Governance Structure

As a result of Great Oaks converting to an Academy and forming the Solent Special Education Trust with Rosewood School, we needed to develop a new Governance structure in line with Department for Education requirements.

There are three layers to the Governance:

  • Members – Responsible for overseeing the work of the Trustees
  • Trustees – Responsible for appointing Headteachers, finance across the schools,  Headteacher’s performance management, reporting to the Department for Education and overall standards across the schools
  • Governors – Each school in the Trust has its own set of Governors responsible for monitoring teaching and learning within the school, pupil outcomes, behaviour, safeguarding, school leadership and individual school budgets

The current make-up of each group is highlighted below

Members

Liz McCaughey – Paediatrician for over 30 years. Specific experience of the local Child Protection service, Safeguarding and medical issues.
    Appointed by academy members – 13/06/2011

Nick Vaughan (Chair) – Senior LLP Partner and Head of Charities and Education at Paris Smith LLP, Solicitors.
    Appointed by academy members – 01/09/2017

Tony Boyle –  Chartered architect who runs his own design company in Southampton.  Parent of pupil who attends Great Oaks College.
    Appointed by academy members – 01/09/2017

Sheena Williams –
    Appointed by academy members – 16/09/2020

Carol Dixon –
    Appointed by academy members – 03/12/2019
    Resigned – Nov 2022

Chair of Trustees

Tony Boyle – Chartered architect who runs his own design company in Southampton. Parent of pupil who attends Great Oaks College, was a Trustee since 2016 before being appointed as Chair of Trustees in 2020.
    Appointed by academy members – 16/09/2020
   

Trustees

Nicola Caroline Le Prevost – Nick qualified as a doctor in 2004 and has been working in community paediatrics since 2010.   Since 2013 she has been a governor of a mainstream primary school where she has taken an active role as link governor for safeguarding and special educational needs.
    Appointed by academy members – 01/09/2017
    To – 31/08/2023

Zoe Evans – Headteacher at Rosewood School.  Accounting Officer/CEO.
    Appointed by academy members – 01/09/2015
    To – 31/08/2023

Liz McCaughey – Paediatrician for over 30 years.  Specific experience of the local Child Protection service, Safeguarding and medical issues.
    Appointed by academy members – 03/10/2018
    To – 31/08/2023

Juno Hollyhock – Juno’s background is with a range of charities and local authorities, supporting the children and young people’s agenda. Her recent role was with the Learning Through Landscapes charity where they worked to support as many children as possible in range of settings to experience the benefits of the natural environment in their learning and play.
    Appointed by academy members – 01/09/2018
    To – 31/08/2022

Scott Ashmore –
    Appointed by academy members – 03/10/2018
  

Malcolm Smith –
    Appointed by academy members – 03/10/2018
  

Sue Williams –
    Appointed by academy members – 01/09/2017
    To – 31/08/2023

Rosemary Gregory –
    Appointed by academy members – 15/09/2019
    To – 31/08/2023

Pradeep Athwal –
  Appointed by acadmey members – 10/02/2023

 

Accounting Officer

Zoe Evans – From – 01/09/2015

Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Frost – From – 03/08/2019

Attendance

SSET Trustees Meeting

Name

Type

20/09/2022

06/12/2022

07/02/2023 Joint Meeting

28/03/2023

25/04/2023

04/07/2023 Joint Meeting

Tony Boyle – Chair

Member and Trustee

Attended

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

 

Liz McCaughey

Member and Trustee

Attended

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

Attended

Zoe Evans

Trustee

Attended

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

Attended

Nick LePrevost

Trustee

Attended

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

 

Sue Williams

Trustee

Attended

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

Attended

Pardeep Athwal

Trustee

 

 

 

Attended

 

 

Scott Ashmore

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

Attended

Malcolm Smith

Trustee

 

Attended

 

Attended

 

 

Rosemary Gregory

Trustee

Attended

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

Attended

(E) – Extraordinary meeting

(V) – Virtual attendance

SSET Finance Committee

Name

11/10/2022

13/12/2022

31/01/2023

28/02/2023

02/05/2023

27/06/2023

Scott Ashmore- Chair

 

