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Governance of academy trusts

governance of academy trusts

Free glossary of commonly used phrases for members and trustees of academy boards

Effective governance is an essential part of any organisation. School, academy and college governors have a difficult task – as unpaid volunteers they are responsible for providing effective leadership, direction and control of their schools and colleges. Good governance requires an active governing body working with a strong leadership team to create effective corporate governance throughout the organisation.

Our experienced team gives you access to experts (including National Leaders in Governance) in the full range of corporate and governance issues. Those relevant to the education sector include academy projects, governance structures, multi academy trust structures, joint ventures and commercial arrangements, collaboration, alliance arrangements and trading companies. Our team has an excellent reputation for providing practical, commercial and innovative advice.

what we do...

Advising on all constitutional matters and on conflicts of interest.
Governance training on a range of issues including legal duties, effective decision-making and the relationship between the board and leadership team.
Governance reviews in line with the National Leader of Governance criteria

Strategic support to boards
Advising on EFA, DfE and OFSTED requirements.
Providing options appraisals.
Delivering horizon-scanning sessions for boards on latest developments/trends in the sector.

recent experience

Supporting a well-established and traditional multi-academy trust in reviewing its governance arrangements. We provided a succinct report including a range of options that could be adopted to enhance their governance arrangements together with links and sign-posting of relevant research. The MAT were then able to use the meeting with us and the advice note to make the enhancements they wished to adopt.
Working with a high-performing primary multi-academy trust that had been successfully operating for a number of years to review its approach to governance including local governance. We worked with the MAT to design a suitable approach to governance that supported their vision and values whilst also meeting the DfE’s requirements.
Supporting a multi-academy trust comprising secondary, primary and special schools with a number of twilight training sessions for their main board and their local governing bodies. The sessions were interactive and supported the continued development of links between the local and main boards. Following the training we then provided a short report on recommended actions that could be adopted to enhance governance arrangements at the MAT.

what the directories say...

A client commends the team's "diligence, proactiveness and determination to get the job done."

Chambers 2021

No other firm matches their depth of knowledge of the complexities of academy law or their pragmatic, problem-solving approach.

Chambers 2020

I feel like there's some magic going on behind the scenes that makes everything fall into place. They have a tremendous scope of expertise.

Chambers 2019

A client adds: 'The firm is a very efficient and effective organisation, and I often hear other colleagues around the country reflecting on the high quality of their work, guidance and support.'

Chambers 2018

The ‘highly professional and responsive’ team at Browne Jacobson LLP assists educational providers, including multi-academy trusts, with restructuring and academisation as well as providing regulatory advice and representing institutional clients in discrimination claims.

Legal 500 2017

A highly ambitious organisation with a superb corporate image, excellent client support and good commercial awareness.

Chambers 2017

related resources

Legal updates

Advice for secondary schools on wearing face coverings

The latest guidance from the Department for Education (DfE), March 2021, recommends that staff, pupils and students in year 7 and above should wear face coverings.

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Legal updates

Advocacy in Action: school places during a national pandemic

Our team of qualified barristers will be reflecting on their extensive experience at hearings before Courts and Tribunals nationwide to identify key issues and lessons for education providers, considering the issue of claims arising from school placements during Covid-19 lockdown.

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Legal updates

Removing employees as members from 1 March 2021

As of 1 March 2021, the Academies Financial Handbook 2020 requires that no employee of an academy trust is a member of that academy trust.

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Legal updates

Managing inappropriate parent behaviour during online learning

The transfer of pupil education from the classroom to remote learning has created challenges for pupils, parents and school staff. Whilst most parents participate in these sessions constructively a small minority have acted in a way which undermines the teaching or the teacher.

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