets.
Farhad Ahmed - Assoc CIPD
Head of School Governance, Information and Traded Services
Tower Hamlets Children and Culture
Education and Partnerships
Tower Hamlets School Library Service (THSLS)
THSLS is a traded service within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and provides learning resources, librarians and library-related advice and support.
We work with all schools in London and the Southeast not already served by another Schools Library Service.
Learn more on the SLS Tower Hamlets website. Contact the team at schoolslibraryservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Gorsefield Rural Studies and Outdoor Activity Centre
Gorsefield is a beacon of exploration, learning and adventure.
Set in Essex, this place celebrates outdoor education and community ties. It has become a vibrant hub for schools, groups, and individuals who want to connect more deeply with nature.
Learn more on the Gorsefield website or contact the team at admin@gorsefield.org.
Governor Services
The Governor Services team supports school governing bodies to serve pupils, parents, carers and communities and raise levels of educational achievement.
Our service:
- Helps governors better understand their role and strengthen their capacity to lead and sustain school improvement
- Informs the community about governors’ work and support people to get involved
- Helps recruit new governors who reflect our diverse local communities
Our offer for governors includes:
- Free guidance and training for new and existing governors, including a supportive helpline
- Advice on statutory responsibilities
- Termly reports and briefings from the Director of Children and Culture on national and local policy developments and access to the Schools Forum
Contact the team at governor.servicessection@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and University Bursary Schemes
- Education Maintenance Allowance allows pupils in Sixth Form schools and colleges to apply for £600 to support them with their studies.
- The University Bursary will support students with living costs at university. Students can apply for £1,500 to help with their undergraduate studies.
Contact the team at education.awards@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Find out more about EMA and university bursaries.
Healthy Lives Team
The Healthy Lives Team works with all school staff, pupils, parents, and governors. We aim to support, encourage, and enable children’s health and wellbeing.
The team makes sure schools focus on safeguarding and seek to protect young people from risk taking behaviours at all possible times.
The team can help with: healthy eating, oral health, physical activity, mental health and resilience, personal social health education and active travel to school.
If you would like further support or details, please contact Kate Smith, Head of Healthy Lives, at kate.smith@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
For more information visit the Healthy Lives page.
Global Learning London (GLL)
GLL works with children, young people, and their communities. They aim to build hope and inspire action for a fairer and more sustainable world.
The team is part of The Global Learning Network. This network connects independent, not-for-profit organisations. They support and provide global learning in schools and communities across England.
GLL believes in the power of learning through openness and creativity.
They focus on:
- creative learning projects
- community cohesion
- ongoing professional development for educators
- consulting
Contact the team at hello@globallearninglondon.org. Learn more at Global Learning website.
School Support Service
The School Support Service offers essential help with administration and strategy to the Head of School Governance, Information and Traded Services, and the Director of Education.
The team produces materials for the Director of Education. They organise focus groups to collect stakeholder input and create resources to improve school operations.
Key responsibilities include:
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Providing expert advice to headteachers and school leaders on complex parental complaints and governance issues.
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Supporting sensitive investigations.
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Crafting policies and procedures to help schools meet compliance and best practice standards.
For more information please contact lorraine.feyi-shonubi@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Tower Hamlets Education Awards
The Tower Hamlets Education Awards celebrate student success. They recognise the hard work of young learners in our borough. They also thank the teachers and families who offer important support.
This exciting event celebrates our young people. It recognises top achievers in GCSEs and A-levels, along with those who have shown exceptional accomplishments and outstanding effort. Schools across Tower Hamlets are invited to nominate their most deserving students.
These prestigious awards show the council’s commitment to better education. They also help young people achieve their full potential.
Read the story on 185 students honoured at Tower Hamlets Education Awards.
Modern Foreign Languages Service (MFLS)
This service provides comprehensive training and support for schools implementing primary modern foreign languages at Key Stage 2.
Since learning a foreign language at KS2 is now required by the New Primary Curriculum, we created a package to help primary schools. This package supports schools at various stages of implementation. It aims to raise teaching standards across KS2 and prepare pupils for language study at KS3 and beyond.
Bespoke packages are available for schools.
If you would like further support or details, please contact Michelle O’Connor, Advisory Teacher for Primary MFL, at michelle.o'connor@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
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Support for governors and schools
These pages will tell you who school governors are, what they do and how to become one.
For existing governors, clerks and school leaders, there is information to help you recruit new governors, about the policies you have and the work you must do.
There are also links to national services that can help governing bodies work legally, efficiently and effectively.
Tower Hamlets Governor Services
I am very proud to lead the School Governors support service in Tower Hamlets. We do our upmost to help schools recruit governors who represent the local community and then support them to make sure they have skills to drive schools in the right direction.
In these pages, you will find lots of information about how we do that. I hope you find all the answers you need.
Farhad Ahmed, Head of School Governance
Information and traded services
The Governor Services team supports school governing bodies to serve pupils, parents, carers and communities and raise levels of educational achievement
We help governors better understand their role and strengthen their capacity to lead and sustain school improvement
We inform the community about governors’ work and support people to get involved.
We help recruit new governors who reflect our diverse local communities.
Our services respond to their changing needs and are efficient, effective and value for money
For governors we offer:
For schools we also offer:
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discounted access to GovernorHub, a multi-functional online resource (free for schools with a service level agreement)
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a high quality and professional clerking service to relieve the burden on schools by providing effective administration support by trained and confident clerks. The service guarantees expert advice that will make sure governors meet the requirements of legislation, the Ofsted framework and the Audit Commission.
Contact us to find out more about our service level agreement.
Get in touch
For more information. call 020 7364 3141 or email governor.servicessection@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
