Governance

Trustees (Directors) have strategic oversight and ultimate responsibility for all management decisions with the Trust Schools. Amongst other things, the Board of Trustees are responsible for:

• setting the strategic direction, policies and objectives (ensuring clarity of vision/ethos)

• making sure money is well spent: approving the budget, reviewing progress against the budget and objectives

• challenging and supporting senior staff to ensure the quality of education provided by all schools and the performance development of all staff is excellent

• the wider contribution and engagement with the school communities.

They meet at least four times a year and delegate powers to our Committees to make decisions regarding Audit, Finance & Risk, Education & Standards, and Pay & Remuneration.

The term of office for Trustees is four years, and they would normally serve for two terms.

Members can be considered as our custodians – they have a hands-off role in terms of managing the Trust and act as a ‘check and balance’ on the performance of the Together Learning Trust. They meet at least once per year.

The central team provides specialist support, guidance and services to schools in:

• business and operations

• financial management

• marketing and communications

• people management

• IT support

This enables school staff and leaders to focus on school life and learning.

Read more about our central service offer.

The Executive Leadership Team is made up of the headteachers of each school along with the CEO and central team directors. They meet weekly to discuss mainly operational matters and provide invaluable mutual support with the week-to-week challenges of school leadership.

The trust structure also creates opportunities for school senior and middle leaders to collaborate, learn from each other, or work on secondment in other trust schools.

School development groups are made up of staff with knowledge or roles related to a particular subject or specialist area, who meet regularly to support, challenge and improve outcomes in that area.

We have fantastic expertise within our schools, and these groups harness and amplify this, providing great professional development and improving standards across the trust.

Our curriculum communities focus on particular subjects, sharing best practice and strategies. The number of school development groups will grow to encompass different areas such as SEND or careers education.

School governing bodies - also known as Local Governing Committees or LGCs - are committed to ensuring their school does the best possible job for the children and advocate for the school.

Governors know their school in depth, monitoring and evaluating performance and engaging with the school community. They ensure excellence in:

• The curriculum

• Student and staff welfare and wellbeing

• Parental engagement and feedback

• Health and safety

• Safeguarding

They promote and support the trust’s vision and values and report to the trustees confirming effective development plans are in place.

Governors form a link between the school community and the trustees, holding both the school and the trust to account.

Individual governors may have a specific area of responsibility such as Safeguarding, known as a ‘link governor’. School staff and parents are represented on the governing body, elected by their peers.

You can find out more about each school’s local governing committee on their websites.

Schools are nothing without the communities they serve, and engaging with those communities ensures schools are relevant and fit for purpose.

Community engagement includes having effective structures for staff feedback and suggestions, staff collaboration and professional development, student leadership and pupil voice, parent consultations, parent teacher associations, liaison with local employers, community groups and local education providers. All of these people care deeply about the wellbeing and education of our children and have valuable contributions to make.