Governing a school trust

Course overview

The programme is delivered through five online sessions in which seminar leader, Jackie Eason MBE, will set out an exciting and compelling definition of trust governance.  In each session, Jackie will be joined by a guest contributors to share insights gained from their trust practice and journey. Across the programme, you’ll learn more about effective leadership and boardroom practice in the context of the following topics:

• Brave, bold and effective trust governance structures
• Board leadership of your vision and culture
• True accountability and a relational approach as the keys to success
• Understanding compliance but not being compliance-led
• Civic leadership and stakeholder engagement 

Seminar one: What do we do? An introduction to trust governance (structures)

In the first seminar, trustees will receive an introduction to the principles that underpin effective, ethical and accountable trust governance, how the governance community can be structured in a trust and the corresponding roles and responsibilities.

Seminar two: How do we lead? (board leadership)

The second seminar focuses on how to deliver strategic leadership in a trust. We explore leadership mindsets and how to foster a healthy organisational culture that aligns with the trust’s values. We describe how to work with executive leaders to develop strategies, while remaining agile and horizon scanning for risks and opportunities. We will be joined by Alex Walmsley, Trust Board Chair from The Ted Wragg Trust, to hear about its highly successful people strategy. 

Seminar three: How do we know? (accountability)

Having set a strategic vision for the trust, the third seminar asks how, as trustees, we can know that the trust is on track. We explore the different ways trustees can monitor, evaluate and hold executive leaders to account around educational quality, financial health and the overall delivery of the trust’s charitable objects. Ben March, Chief Financial Officer from STEP Academy Trust, a 20-school trust, will share their innovative approach to setting key improvement indicators (KIIs), which enable the board to hold strategic accountability.

Seminar four: How do we behave? (compliance and care)

In seminar four we explore what it means to exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence at all times, through risk-informed practice and a culture of continuous learning.  We look specifically at the roles of the finance committee and audit and risk committee to develop our understanding of how to manage risk and lead our trusts towards a sustainable future. Andrew Levitt, trustee at Castle School Education Trust, a nine-school trust, will share their approach to risk management and assurance

Seminar five: How do we listen and reflect? (engagement)

In this final seminar we consider the role of our local tier of governance and how it can evolve to provide meaningful engagement with our stakeholders. We hear from Jennie Homer, Head of Governance at Windosr Academy Trust on their inspiring work to prioritise civic action to empower their communities to thrive. We conclude the programme with reflection and consideration of next steps