Southport Learning Trust Annual Report and Audited Accounts 2016-17
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Southport Learning Trust SOUTHPORT LEARNING TRUST (FORMERLY GREENBANK HIGH SCHOOL) (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2017 Company Limited by Guarantee Registration Number: 7790934 (Eng/and and Wales) Contents Reference and Administrative Details 1 Trustees' Report 3 Governance Statement 12 Statement of Regularity, Propriety and Compliance 18 Statement of Trustees Responsibilities 19 Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Southport Learning Trust (Formerly Greenbank High School) 20 Independent Reporting Accountant's Assurance Report on Regularity to the Members of Southport Learning Trust (Formerly Greenbank High School) and the Education Skills Funding Agency 45 Reference and Administrative Details Trustees Mr Ian Raikes (Accounting Officer) Mr Stuart Bellerby Mrs Moria Bowen (Resigned 1 September 2017) Mr Richard Cottier Dr Richard Hadji (Chair of Trustees) Mrs Victoria Keeley (Resigned 1 September 2017) Mr Kenneth Myerscough (Resigned 1 September 2017) Mr Christopher Pritchard (Resigned 1 September 2017) Miss Carol Sharman Mr Ian Swift (Resigned 22 May 2017) Mrs Andrea Woods (Resigned 1 September 2017) Mrs Sara Duxbury Mrs Anna Smith (Appointed 18 September 2017) Mr Peter Miles (Appointed 24 May 2017 and resigned 15 September 2017) Ms Claire Buck (Appointed 14 October 2016 and resigned 1 September 2017) Mr Graham Hill (Appointed 14 October 2016 and resigned 1 September 2017) Ms Ruth Williams (Appointed 1 September 2017) Mrs Nicola Hurst (Appointed 6 November 2017 and resigned 27 November 2017) Members Mr Ian Raikes (Resigned as Member on 22 May 2017) Ms Kate Webb Dr Richard Hadji Mrs Michelle Dow (Appointed on 24 May 2017) Senior management team Mr Ian Raikes (Headteacher of Greenbank High School, Executive Headteacher of Southport Learning Trust from 24 May 2017) Mr Neil Moore (Deputy Headteacher, seconded to Stanley High School from 31 October 2016) Mrs Katy Robinson (Assistant Headteacher, appointed to acting Deputy Headteacher from 31 October 2016) Mrs Elizabeth Russell (Assistant Headteacher, appointed to acting Deputy Headteacher from 31 October 2016) Miss Christina Cullen MBE (Assistant Headteacher) Mrs Adele Gent-Jones (Assistant Headteacher) Mrs Siobhan Whittaker (Acting Assistant Headteacher from 31 October 2016) Mr Peter Miles (Director of Finance & Business Operations, resigned 15 September 2017) Mrs Anna Smith (Director of Finance & Business Operations from 18 September 2017) Company registration number 07790934 (England and Wales) Registered office Hastings Road Southport PR82LT Independent auditor RSM UK Audit LLP Bluebell House Brian Johnson Way Preston Lancashire PR25PE Bankers HSBC Lord Street Southport PR81NJ RBS Lord Street Southport PR81PH Lloyds 23 London Street Southport PR9 DUX Solicitors Eversheds Eversheds House 70 Great Bridgewater Street Manchester M15ES England Browne Jacobson Ground Floor 3 Piccadilly Place Manchester M13BN Trustees'Report The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements and auditor's report of the charitable company for the period 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017. The annual report serves the purposes of both a trustees' report, and a directors' report under company law. The academy trust operates an academy for female pupils aged 11 to 16 serving Southport and the wider area within Sefton. It has a pupil capacity of 1,030 and had a roll of 991 in the census of October 2017. STRUCTURE,GOVERNANCEANDMANAGEMENT Constitution The Academy Trust is a company limited by guarantee (registration no. 07790934) and is an exempt charity. The charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association are the primary governing documents of the Academy Trust. The trustees of the Academy Trust are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law. The charitable company is known as Southport Learning Trust (trading as Greenbank High School). Details of the trustees who served during the year are included in the Reference and Administrative Details on page 1. Members' liability Each member of the charitable company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the charitable company in the event of it being wound up while they are a member, or within one year after they cease to be a member, such amount as may be required, not exceeding £10, for the debts and liabilities contracted before they ceased to be a member. Trustees' indemnities In accordance with normal commercial practice the Academy has purchased Professional Indemnity Cover to protect governors and officers from claims Rrising from negligent acts, errors or omissions occurrìnq whilst on Academy business. This cover has been purchased through the