Questions & Answers
Would the Certificate in Academy Governance course be recommended for those working in Higher Education with regulators such as the office for students, or does it focus solely on an academy structure such as Multi Academy Trust?
This course is recommended for those working in Multi-Academy Trusts, but please look at the information pack for more details.
Where will the Certificate in Academy Governance exam take place?
From June 2021 all examinations and invigilation will be online.
How much does the Certificate in Academy Governance course cost?
The total price of the Certificate in Academy Governance course is £1,020. This price covers: registration; the certificate; one exam entry (you have a choice between the two available exam sessions); an electronic copy of the syllabus; sample assessment materials; study text within your 'MyCG' area; course webinars; practice task services; access to two webinars covering study/revision skills, and a student membership (with benefits) for the duration of your course. Please check our course webpage for the most up-to-date information.
Is it possible to start the Certificate in Academy Governance course before September?
To follow a programme of study and attend the live webinars you would need to start the course in September with the first exam taking place in June 2021.
What percentage of students pass this course first time?
The pass rate for the Certificate in Academy Governance was 87% for June 2019 and 100% for November 2019.
What is the duration of the Certificate in Academy Governance course, and how soon can it be started?
The course starts in September with the exam taking place in June. There is one exam per year.
Are there payment plans available to split the cost of the Certificate in Academy Governance course?
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer an instalment plan. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for a part-funded bursary to do the course. Visit the course webpage to find out more.
Is the Certificate in Academy Governance qualification relevant to someone working in an Independent School in Scotland?
The Certificate in Academy Governance doesn't cover Scotland - it only covers the governance requirements for academies in England and Wales.
Is the Certificate in Academy Governance a one-year qualification?
Yes, this is a one-year qualification. We do have an exam in November 2020 but that is only for those students that were due to sit in June 2020, as the 2020 exams had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to join now and take the exam in November, you will only have access to the recorded webinars and will not be able to submit the assignments.
Is there any Department of Education (DfE) funding available to help with the cost or is it solely paid for by the students?
You would need to discuss this with the academy you are in to see whether they have a training budget, as Ofsted now inspect on governance.
Do you offer a discount to The Chartered Governance Institute's students/graduates for the Academy Governance course?
Unfortunately we do not offer discounts for graduates at the moment.
How may hours (per week) are required to complete the Certificate in Academy Governance course?
The total number of study hours is 200 hours. This includes: the preparation for the live webinars, two assignment tasks and an exam. This would equate to six hours of study a week.
Is this course primarily for the academy sector or does the content cover other sectors such as: finance, funding, or international off-shore based companies?
This course covers academy governance. If you need a finance qualification, please visit the course webpage and take a look at our Level 4 and Level 5 International Finance and Administration qualifications.
Is there an option to take this course as part of your wider qualification/programmes or is it standalone?
This is a short course qualification separate from our Qualifying Programme. On completion you can use the post-nominals CG (Affiliated).
How much does the Certificate in Academy Governance course cover around risk management?
Risk, compliance and policies amount to 35% weighting of the Certificate in Academy Governance qualification syllabus.
Are there short courses available for company secretary functions and their duties?
Yes, we also have a Level 4 Certificate in Corporate Governance qualification. Find out more about the corporate governance qualification. You can also join our Introduction to a qualification in corporate governance webinar taking place on 27 July. Register for the webinar.
Does the Institute host similar webinars on the corporate governance qualifications?
We do have a similar webinar for corporate governance on 27 July 2020. Here's the link to find out more.
When does the Certificate in Academy Governance (level 4) course start?
You can register to start the Certificate in Academy Governance course at any time as it is self-study. You can find out more about registration dates and exam dates here.
How much time does it take to complete the Certificate in Academy Governance course?
The course runs within the same timeframe as the UK academic year, from September to May and an exam in June. However in 2020 the exam has been postponed to November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When does the level 4 Corporate Governance qualification start?
You can register for the course at any time - and it is self-study or you can decide to study with one of our tuition partners, a list of these are available on our website here.
Are Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) covered in the Certificate in Academy Governance course?
The study text does mention LGBs but we would recommend that you take a look at the course discovery pack here.
Does this Academy Governance course cover everything required to enter a corporate governance role at an academy?
This course covers elements to help meet the specific needs for effective governance in academy schools. We have separate qualifications for corporate sector governance. Visit our webpage to explore these.
Will the Institute be running more 'Introduction to Chartered Governance' qualifications' webinars?
We are running a series of these introduction to our qualifications webinars for different sectors and qualifications at different times during the year. They include: Finance and Administration, Corporate, Charity, and our Qualifying Programme and Foundation Programme. Find out more here.
I'm currently not working within an academy trust but I am interested in entering this field. How difficult would it be to complete the Certificate in Academy Governance course if I am not currently employed in an academy trust?
The Certificate in Academy Governance would be beneficial in helping you learn about academy governance and get insights in advance of entering a career in academy governance, if you so wish. The total number of study hours is 200 hours. This includes: the preparation for the live webinars, two assignment tasks and an exam. This would equate to six hours of study a week. You can find out more on our course webpage.
