Chains of AcademiesGovernance Models

James HargraveChair of GovernorsStradbroke Primary School

v1.2a 24 March 2011

Models for Governance

• Governance and Management models are independent and a given governance model doesn’t mean a particular management structure

• There are three main governance models suggested by the DfE for chains of academies• Multi-academy Trust• Umbrella Trust• Informal collaboration

• The information about these models was all provided by the DfE

Chains of Academies• Any school can join a chain irrespective of their

own Ofsted rating• Each Governing Body needs to pass a separate

resolution• Needs to be at least one Outstanding or GWOF

school in the chain• Other schools can join later although they won’t

have a say on governance model if they do• Need to have appropriate arrangements to

support “weaker schools”• Each school gets the £25k “support grant”• Schools can share expertise and some set up

costs• Schools decide the model of governance that

suits their chain

MULTI-ACADEMY TRUSTModel 1

Multi-Academy Trust Board

Academy Governing

Body

School 1

Academy Governing

Body

School 2

Academy Governing

Body

School 3

Academy Governing

Body

School 4

Academy Governing

Body

School 5

Academy Governing

Body

School 6

Academy Governing

Body

School 7

Multi-Academy Trust

• Schools form a single multi-academy trust which has overall responsibility

• Master funding agreement with the multi-academy trust

• Supplemental funding agreements with each individual school

• Each school has own Governing Body• Each school has representation on the

Trust Board• Powers “delegated” to individual GBs by

the Trust Board• This is most like a “mini LA”

UMBRELLA TRUSTModel 2

Umbrella Trust

Academy Governing

Body

School 1

Academy Governing

Body

School 2

Academy Governing

Body

School 3

Academy Governing

Body

School 4

Academy Governing

Body

School 5

Academy Governing

Body

School 6

Academy Governing

Body

School7

Umbrella Trust• A company formed by the schools that

form the chain of academies• Has a relationship with each school but

does not manage schools• Each school has its own academy trust,

and each individual academy trust in the chain (not the umbrella trust) will have its own funding agreement

• This model gives schools greater independence and is very flexible

• Where there are performance issues with a school the umbrella trust could appoint most governors of that school

INFORMAL COLLABORATIONModel 3

Informal Arrangements

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

1

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

2

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

3

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

4

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

5

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

6

Academy

Governing

BodySchool

7

Informal Collaboration

• Schools can form looser less formal partnership links

• This gives the most flexibility but less structure

• Would need to ensure Secretary of State of arrangements to support any weaker schools before he will agree