In June 2019 schools became part of The Ivy Education Trust. The Board of Trustees is the accountable body for the performance of all the Academies (the individual schools) in the Trust. The Governing Board is now known as the Local Governing Body (LGB). The LGBs in the Trust have statutory responsibilities together with those delegated to them by the Trust Board, with the Trust Board holding the ultimate legal accountability.
The Local Governing Body has three core functions:
- To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and direction.
- To raise standards of Teaching & Learning and to hold the Executive Headteacher to account for the educational achievement of the schools and their pupils.
- To oversee the financial performance of the Federation and to ensure the money is well spent.
The LGB recognises that the Executive Headteacher is responsible for the implementation of policy, day-to-day management of the schools and the implementation of the curriculum.
The LGB meets six times a year. There are two committees who meet four times a year to fulfil the roles and responsibilities as outlined in their terms of reference: Teaching & Learning Committee and Finance, Personnel and Premises Committee.
Why are we here?
School governors play an important part in schools and have a wide range of responsibilities. They help to raise the standards of pupil achievement and plan our schools’ future direction. Governors are also accountable for the performance of the schools to parents and the wider community. The Executive Headteacher has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the school, and governors have a variety of responsibilities and duties, which means that they are responsible for the overall management of the schools and are accountable to The Trust, as well as Ofsted, for the schools’ successes. The relationship between the LGB and the Executive Head Teacher is therefore a very close one, based on partnership.
Governors’ roles cover the following areas:
Strategic – agreeing the aims and values of each school; setting a policy on the curriculum; budget setting for the schools in consultation with the Executive Headteacher and the CFO of the Trust; approving the Schools Improvement Plan; responding to inspection plans and publishing action plans; reviewing and approving school policies.
Monitoring – ensuring each school keeps to the policies, budgets and plans; keeping up to date with the quality and educational standards in the schools; monitoring of the school risks within the Trust Risk Register and ensuring safeguarding compliance.
Executive – the recruitment of senior staff and some disciplinary matters.
Accountability – ensuring parents are kept informed about what is happening in the schools and taking parents views into account, whilst reporting to and being guided by The Trust.
Supporting – supporting and advising the Executive Head Teacher and providing practical help and skills.
For further information on the responsibilities of the LGB, please see the Trust Scheme of Delegation on our trust website here.