governance | Schools Week

Boosting finances a main driver for half of trusts that expand

Around half of academy trusts say boosting their finances is one of the main drivers to take on more schools, amid concerns chains feel “under pressure” to grow in size. The National Governance Association has today released the results of its annual school governance survey of multi-academy trusts. The survey, which included around 1,800 school […]

Removing parent governors will be seen as power grab to stifle dissent

Three years ago the then education secretary Justine Greening announced she was dropping her predecessor’s proposal to remove the requirement for academy trusts to reserve places for elected parents. The Department for Education was taken aback by the strength of opposition, particularly from parents themselves. Greening’s statement that “parent governors play a vital role” was […]

4 key questions to progress the MAT governance debate

The ongoing rhetoric of an emerging and evolving MAT system has been a popular one. In the National Governance Association’s new report – Moving MATs forward: the power of governance – we argue the understanding and practice of MAT governance has to move on. Different approaches to MAT governance have been tried and tested: some […]

MAT chairs work more than double recommended hours, study finds

Chairs of trustees work the equivalent of a fifth of a full-time job running academy trusts, a new study has found, raising concerns over whether the workload is sustainable. A survey by the National Governance Association found the average trust chair works 49.6 days a year – the equivalent to 21.4 per cent of what […]

Ex-minister’s academy trust ignores governance guidelines

A former academies minister’s trust is failing to meet government guidelines over good governance – and has seemingly been allowed to expand without having to update its arrangements. Newly published accounts for Future Academies, founded by Lord Nash, show a majority of the trust’s members are also trustees. One governance expert said this level of […]

Academy trust rapped over boss’ £23,000 ex-gratia fee

A government investigation has uncovered a swathe of financial and governance failings at a single academy trust – including “potential irregularity” over football tickets costing more than £4,000. The investigation into Westfield Academy, a mixed secondary school with a sixth form in Hertfordshire, also found a former finance boss had been paid a £22,600 honorarium […]

Financial warning for the academy trust that sent leaders to New Zealand

An academy trust that spent over £12,000 on a trip abroad for two of its leaders has been handed a financial notice to improve by the government. Silver Birch Academy Trust now has to run most of its spending decisions past the government and must make changes to the way it is run to avoid […]

Academy trust bosses’ New Zealand trip questioned by the ESFA

A review of financial management and governance at the London-based Silver Birch Academy Trust has revealed serious failings, including a trip to the other side of the world for senior leaders that cost almost twice as much as the going rate. The trust, which runs four primary schools in Walthamstow, Chingford and Redbridge, was visited […]

Schools without professional clerk are breaking government rules

Schools are breaking government rules by failing to employ a professional clerk to advise governors on their legal duties in meetings. The governance handbook clearly states that a board must use a “professional clerk” to take minutes, organise the board and help navigate the law. But Julia Millard, an advocate for National Leaders of Governance, […]