All primary schools within our Trust are at the heart of their local communities. Governance is designed to be consistent, transparent and child‑centred, while allowing each school to reflect its community and context. 

Governance at a Glance 

• Who we are: A local School Board for each primary school, made up of parents, staff and community Governors 

• What we focus on: Making sure children are Safe, Happy and Learning 

• What we do: Support and provide effective challenge to the School Senior Leadership team on education, safeguarding and standards 

• What we don’t do: Run the school day‑to‑day or manage individual concerns 

• How often we meet: 4 School Board meetings each year, plus focused governor visits 

• Who we report to: The Trust’s Board of Trustees 

How Governance Works in Our Trust 

Our Trust has a clear governance structure: 

• The Members hold the Trust to account for its charitable purpose 

• The Board of Trustees is the legal and accountable body for all schools 

• Each primary school has its own School Board providing local oversight 

School Boards operate within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and are accountable to the Trustees. 

This structure ensures: 

• Strong and consistent standards across all schools 

• Clear accountability 

• Local understanding and community engagement 

The Role of School Boards 

Across all our primary schools, School Boards focus on educational oversight, not day‑to‑day management. 

School Board Governors are trained volunteers who: 

• Champion the Trust vision: Safe – Happy – Learning 

• Support and hold the School Leadership Team to account using evidence and data 

• Oversee safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusion 

• Monitor the quality of Education, including curriculum implementation and impact, progress and attainment of all pupils 

• Make sure the views of parents, pupils and staff inform improvement 

• Review and monitor the implementation of the School Development Plan 

• Monitor and ensure compliance and effectiveness 

• Monitor pupil behaviour and attitudes, including attendance and providing effective challenge 

Schools follow a consistent annual cycle of meetings, reporting and visits linked to each school’s School Development Plan. 

 

What School Boards Do Not Do 

To ensure clarity for families across the Trust, School Boards: 

• Do not manage staff or pupils’ day to day 

• Do not inspect or judge individual lessons or teachers 

• Do not handle individual complaints or concerns 

Any concerns about a child or the school should always be raised directly with the school first. 

Who Is on a School Board? 

Each primary school’s School Board follows the same Trust‑wide composition guidance and always includes: 

• The Headteacher (by role) 

• Parent governors (elected by parents of the school) 

• Staff governor(s)  

• Community governors (appointed for skills and experience) 

Meet the Governors 

Each school publishes details of its own governors, including: 

• Name and role (e.g. Chair, Safeguarding Governor) 

• A short, parent‑friendly biography 

• Skills and experience they bring 

• Term of office 

(Photographs are included wherever possible to help families know who their governors are.) 

 

Consistent Lead Governor Roles 

Across all Trust primary schools, each School Board has governors with specific oversight roles, known as LINK roles. These include: 

Safeguarding Governor (Safe) - Ensures safeguarding systems and culture keep children safe. 

Inclusion Governor (Happy) - Focuses on SEND, disadvantaged pupils, wellbeing and belonging. 

Attainment & Progress Governor (Learning) - Monitors how well pupils are learning and making progress. 

School Development Plan Focus Governors - Closely monitors improvement of an agreed area of priority. 

These governors meet with school staff at least termly and report back to their School Board. 

 

Listening to the School Community 

Understanding the school community is central to governance across the Trust. School Boards use: 

• Ofsted ParentView responses 

• Parent and carer surveys 

• Pupil voice questionnaires 

• Annual staff surveys 

Governors look for trends and themes to help shape priorities and challenge leaders effectively. 

Governance FAQs 

Who runs the school? Each Headteacher runs their school day to day. School Boards provide strategic oversight and challenge, while the Trustees hold overall accountability. 

Can I contact a Governor about a concern? You may share general feedback or themes, but Governors cannot consider individual issues. Please contact your child’s school directly for any concerns, speaking to the school staff.  

How do Governors know what is happening in school? They review regular reports, meet leaders, listen to pupils and parents, and make planned visits linked to school priorities. 

Are Governors trained and checked? Yes. All governors receive induction, safeguarding training and ongoing development through the Trust. 

How can parents get involved? Parents can stand for Parent Governor roles, complete surveys and contribute views through school engagement opportunities. 

Do all schools have the same Governance arrangements? Yes. All Trust primary schools follow the same governance framework, with local flexibility to reflect their community. 

Statutory Governance Information 

In line with academy requirements and Trust policy, each school publishes: 

• School Board membership and roles 

• Registers of business interests 

• Attendance records 

• Trust governance structure and Scheme of Delegation 

 

Contacting a School Board 

The School Board can be contacted via the school office.  Please note governors cannot respond to individual complaints. 

Our Commitment to Families 

Across all our primary schools, School Boards are committed to: 

• Putting children first in every decision 

• Openness, consistency and transparency 

• Working positively with parents, staff and local communities 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about governance within our Trust.