Governing a School Trust Programme

An introduction to effective trusteeship

Governing a School Trust is a four-part trustee development programme that all new trustees should attend. It leads you, step by step, through the principles and practice of high-quality governance and effective stewardship to help you to make a positive, impactful contribution to your board.

Who it is for?

The programme is designed to support:

Newly appointed trustees
Experienced trustees who wish to refresh their understanding of trust governance
Trust governance professionals
Trust members who wish to develop their understanding of effective trust governance

What you will gain

Each seminar is an opportunity to hear from expert guest speakers; consider practical advice and discuss the challenges that you’re facing with fellow participants. Throughout the programme you will gain answers to the many questions trustees have, such as:

How should we organise ourselves and what are our roles?
Where is the line between operational and strategic?
How can we deliver our vision and develop a shared trust culture?
How can we gain meaningful assurance that the trust is working well?
How can we offer challenge in a positive way that makes a difference?
How can we hear what our stakeholders think?
How do we make sense of the finances and ensure compliance?
How can we make a difference today and be a custodian for future generations?

Every seminar will additionally provide a useful list of resources and signpost further learning opportunities.

Meet your seminar leader

Jackie Eason MBE, Governance Consultant

Guest speakers

Rebecca Clarke, Director of Governance, The Circle Trust

Ben March, Chief Finance and Operations Officer, STEP Academy Trust

Andrew Levitt, Director of Governance, The Circle Trust

Alex Walmsley MBE, Chair of Trustees, The First Federation Trust

What participants on previous CST governance courses have said

"I have over 40 years’ experience in school governance and this programme was by far the most useful, engaging and participative I have experienced. From the administration and organisation to the expert inputs, it was exceptional."

"[I] found the course to be of an excellent professional standard, useful and practical."

Course overview

The programme is delivered through four 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 contributor to share insights gained from their trust practice and journey. Across the course, 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

Seminar content

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

In the first session, 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. Rebecca Clarke, Director of Governance from The Circle Trust, a 10-school trust, will share her thoughts on how to develop the role of the local tier of governance.

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

The second session 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 also introduce the concept of civic trusts and the wider role trusts can play in their communities. Alex Walmsley, Trust Board Chair from The Ted Wragg Trust, comprised of 18 schools, will share their highly successful people strategy.

Session three: How do we know? (accountability)

Having set a strategic vision for the trust, the third session 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 strategy, assurance, risk and accountability.

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

This final session ends where we started: we ask how we seek assurance that we are fulfilling our duty to advance education for public benefit. We explore what it means to exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence at all times, through risk-informed practice, careful management of conflicts and a culture of continuous learning and development of the board to ensure we have the right skills, knowledge and experience to enact this sacred duty on behalf of children. Andrew Levitt, Trustee from Castle School Education Trust, a 9-school trust, will share their approach to risk management and assurance.