GOVERNANCE
There are three layers of governance within TEAM Multi Academy Trust; the Members, the Trust Board of Directors (also known as Trustees), and the governors who make up the Local Governing Body for each of the schools within the Trust.
Members
The Members are accountable to the Department for Education and have ultimate responsibility for the Trust achieving its objectives.
Members oversee the work of the Trustees and meet three times a year to review the procedures, policies and accounts of the previous year.
Trustees
The Trustees set the strategic direction for TEAM Multi Academy Trust.
Trustees are similar to Directors of a Company and monitor the work of the Chief Executive Headteacher and Leadership team. They also have specific interests as part of their role such as - Financial, Safeguarding or Special needs. The Trustees meet approximately 5 times a year as a whole group and are active within a range of committees and individual portfolios. Our Trustees do not have any pecuniary interests related to school affairs.
The Trustees have three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to account for the educational performance of the TEAM Academy Trust schools and their pupils, and the performance and management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the schools and making sure its money is well spent.
Local Governing Bodies
Each school within TEAM Academy Trust has its own Local Governing Body.
The role of governors and trustees
This animated film explains the crucial role school governors and trustees play in children and young people’s education.
wHY I BECAME A GOVERNOR
“I became a Governor because I wanted to be involved in the school community and know more about the workings of the school my children attend. I hoped that I would be able to help and support the Governance team and school staff with both a parental and professional perspective (because I teach and lead education elsewhere). In taking on the position I have been able to develop my own CPD, recruit more members, observe the school in action, and report on aspects of monitoring and feedback when new policies have been introduced. I now lead the team as Chair of Governors, and it is incredibly rewarding to work together with a shared school ethos, especially within a Multi-Academy Trust with a well structured and organised team of Trustees and Leadership that drive the focus of our meetings. To know we are all working together for the good of the children and all of the staff is an excellent opportunity to ‘give something back’ that I would recommend to anyone who can make the time to help.”
Caroline - LGB Member, Pilton Bluecoat Academy
"I was a Local Governor at High Bickington Primary school, when the school joined TEAM Academy Trust I became a Trustee. Being a trustee is a bit like running a company, we don’t make individual decisions, but we ask questions to make sure that TEAM schools have the staff, resources and facilities that they need to give our children the best education.
All the trustees have different backgrounds and skills, so we work together to support the leadership team but also scrutinise their performance. It is interesting to find out about all the different things that happen in a school, and it is rewarding to feel able to help the staff with some of their important decisions."
Susie - Trustee, TEAM Academy Trust