The proposition of governing a school trust is fundamentally different from governing a maintained school. While there may be comparable challenges in maintained schools, problem-identification and solutions are often specific to trust governance and need a different approach.
School trusts are complex and agile organisations. The proposition of governance should therefore be a live conversation and boards should monitor and improve their performance continually. This updated toolkit outlines our 20-element assurance framework including guiding questions to consider and descriptors of what strong and weak assurance would look like in a trust at board level.
Updated September 2024.
At the request of members, we are providing some useful checklists and templates relating to suspensions and exclusions. If you have any questions about them, please contact us at governance@cstuk.org.uk
CST members can access a range of model policies covering staffing and school operations provided by CST Platinum Partner Stone King, along with additional guidance papers on how to create and review policies.
This document sets out the key qualities of a trustee of a school trust.
This short online course is an ideal introduction for anyone who would like to know more about the role of a trustee.
This free online course covers the basic knowledge trustees need in the early stages of their new role.
The Academy Trust Governance Code is a voluntary code that draws upon the Charity Governance Code and relevant Department for Education guidance.
CST has released its 2023 salary benchmarking report in conjunction with partners XpertHR and Browne Jacobson.
The aim of this framework is to identify trusts' most significant areas of strength and challenge, so that they can build organisational capacity. It is diagnostic, not evaluative, or judgemental.
The framework is supported by Ambition Institute, Challenge Partners, Evidence Based Education, the National Institute of Teaching, and ImpactEd.
Updated September 2024.
Our Explained courses offer targeted training on key topics, giving trustees insight and overview of areas where they need to offer support and challenge to their trust's executive team. For trustees looking to understand more operational detail, our Masterclass courses give expert insight from strategic, technical and practical perspectives.
Our Essential Trustee programme is a detailed look at what new trustees need to know to be effective in this important role.
For experienced trustees, the Chairs Development programme helps those leading trusts, or aspiring to do so, explore the knowledge and approaches needed to help their trust succeed.
Company no: 05303883
Charity no: 1107640
