Governors

Governance has 3 core functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

Within a multi-academy trust such as Lionheart Educational Trust, governance is led by the Trust Board, with some responsibilities delegated to the Local Governing Body of the school. These delegations are captured in the Scheme of Delegation.

FURTHER TRUST AND GOVERNANCE INFORMATION

• Annual Accounts Link to https://www.lionhearttrust.org.uk/about-us/finance/

TRUST ORGANISATION

SCHEME OF DELEGATION

The Trust operates under a Scheme of Delegation agreed by the Board which outlines all key delegated responsibilities.

TRUST ACROSS ALL LAYERS OF GOVERNANCE

TRUST BOARD

The Trust Board has overall responsibility for all governance in the trust and carries the final accountability for this. The focus of the Board is on the big picture, working with the trust Executive Team to set the overall vision for the trust, lead strategically and identify and respond to risks and opportunities.

TRUST BOARD COMMITTEES

The purpose of Lionheart Committees is to ensure that the Trust adheres to the governance framework outlined in the Academies Trust Handbook and ensures there is a high level of scrutiny and oversight of key areas.

All Trust Board committees are made up of Trustees with specific knowledge and experience. The Chairs of Committees have the knowledge and skills to be able to lead discussions and make recommendations to the Trust board for decisions. The roles and responsibilities of the committees are defined in the terms of reference.

LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES

Each school has a Local Governing Body, which holds the school to account for the quality of teaching and learning, the experience of pupils, parents and staff, the processes to ensure safeguarding, and informal links with the local community and businesses. LGBs ensure that school leaders are mindful of the school’s context and work within the overall vision of Lionheart Educational Trust.

MEMBERS

The Members of a trust are not involved in the practical running of the organisation and do not take part in governing body or Board meetings, except as occasional observers. Their role is to ensure that the Board keeps its core priorities at the centre of its work – providing education for children and young people – and retains its stated ethos and values.

Members appoint some of the trustees and, in exceptional circumstances, can remove trustees who they have appointed.