Trust Schools Jo Thomas Trust Schools Division, DfES Trust Schools Jo Thomas Trust Schools Division, DfES

Why Trust Schools? Aim for all schools to be strong self- confident schools with a distinct ethosAim for all schools to be strong self- confident schools with a distinct ethos Freedoms of VA and foundation modelsFreedoms of VA and foundation models Experience, energy and expertise from partnersExperience, energy and expertise from partners Stable, sustained and long term partnershipsStable, sustained and long term partnerships Can support collaboration – / ECMCan support collaboration – / ECM Aim for all schools to be strong self- confident schools with a distinct ethosAim for all schools to be strong self- confident schools with a distinct ethos Freedoms of VA and foundation modelsFreedoms of VA and foundation models Experience, energy and expertise from partnersExperience, energy and expertise from partners Stable, sustained and long term partnershipsStable, sustained and long term partnerships Can support collaboration – / ECMCan support collaboration – / ECM

What are Trust Schools? Maintained foundation schools supported by a charitable Trust (formed by universities, business partners, community groups etc.)Maintained foundation schools supported by a charitable Trust (formed by universities, business partners, community groups etc.) Primary or Secondary plus SpecialPrimary or Secondary plus Special Either as an individual school or as a group of schoolsEither as an individual school or as a group of schools Maintained foundation schools supported by a charitable Trust (formed by universities, business partners, community groups etc.)Maintained foundation schools supported by a charitable Trust (formed by universities, business partners, community groups etc.) Primary or Secondary plus SpecialPrimary or Secondary plus Special Either as an individual school or as a group of schoolsEither as an individual school or as a group of schools

Characteristis of Trust Schools Characteristics of Trust Schools An option for every schoolAn option for every school Maintained schools – funded by the local authorityMaintained schools – funded by the local authority Trust holds assets, Governing Body employs staff and sets admissions (in line with law and Admissions Code)Trust holds assets, Governing Body employs staff and sets admissions (in line with law and Admissions Code) Will adhere to National Curriculum / School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions DocumentWill adhere to National Curriculum / School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document Trust may appoint the majority or minority of governorsTrust may appoint the majority or minority of governors Governing body and headteacher remain the strategic leaders accountable for the operation of all aspects of the schoolGoverning body and headteacher remain the strategic leaders accountable for the operation of all aspects of the school An option for every schoolAn option for every school Maintained schools – funded by the local authorityMaintained schools – funded by the local authority Trust holds assets, Governing Body employs staff and sets admissions (in line with law and Admissions Code)Trust holds assets, Governing Body employs staff and sets admissions (in line with law and Admissions Code) Will adhere to National Curriculum / School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions DocumentWill adhere to National Curriculum / School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document Trust may appoint the majority or minority of governorsTrust may appoint the majority or minority of governors Governing body and headteacher remain the strategic leaders accountable for the operation of all aspects of the schoolGoverning body and headteacher remain the strategic leaders accountable for the operation of all aspects of the school

Characteristics of Trusts Trusts must:Trusts must: –be incorporated charities – subject to regulation by the Charity Commission and not able to make a profit; –have exclusively charitable objects, including the advancement of education; –promote community cohesion. Trusts can be formed by one organisation or several different partnersTrusts can be formed by one organisation or several different partners Trusts must:Trusts must: –be incorporated charities – subject to regulation by the Charity Commission and not able to make a profit; –have exclusively charitable objects, including the advancement of education; –promote community cohesion. Trusts can be formed by one organisation or several different partnersTrusts can be formed by one organisation or several different partners

The Role of the Trust Appoint governorsAppoint governors Hold the land and assets of the school ‘on trust’Hold the land and assets of the school ‘on trust’ May provide services on a not for profit basisMay provide services on a not for profit basis Significant further scope to take fuller roleSignificant further scope to take fuller role Appoint governorsAppoint governors Hold the land and assets of the school ‘on trust’Hold the land and assets of the school ‘on trust’ May provide services on a not for profit basisMay provide services on a not for profit basis Significant further scope to take fuller roleSignificant further scope to take fuller role