EFA Risk Protection Arrangement. The cover is unlimited and the cost for the period ended 31 August 2017 cannot be separately identified from the overall cover expense in the Financial Statements. Principal Activities The Academy Trust's object is specifically restricted to the following: to advance for the public benefit education in the United Kingdom, by establishing, maintaining, carrying on, managing and developing a school offering a broad and balanced curriculum. Method of recruitment and appointment or election of trustees l he governors are directors of the Academy Trust for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 and trustees for the purposes of charity legislation. The term trustees, governors and directors is therefore used interchangeably in this report. Trustees' terms of office are for four years unless agreed otherwise, except for the Headteacher. Details of the trustees who served during the year are included in the Reference and Administrative Details on page 1. The arrangement for the appointment of new governors (trustees) is specifically set down in the Articles of Association. In summary, these are that: 1. Up to two governors may be appointed by the Members. 2. The members may appoint Staff Governors through such process as they may determine, provided that the number of governors (including the Headteacher) who are employees of the Academy Trust does not exceed one third of the total number of trustees. 3. The Local Authority may appoint the Local Authority Governor. 4. The Headteacher is appointed as an ex-officio Governor. 5. A minimum of two and a maximum of 7 Parent Governors may be appointed through election by the parents of registered pupils of the Academy. A Parent Governor must be a parent of a pupil at the Academy at the time when he is elected. If the number of parents standing for election is less than the number of vacancies, then the Governing Body shall appoint. 6. The Governors may appoint up to three Co-opted Governors. 7. The Secretary of State for Education may appoint additional Governors as deemed appropriate. Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees During the period under review the Governors held five Full Governor Panel meetings. In addition, there was a full day's facilitated training event covering Governors' responsibilities. The training and induction provided for new Governors will depend on their existing experience. Where necessary, induction will provide training on relevant educational, legal and financial matters. All new Governors will be given a tour of the Academy and the chance to meet with staff and students. All Governors are provided with copies of policies, procedures, minutes, accounts, budgets, plans and other documents that they will need to undertake their role as Governors. As there are normally only two or three new Governors a year, induction tends to be done informally and is tailored specifically to the individual. The Academy also subscribes to a number of Governor Information Services. Governors also have access to training throughout their term of office, both from internal and from external parties. Organisational structure The Governors are responsible for setting general policy, adopting an annual plan and budget, monitoring the Academy's use of budgets, and making major decisions about the direction of the Academy, capital expenditure and senior staff appointments. The Senior Managers/Senior Leadership Team during the academic year of this report were the Headteacher, the Deputy Headteacher, four Assistant Headteachers, and the Director of Finance and Business Operations. These managers control the Academy at an executive level implementing the policies laid down by the Governors and reporting back to them. The Senior Managers are responsible for the authorisation of spending within agreed budgets and the appointment of staff. Appointment boards for posts in the Management Team always contain a Governor. Some spending control is devolved to members of the Management Team, with limits for approval being set down in the Academy's Finance and Business Manual. The Senior Leadership Team is as described in the previous paragraph. The Directors of Learning are responsible for the day-to-day teaching within the Academy, in particular organising the teaching staff, facilities and students. The Progress Leaders, in liaison with the Personal Tutors, are responsible for the overall progress and general welfare of the pupils. Arrangements for setting pay and remuneration of key management personnel The School has a Pay Policy in place which follows, as far as is practical, the Teachers Pay and Conditions Document for Teachers and NJC for support staff. This sets out the arrangement for setting pay and remuneration for all personnel. The pay and remuneration