Samira Sadeghi, Director of Trust Governance, CST
"The most important human endeavour is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life. To make this a living force and bring it to clear consciousness is perhaps the foremost task of education.” – Albert Einstein
Humans are fallible. Consciously or unconsciously, we can allow our personal interests, biases and egos to enter our decision-making and judgement. We can become less than open for fear of being criticised. We can become distracted by short term difficulties and lose sight of our long-term purpose. We might see behaviours we disagree with, but fail to call them out. We might invite people to tell us their thoughts, but not really listen.
By contrast, when our decisions, actions and behaviours are led by clear, unwavering principles and beliefs, particularly in turbulent times, it most often leads to the right outcomes. This is the underlying tenet of the Seven Principles of Public Life. Good governance is always a work in progress, a journey of continuous improvement. When we continuously adjust our behaviours to match our values, we are more likely to steer the ship in the right direction.
Fostering an organisational culture that lives and breathes our shared principles and values is critical to success. By aiming higher in our decisions and daily interactions, by setting the right tone throughout our organisation, we can inspire all those remarkable individuals in our trusts who were attracted to a career in the education sector in the first place, and ensure they work collaboratively towards our shared object of advancing education for the public benefit.
But what are the right principles in the school trust context? For too long, the school trust sector has relied upon the Charity Governance Code for guidance. While it has served its purpose, it has not been a perfect fit. There are significant differences between most charities and school trusts, not least the fact that school trusts are publicly funded and regulated by the Secretary of State for Education rather than the Charities Commission. Generic approaches to governance and borrowed mental models of governance can and have already led to conflation and confusion within the school trust sector.
It was for these reasons that the seed of an idea for a bespoke school trust governance code was first planted in 2020. We had matured a great deal as a sector and began to feel the need for a governance code of our own. We felt it was right that we should be looking within our sector for expertise on excellent governance and setting our own high standards for our practice. Governance that is not just focused on a compliance mindset, but one that is aspirational and leads by example.
Over the course of the following two years, much delayed by an intervening pandemic, that seed germinated through the effort of a committed steering group of national organisations, working collectively to develop a sector-led governance code. This was followed by a public consultation period during which many excellent and thoughtful comments were submitted and incorporated. The code gains its legitimacy largely through this intentional process of co-creation and co-ownership.
The seed has finally borne fruit. On 5 October 2023, we launched the new Academy Trust Governance Code at the CST Annual Conference. The principles, rationale and outcomes are universal and apply equally to all trusts, regardless of size and structure, and religious or sponsorship arrangements. A governance code by the sector, for the sector.
Now the hard work begins. Raising awareness of the code and embedding it in our work. Are our leaders setting the right ‘tone from the top’? Does everyone feel safe to suggest, question or challenge ideas? Do we have sufficient diversity of thought and perspective amongst our decision makers? Are we going beyond mere compliance to building a strong culture of safeguarding? Are we accepting and resolving differences of opinion, without ego or resentment? Are we open and accountable for both our successes and our shortcomings? Are we hearing everyone’s voices? Does everyone FEEL included?
The Academy Trust Governance Code is voluntary and aspirational. It is not mandated. But we are confident that where trusts adopt the code and begin incorporating it into their governance work, they will see results. These include a new clarity of vision and ethos, careful and informed decision making that considers the interests of everyone in the trust and well-used resources providing value for money and sustainability. The new code will also help provide a voice for all stakeholders at all levels, greater public confidence in our schools, and enable trusts to reclaim their role as institutions anchored in their communities. Ultimately, the code will help maintain and further develop a high quality and inclusive educational offer that provides equal opportunities for all our children to reach their full potential for a better life.
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