Gosforth Group
The Role of Governance
Our Governance Structure
Governance within a multi academy trust is a structured and strategic approach to managing and overseeing multiple schools/academies under a single organisation. At Gosforth Group, our governance structure ensures that each academy within our Trust operates efficiently, adheres to legal and regulatory requirements, and strives for high educational standards.
Roles and Responsibilities
Governance at Gosforth Group operates at three primary levels:
1. Board of Members
The Board of Members is the highest level in the governance structure of the Gosforth Group. The Members operate at a strategic level, holding ultimate control over the Trust's direction, long-term stability, vision, and integrity.
Members have a limited but essential statutory role. Their key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the achievement of the objectives of the Trust.
- Appointing Trustees and the external Auditor.
- Overseeing the effectiveness of governance and holding the Board of Trustees to account for the Trust’s overall performance.
- Approving changes to the Articles of Association (which set out how the Trust is run).
- Ensuring that the Trust’s charitable objectives are met
- Members meet periodically to review the strategic direction and governance effectiveness of the Trust but are not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The Board of Members meets at least annually.
2. Board of Trustees
Trustees have responsibilities for the day-to-day management and operation of the Trust. Trustees are members of the community who are appointed by the Board of Members. Trustees are responsible for ensuring that high standards of corporate governance are maintained.
Trustee functions include:
- Ensuring high-quality education provision
- Challenging and monitoring the performance of the Trust
- Managing the Trust's finances and property, making sure money is well spent
- Ensuring that the Trust complies with charity and company law
- Appointing and holding to account the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team.
Trustees are both company directors and charitable trustees and, as such, are bound by statutory duties under the Academies Financial Handbook, Companies Act 2006, and Charity Commission regulations.
The Board of Trustees meets at least three times per year.
3. Governing Committees
Each school has a Governing Committee made up of:
- Community governors who are appointed by the Board of Trustees
- Parent governors who are elected by parents/carers of students on roll
- Staff governors who are elected by the staff of the school.
Governors play a key role in ensuring the effective governance of our schools. Governors work together to:
- Monitor and review school performance
- Build relationships with senior staff to provide effective support and challenge
- Undertake regular visits to school to gain assurance that strategies are working
- Engage with pupils, staff, parents and the wider school community to understand their views.
The Governing Committees usually meet four times per year.
Who Are Trustees and Governors?
Individuals involved in governance come from a wide range of professional and community backgrounds, including but not limited to:
- Education
- Finance
- Law
- Human resources
- Business
- Public services
- Local communities
This diversity helps bring a wide range of expertise and perspectives to decision-making.
Legal and Statutory Checks
All those serving in governance roles must:
- Undergo appropriate safeguarding and suitability checks, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
- Declare any conflicts of interest and adhere to the Trust’s Governance Code of Conduct.
- Comply with legal requirements under the Education Act, Academies Trust Handbook, and relevant safeguarding legislation.
- Complete mandatory training, including safeguarding, governance responsibilities, and financial oversight where relevant.
The role of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Governance at Gosforth Group
The CEO is the most senior executive leader in Gosforth Group. The CEO is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational delivery, and overall performance of the Trust and its academies.
The CEO is also the Accounting Officer for the Trust, with personal responsibility to Parliament for the Trust’s financial resources, including regularity, propriety, and value for money, and for ensuring the board is informed about compliance with the funding agreement(s) and the Academy Trust Handbook.
The CEO reports directly to the Board of Trustees and is held accountable for the Trust’s overall performance. While the CEO may attend Board and committee meetings (e.g., Finance and Premises, Audit and Risk) to provide updates and respond to questions, they do so in their capacity as CEO and not as a Trustee.