Governance Handbook Ormiston Academies Trust
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Governance Handbook Ormiston Academies Trust Contents Section one: Welcome to Ormiston Welcome from Toby Salt CEO…………….……………………………………………………………………………… …...2 Our story………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...3 Ormiston Trust background………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Ormiston Academies Trust background…………………………………………………………………………...............4 Welcome from the governance team…….…………………………………………………………………........................5 Section two: The governing body Role of the governing body...…………………………………………....................................................................................................7 The characteristics of strong governing bodies…………………………………………………………………….............. …...8 Composition of a governing body…………………….………………………………………………………………………..10 Who can be a governor?........................................................................................................................................................................10 Governor categories……………………………………………………………………………………………….......... 11 The role of the clerk……..……………………………………………………………………………………………………..12 Governing body and committee information……………………………………………………………………………… ….13 Governing body…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13 Finance and general purposes (FGP)……………………………………………………………………………………. 14 Curriculum and standards (CS)…………………………………………………………………………………………. 14 Enrichment sub-committee (ESC)………………………………………………………………………………………. 14 Policy sub-committee (PSC)…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 Strategy sub-committee (SSC)………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 Principal’s performance management committee (PPM)……………………………………………………………….. 15 Ad hoc committees……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 16 Section three: The governor role Role of the governor……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18 Strategic, not operational……….…………………………………………………………………………………….…… 19 Requirements of being an Ormiston governor……………………………………………………………………………. 19 Governors with particular responsibilities………………………………………………………………………………… 20 Chair of the governing body…………………………………………………………………………………………… 21 Committee chair…………………………………………………………………………………….………………….. 21 Vice chair……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………...... 22 Link governors………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22 General link governor questions.……………………………………………………………………………………....... 23 Governor visits………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 24 Section four: Training and Development Training for governors………………………………………………………………………………………………….............27 Regional Governor support…………………………………………………………………………………………….............28 Governing body self-evaluation and development……………………….……………………………………………………29 Governor 1st Year review………………………………………………………………………………………………….......30 Governing body annual review………………………………………………………………………………...………………30 Chair of governors 360˚ review……………………………………………………………………………………………….30 Annual skills audit……………………………………………………………………………………………………….............30 Succession planning…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….30 GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK i Transparent governance………………………………………………………………………………………………………..31 Section five: Ofsted Ofsted overview…………………………………………………………………………………….………………………….33 Section six: Meetings General meeting principles……………………………………………………………………………………………………..35 Before the meeting……………………………………………………………………………….…………………………….36 After the meeting………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........36 Question, challenge and support…………………………………………………………………………………………..........36 A model of the consequences of failure to challenge………………………………………………………………….....…37 Confidential business……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38 Confidential items…………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 38 Taking minutes for confidential and statutory meetings………………………………………………………………... 38 Conflict of interest……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 39 Section seven: Academy Improvement Ofsted Data…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….42 DfE Data………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..44 OAT Data Tools………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..46 Finances…………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………..47 Academy funding………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..49 Grants…...……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....50 Policies…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..............50 Suggested policy protocol………………………………………………………………………………………………......50 Section eight: Appendices Recent Ofsted questions……………………………………………………………………………………………….........….53 Question and challenge……….……………………………………………………………………………………….………..54 Section nine: Glossary Glossary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............60 Acronyms and glossary….……………………………………………………………………………………………………...61 GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK ii Section one: Welcome to Ormiston GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK 1 Welcome from Toby Salt CEO Dear governor, Welcome to the Ormiston family. We are delighted that you have joined us. Our vision is for all young people to have the highest academic, social and practical skills to allow them to lead a fulfilling life. We are determined to become the Trust that makes the biggest difference and to be the most effective network of academies. Ormiston academies serve over 20,000 students, and their families; providing great education will make a difference to them and to the communities in which they live. Governors work as a team to support an academy. They challenge its progress and make sure that students are getting the education they deserve. Inspection evidence tells us that there is a relationship between good governance, the quality of leadership and management and the quality of student achievement. Governors are valued members of the Ormiston network and have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of young people through education. We look forward to working with you and should you require any further information please contact the Ormiston Governance Department on 0121 236 5100. Kind regards Toby Salt Chief Executive, Ormiston Academies Trust GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK 2 Our story Ormiston Trust background Our founder Ormiston Trust (OT) was created by Peter Murray in memory of his sister, Fiona Ormiston Murray, who loved children but was denied the chance to have her own when she was killed in a tragic car accident in 1969. The Murray family set up a trust and in her name, we work with local communities and with schools all over the country to give young people access to an excellent education. The Trust is family run and has been working with young people and their families for over 40 years with a strong commitment to improving the lives of young people that pre dates academies. Peter Murray began the Trust as the chairman and still remains as chairman today in addition to being an active governor in several of the academies. Our vision is for all young people to have the academic, social and practical skills to lead a fulfilling life. Our team is made up of educationalists and experts who share a belief that every young person should have the chance to fulfil their potential, whatever their background or circumstances. To achieve our vision, we aim to create outstanding, non-selective local academies which give young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to succeed, build on their strengths and share their skills to make things better. These values inform our work: Excellence: supporting young people to fulfil their individual potential. Inclusion: responding to the individual needs of all students, whatever their background or ability. Enjoyment: stimulating curiosity and make learning fun. Collaboration: working in partnership to address local needs and build support for education. GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK 3 Ormiston Academies Trust background OT sponsored its first academy in 2006; the Gateway Academy in Thurrock. At the time it was one of the most challenging schools in the country and only 13 per cent of students achieved five A*-C grades including English and mathematics. After steadily rising results, the academy was rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted in 2011. OT founded Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) and Ormiston now has a family of academies across England. We believe that every school and community is unique, so we do not impose a 'one size fits all' approach to teaching and learning. Our academies are encouraged to respond to the needs of their students and their community. We support our academies to share good practice and are committed to giving their staff increased opportunities for professional development. When a school converts to becoming an OAT academy the academy agrees the trusts Funding Agreement, Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association. Some Academies will also have a supplemental agreement which provides additional detail for specific areas of the academy’s set up. The purpose of these documents are to lay out the liability and responsibilities for various functions of the academy. OAT have a variety of departments that work with academies, these include: . Enrichment . Estates Management . Finance . Governance . Human Resources . ICT . Marketing . School Improvement (including data) Due to the various locations of OAT academies we have implemented a regional structure which means that each area has a designated Regional Director who can provide support and guidance where required. GOVERNANCE HANDBOOK 4 Welcome from the governance team This Governor Handbook is intended to support all OAT academy governors in their role, it is also a useful resource for clerks and principals to