High quality governance is central to the success of the Trust and we have a strong governance model based on the principle of delegated autonomy.  We believe that schools should have the ability to govern themselves within the Trust structure.  We have three levels of governance with Members, Trustees and Local School Boards. 

Members

The responsibilities of the Members are:

• To exercise their responsibility to appoint Trustees to the Trust Board ensuring that they hold the necessary skills and competence to manage the schools effectively and efficiently.
• To remove any Trustee or Member, who is not considered to be acting in the best interests of the Trust.
• From time to time to review the Articles of Association and to make changes when deemed necessary, after taking advice from the Trust Board.
• To receive the annual report and accounts from the Trust Board and appoint auditors.
• To appoint other Members as necessary in line with the provisions of the Articles of Association.

Trustees

The Trust Board is responsible for all the schools within the Trust.  This means that Trustees govern in the interests of the Trust as a whole. There is no ‘lead school’ even though Denbigh School initiated the formation of the Trust. The Trust Board sets the vision, mission and values for the Trust and holds the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Heads of School/Headteachers to account for delivering the Trust’s Strategic Plan.

The Trust Board has robust, standardised and efficient processes for effective governance with the aim of:

• Ensuring the highest standards and quality of education.
• Overseeing and performance managing Executive leaders and other key staff.
• Receiving management information that enables comparison of the performance of schools across the Trust.
• Ensuring continuing robust financials, regularity, and probity.
• Managing risk, including setting and managing risk appetite, tolerance, and mitigation strategies.
• Ensuring compliance, regularity, propriety, prudence, care, and value for money.
• Providing accurate and up-to-date documentation and effective communication of the Board’s decisions and the impact on relevant parties e.g. parents, the community, Local School Boards, etc.

Trustees must become directors and comply with directors’ responsibilities within the Companies Act 2006. Trustees are considered to be critical colleagues to the CEO and their role is to direct and support those decisions delegated to the CEO and Heads of School/Headteachers, ensuring the continuing success of the Trust.

Local School Boards

The Local School Boards are committees of the Trust Board, established in line with the Trust’s Articles of Association to provide support to the Headteachers/Heads of School, CEO and the Board in a local context.

Local School Boards are authorised by the Board to:

• Liaise with and consult with other committees of the Board where appropriate.
• Obtain input from the Headteacher/Head of School, CEO, and the Board.

The functions delegated by the Trust Board to Local School Boards are set out in detail in the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and include the following:

• Support the delivery of the Denbigh Alliance Multi Academy Trust’s vision.
• Monitor the operation of the school including the implementation of learning strategies, standards, health and safety and well-being including the implementation and compliance of any policies or procedures.
• Monitor the school’s budget, capital works and the impact of the Estates strategic plan.
• Undertake a detailed analysis of their own individual school’s performance.
• Support the Headteacher/Head of School in safeguarding, recruitment, OFSTED preparation and inspections, risk management, grievance, disciplinary, complaints, suspensions and permanent exclusions processes where appropriate.
• Be a critical friend to the Headteacher/Head of School, holding Academy/School leadership to account for academic performance, quality of safeguarding, care and provision.
• Implementing a plan of direct engagement with stakeholders and the local community and representing their views to the Headteacher/Head of School and the Trust Board.
• Provide reports to the Trust Board through approved minutes and to draw any significant recommendations and/or matters of concern to the attention of the Trust.