Local governance is integral to the Potteries Educational Trust. Governors make valuable contributions to education and to the academy community and make a huge difference to the future of children and young people by driving school improvement and striving to get the best possible education for them.
Academy Local Governing Bodies –are accountable for:
- Vision and Values including
- upholding our Trust culture and ethos
- championing our Trust strategy
- promoting high quality and inclusive education
- Monitoring Local Accountability including:
- effective performance and provision of education
- pupil attendance and behaviour
- pupil welfare
- monitoring the learning environment to ensure it is safe and well maintained
- Engagement – including
- relationships with stakeholders, parents, communities
- advocacy for learners and stakeholders
- feedback and communication within the local community and its context
The Local Governing Body for each academy is a committee of the Trust Board, made up of 9 – 11 governors including the Headteacher/Principal, two staff governors, two parent governors and co-opted governors. In line with the Trust Scheme of Delegation Governors should ensure that they make a positive and meaningful contribution to the LGB by:
- attending meetings (typically 3 meetings each academic year), reading papers and preparing questions for the executive leader in advance
- LGB meetings are typically up to two hours one per term
- establishing and maintaining professional relationships with executive leaders and colleagues on the LGB
- on occasions, supporting other academies across the Trust with governance activity such quality assurance showcases, pupil suspension committees, complaints committees
- undertaking induction training and developing knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis
- attend PET governance strategic and celebration events
Expectations
Governors are voluntary roles. Never the less there are professional standards and expectations.
Governors agree to follow the Potteries Educational Trust Governance Code of Conduct together with following the Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles – published 31 May 1995) and the Framework for Ethical Leadership in Education. Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership.
The Local Governing Body supports the Trust Board:
- to promote equality and diversity in all aspects of governance and when carrying out any functions
- focus on the organisation’s purpose and be clear about the Trust’s purpose and intended outcomes for its pupils and the community, making sure that pupils receive a high quality education and that tax payers receive value for money
- to promote and practice the values of the Trust and behave in ways that exemplify effective governance including maintaining confidentiality, declaring any conflicts of interest, open and transparent decision making
- by acting within relevant powers
The Local Governing Body supports the Trust Board with local accountability through its terms of reference including the following areas:
- Educational performance
- Financial Performance
- Safeguarding
- Human Resources
- Estates
- Engagement
- Other matters including compliance
All trustees and governors have key roles to play in the effective governance of the Potteries Educational Trust and its academies. Some governors may take on a link role for a particular area, for example safeguarding, SEND, Quality of Education.
At the Potteries Educational Trust (PET) we have a unique mission to ‘Shape young people to transform the future’.