Governance Structure
The layers of governance within the trust provide accountability, oversight, support and challenge close to the point of delivery.
The structure of governance in ONE Academy Trust (formerly Willows Academy Trust) is set out in the diagram below:
The Academy Trust Terms of Reference and the Scheme of Delegation jointly set out the structure, constitution and delegated responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and Local Governing Bodies in detail. These are reviewed and re-issued annually in the autumn term.
The Articles of Association set out the legal framework under which we operate.
Governance Documents
Members
The members "own" the multi-academy trust and their rights and responsibilities are set out in the Articles of Association. They are responsible for ensuring that the charitable objective is being fulfilled and they hold the directors (the trustees) to account.
In ONE Academy Trust, the members meet annually in December at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to review the annual accounts and hold the trustees to account. They are also responsible for appointing the auditors of the trust and the appointment of trustees. Some decisions may be made by written agreement out-of-committee.
Trustees
The ONE Academy Trust Board of Trustees is the accountable body and is responsible for the oversight of all activities within the multi-academy trust. It is responsible for the three core governance functions in relation to the trust, making key decisions and conducting the business of the trust. It must ensure compliance with charity law, company law, and the trust's funding agreement. Its responsibilities are set out in the Articles of Association and the Scheme of Delegation.
In accordance with the Scheme of Delegation, the trustees delegate responsibilities to:
- the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- the Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FAR)
- the Human Resources, Education and Standards Committee (HRES)
- the Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) of each school
- the headteachers
In ONE Academy Trust, the trustees meet six times throughout the year as a minimum. Some decisions may be made by written agreement out-of-committee. The Finance, Audit & Risk Committee also meets 6 times per year and focuses on oversight of financial management, risk management and the implementation of effective internal and external audit processes and arrangements.
Governors
Each school has an Local Governing Body which is a committee of the Board of Trustees and has been delegated specific functions and responsibilities in accordance with the ONE Scheme of Delegation.
The governors on each Local Governing Body are responsible for the three core governance functions (as set out above) in relation to their school.
Each Local Governing Body operates in accordance with the ONE Terms of Reference. The Local Governing Bodies may delegate specific functions and responsibilities to permanent and/or ad-hoc committees in accordance with their constitution.
Governors/trustees may have specific link roles and responsibilities.
Executive team
CEO
The chief executive officer (CEO) has overall responsibility for the operation of ONE Academy Trust and is the accounting officer for the trust.
Vice-CEO
The role of the vice-CEO includes ab trust-wide focus on education and standards, and safeguarding.
CFO
The chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for the trust's financial management.
DPO
The Data Protection Officer (DPO) has responsibility for overseeing compliance with Data Protection legislation across the trust.
Governance Coordinator & Clerk to the Board of Trustees and LGBs
The governance professional is responsible for clerical support to the members, trustees and governors including drafting agendas, producing minutes, advising on legislation and ensuring compliance. The clerk also provides administrative support in drafting and maintaining ONE policies and documents.
Headteachers
Each school has a headteacher who is the school's leader and is responsible for the school's strategic vision and values, effective financial and staff management, and the educational outcomes for pupils in the school.