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Malcolm Smith

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Zoe Evans

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Neville Button

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Jen Frost

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Attended

Andy Evans

Attended

 

Attended

Attended

Attended

 

Prad Athwal

 

 

Attended

 

Attended

 

Tony Boyle

Attended

 

 

 

 

 

E) – Extraordinary meeting

(V) – Virtual attendance

Members/Trustees Register of Interests

Name Position Name of Organisation Nature of Business Nature of Interest Date interest was registered Date interest ceased Notes
Tony Boyle Member     None      
Zoé Evans Head Teacher Rosewood School Other school in MAT Married to Head Teacher of Great Oaks  September 2015    
Scott Ashmore Trustee     None      
Nick Le Prevost Trustee     None      
Liz McCaughey Member     None      
Malcolm Smith Trustee     None      
Nick Vaughan Member Paris Smith Law Firm Solicitor Represents HWB (School Auditors) 1982    
Sue Williams Trustee     None      
Pradeep Athwal Trustee Transmobility Ltd Wheelchair Friendly Taxis Provides Transport for Rosewood School 2nd May 2023    
Rosemary Gregory Trustee Rose Road Association Direct Care services for young people Trustee at RRA until 2024 2019    
Sheena Williams Member     None      

Staff Members with Register of Interests

Name Position Name of Organisation Nature of Business Nature of Interest Date interest was registered Date interest ceased Notes
Andy Evans Head Teacher Great Oaks Other school in MAT Married to Head Teacher of Rosewood  September 2015    
Andy Evans Head Teacher Signalong Training & Resources for communication difficulties Trustee of The Signalong Group used in both schools  September 2018    

 

The role of the Members

The articles of association will also describe how members are recruited and replaced, and how many of the trustees the Members can appoint to the trust board.   The Members appoint trustees to ensure that the trust’s charitable object is carried out and so must be able to remove trustees if they fail to fulfil this responsibility.   Accordingly, the trust board submits an annual report on the performance of the trust to the members.   Members are also responsible for approving any amendments made to the trust’s articles of association.

While members are permitted to be appointed as trustees, in order to retain a degree of separation of powers between the members and the trust board, and in line with DfE expectations, not all Members should be trustees.  The DfE has amended the model articles to state that Members are not permitted to be employees of the academy trust.

 

The role of the Trustees

The Trustees are the Charity Trustees (within the terms of section 177(1) of the Charities Act 2011) and are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the trust in accordance with the provisions set out in the memorandum and articles of association.   The board of Trustees is the accountable body for the performance of all schools within the trust and as such must:

1.       Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

2.       Hold the Headteachers and LGBs to account for the educational performance of the schools and their pupils,  and the  performance management of staff

3.       Oversee the financial performance of the trust and make sure its money is well spent

The Trust has the right to review and adapt its governance structure at any time which includes removing delegation.

The role of Committees

The Trustees may establish committees either with delegated authority to make decisions or for the purpose of providing advice and support, informing the overall work of the Trust Board.   However these committees are not legally responsible or accountable for statutory functions – the Trust Board retains overall accountability and responsibility.   The responsibilities of board committees are set out in their terms of reference; the responsibilities for cluster or school governing committees are set out in the scheme of delegation.   The trust board may appoint committee members and committee chairs.

The role of the local governing bodies (LGBs)

The Trust Board will establish LBC’s, appoint the chair, ensure at least two parents are elected and will

determine what will be delegated.   Typically, responsibilities may include:

·         Building an understanding of how the school is led and managed

·         Monitoring whether the school is:

·         Working within agreed policies

·         Is meeting the agreed targets

·         Managing its finances well

·         Engaging with stakeholders

·         Reporting to the Trustees board

As a committee of the board, delegation can be removed at any time.

 

The role of the Chief Executive Officer / Accounting Officer (CEO)

The CEO is the Accounting Officer so has overall responsibility for the operation of the Academy

Trust’s financial responsibilities and must ensure that the organisation is run with financial

effectiveness and stability; avoiding waste and securing value for money.

