Governance

• Setting the vision.
• Making decisions about strategy and policy.
• Overseeing and monitoring organisational performance.
• Ensuring organisational accountability.

Trust Governance Structure

• 1 legal entity
• Articles of Association
• Funding agreement with Secretary of State plus supplemental funding agreements
• Board of Trustees
• One Academy Committee to form inter-school governance.

An academy trust is an exempt charitable company limited by guarantee. An academy trust must have both members and trustees. The trust is the direct employer of staff and the holder of land titles.

Members control changes in the constitution of the Trust. They have an overview of the governance arrangements of a trust and have the power to appoint governors/trustees and remove them by ordinary resolution.

The people who are appointed by the member to sit on the trust board are the directors and trustees. They are responsible for the operation of the trust. They set strategic direction and are directly accountable for finance and standards. The term trustee also means director.

FACT is required to direct all funds received to achieving the objectives of the Trust. The Board of Trustees, the body that oversees the running of the Trust, meets at least 6 times annually and is supported in its work by the CFOO & Company Secretary.

Responsibilities concerning the performance of the academies in the Trust are delegated to one Academy Committee to form inter-school governance. All governor appointments are approved by the Board of Trustees. Details of the constitution and membership of the Academy Committee is available on each Academy website.

Their main duties are:

• Overseeing the running of the Academy Trust and the management of the Trust’s business affairs
• Ensuring the standard of education at schools within the Trust
• Entering into contracts on the Trust’s behalf
• Managing the Academy Trust’s finances and property
• Taking part in board meetings of the Trustees