Governance Structure
Trust Members, Trustees and Local Governors generously volunteer their time without financial compensation, leveraging their diverse skills and experience to support our leadership teams in achieving excellence. Our governance structure adheres to our Memorandum, Articles of Association and Funding Agreements with the Secretary of State, ensuring robust leadership and complete accountability. Members, directors and local governors all play crucial roles. Their appointments are based on the skills, knowledge, or experience needed by the Board.
Trust Members
Trust Members are the ultimate owners of the entire Trust and are responsible for its operations and conduct. Their distinct responsibilities include the authority to appoint and dismiss Trustees, amend the articles of association, receive annual accounts, and appoint auditors. Members serve as an additional layer of accountability, overseeing the board's actions. Their engagement involves attending bi-annual Annual General Meetings, where they actively scrutinise the Trust's activities.
Trustees & Committees
Trustees have three core governance functions: ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction. They hold the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) accountable and oversee the educational outcomes and financial performance of the schools within the Trust. As academy trusts are all charitable companies, the Trustees must also ensure they comply with the company law requirements that govern them. They are all registered with Companies House. They are also responsible to the Secretary of State for operating the Trust for the public benefit and compliance with legislation, including charities' legislation.
Trustee roles are mainly strategic. They have responsibilities for managing the Trust, its finances, and a schedule of agreed delegated powers and duties to Committees. Equinox Learning Trust's committees cover Finance & Assets, People & Culture and Standards. All work alongside the Local Governing Bodies (LGB). Responsibilities for all committees and working groups are detailed below:
| Committee/Working Group | Responsibility |
|---|---|
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Audit, Risk & Finance Committee
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This Committee provides assurance to the Trust Board on financial management, risk, internal controls and compliance, ensuring effective stewardship of public funds and value for money. |
| Local Governing Bodies These governing bodies comprise a minimum of seven governors, who meet six times a year. |
Each school within the Trust has its own Local Governing Body (LGB) which acts as a link between the school and the Trust. It doesn’t control finances or strategic direction—that’s handled by the Trustees—but it focuses on holding the school’s leadership to account, monitoring performance, safeguarding and ensuring the school meets the needs of its community. The LGB provides local insight and oversight while operating within the framework set by the Trust. Each Local Governing Body must contain:
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Local Governing Bodies
The Trustees establish Local Governing Bodies (LGBs). They operate at each school and are committees of the Board of Trustees. Their primary role is as a school improvement committee with their work programme across the year, prioritising school improvement within the Trust framework. The Local Governing Bodies manage each school within the framework set down by the Trustees. After that, it is for the Local Governing Board to oversee the affairs of each school, bringing them to the Board's attention and advising the Trustees of any matters they feel necessary.
Lines of accountability are via the minutes of the Local Governing Board, to the Trustees and, of course, from the reports written by the individual Headteachers and the CEO about the operation of each school to the Trustees. The health and strength of all schools under the Trust rely on clear and careful communication between our Members, Trustees and Local Governing Bodies.
Note: Agendas and minutes of all meetings are available upon request.