 

The role of the School Headteachers

The Headteachers are responsible for the day to day management of the schools

And report to the Trustees and LGB according to the local scheme of delegation.   Headteachers within the Trust may also have Trust responsibilities identified as part of their job description for example – Accounting Officer / Expansion and growth of the MAT.

 

SSET Governance Structure
 

 

 

   Delegation
    Members Trust Board CEO/Account-ing Officer LGB Headteachers
Governance Framework
People Appoint / remove members x        
Appoint / remove Trustees x        
Role Description for member x        
Role Descriptions for Trustees / Chair and Committee members   x     A
Appoint and remove committee chair   x     A
Appoint and remove LGB chair   x   x  
Appoint Clerk to the Trustees   x      
Appoint Clerk to LGB   x   x  
Systems and structure Agree and review Articles of Association x A A   A
Establish and review Committees (annually)   x     A
Terms of reference for Committees (annually)   x     A
Terms of Reference for LGB (annually)   X     A
Skills Audit to complete and review   x   x A
Annual self review of Trust Board   x      
Annual self review of LGB performance       x  
Chair’s performance review   x   x  
Trustee / committee member contribution – review   x   x  
Succession planning   x   x A
Annual schedule of business – Trustees   x A    
Annual schedule of business – LGB       X A

 

 
Reporting
Reporting Trust Governance details on Trust and school websites   x     A
LGB details on School website   X     A
Register of all interests for members, trustees and LGB members   X A    
Annual report on performance of Trust   x A    
Annual Report and accounts   X A    
Annual report of work of LGB       x A
Being Strategic
Being strategic Determine trust wide policies

 

(see policy delegation scheme)

   X     A
Determine School level policies

 

(see policy delegation scheme)

       A X
Central spend / top slice agreement   X      
Management of risk – establishing risk register   x   x A
Engagement with stakeholders x x x x x
Trust vision and strategy and improvement plan   X      
School vision, strategy and improvement plan       A X
Appoint or dismiss CEO / Accounting Officer   X      
Appoint or dismiss Headteachers   X      
Appointment Deputy Headteacher and other senior staff       X A
Budget plan to assist Trust key priorities   X A   A
Budget Plans for the school       A X
Trust staffing Structure   X      
School Staffing Structure       A X

 

 

 
Holding to Account
Holding to Account Auditing and reporting arrangements for matters of compliance

 

– Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Employment rights

   X   X A
Reporting arrangements for progress on Key priorities   X   X A
Performance Management for CEO / Accounting Officer  / School Heads   X   A  
Trustees monitoring arrangements   X      
LGB Monitoring       X A
Ensuring Financial Probity
Ensuring Financial Probity Appoint Chief Financial Officer   X      
Establish and review Trust Scheme of Financial Delegation   X A    
Establish and review School Scheme of Financial Delegation   X     A
Receive and respond to external auditors report   x A x A
Appoint Auditors x        
CEO Pay Award   X      
Headteachers Pay Award   X   A  
Staff appraisal and pay progression policy   X   X A
Benchmarking – Trust value for money   X A    
Benchmarking – School value for money       X A
Trustwide procurement strategies     X   X
             
Quality of Provision
Teaching and Learning Responsibilities for standards of teaching       M X
Development and of Teaching and Learning policies       X X
Responsibility for ensuring appropriate Sex Education and Collective Worship / RE       A X
Set, approve and monitor targets for pupil progress       M X
Produce annual report on pupil progress   M   M X
Behaviour and Safeguard-ing Approve and monitor pupil behaviour policies       X A
Exclude pupil less than 15 days         X
Exclude pupil more than 15 days       X A
Complete and maintain central single register       M X
Appoint safeguarding Governor       X A
Annual approval of Trust safeguarding review   X   X A
Staffing Appointment and dismissal of all school staff except Headteacher       X A
Implementation of the Staff pay performance and disciplinary procedures   M   X A
Admissions Agree Schools admissions policies       X A
Agree school number       X A