Governing Body of a Trust School Remains strategic and accountable leaderRemains strategic and accountable leader Stakeholder model of governanceStakeholder model of governance Trusts appoint a minority or majority of governorsTrusts appoint a minority or majority of governors Parents continue to make up 1/3 of governing bodyParents continue to make up 1/3 of governing body Parent Council mandatory if Trust appoints majorityParent Council mandatory if Trust appoints majority Trust appointed governors could be members of the organisations involved or individuals not directly associated with itTrust appointed governors could be members of the organisations involved or individuals not directly associated with it Remains strategic and accountable leaderRemains strategic and accountable leader Stakeholder model of governanceStakeholder model of governance Trusts appoint a minority or majority of governorsTrusts appoint a minority or majority of governors Parents continue to make up 1/3 of governing bodyParents continue to make up 1/3 of governing body Parent Council mandatory if Trust appoints majorityParent Council mandatory if Trust appoints majority Trust appointed governors could be members of the organisations involved or individuals not directly associated with itTrust appointed governors could be members of the organisations involved or individuals not directly associated with it

How is the decision taken? School driven but following consultation with the local authority, parents and other local stakeholdersSchool driven but following consultation with the local authority, parents and other local stakeholders Existing governing body decides whether to acquire a Trust and who they want to work withExisting governing body decides whether to acquire a Trust and who they want to work with Governing body decides whether the Trust should appoint majority or minority of governorsGoverning body decides whether the Trust should appoint majority or minority of governors Under certain circumstances, local authorities able to refer the decision to the Schools AdjudicatorUnder certain circumstances, local authorities able to refer the decision to the Schools Adjudicator School driven but following consultation with the local authority, parents and other local stakeholdersSchool driven but following consultation with the local authority, parents and other local stakeholders Existing governing body decides whether to acquire a Trust and who they want to work withExisting governing body decides whether to acquire a Trust and who they want to work with Governing body decides whether the Trust should appoint majority or minority of governorsGoverning body decides whether the Trust should appoint majority or minority of governors Under certain circumstances, local authorities able to refer the decision to the Schools AdjudicatorUnder certain circumstances, local authorities able to refer the decision to the Schools Adjudicator

Some myth-busting Trust schools will not be able to select the best pupilsTrust schools will not be able to select the best pupils Trusts are not a means for inappropriate organisations to run schoolsTrusts are not a means for inappropriate organisations to run schools Trusts are not about privatising state schools by the back doorTrusts are not about privatising state schools by the back door Trust schools will not be able to select the best pupilsTrust schools will not be able to select the best pupils Trusts are not a means for inappropriate organisations to run schoolsTrusts are not a means for inappropriate organisations to run schools Trusts are not about privatising state schools by the back doorTrusts are not about privatising state schools by the back door

Why do schools want Trusts? “It will facilitate a network of schools sharing best practice and combining resources to improve opportunity” Secondary school, Essex “We want an ICT partner to support our Technology College ethos” Secondary school, Leicestershire “To ensure that the existing links between our schools are made permanent rather than relying on current relationships between key senior staff” Secondary school, Cheshire “We see Trust status as central to delivering the programme which will present a particular challenge in this (semi rural) area” Secondary School, N Yorkshire

Where are we now? 28 pathfinders involving nearly 50 schools announced28 pathfinders involving nearly 50 schools announced Most would like their Trust to be formed of more than one type of partner - Business and Higher Education Institutions most popular partnersMost would like their Trust to be formed of more than one type of partner - Business and Higher Education Institutions most popular partners Schools in initial conversations with partners and working through draft ToolkitSchools in initial conversations with partners and working through draft Toolkit Legislation – Royal Assent expected in November, provisions commenced and regulations made in early summer 2007Legislation – Royal Assent expected in November, provisions commenced and regulations made in early summer 2007 Further information at: lFurther information at: l 28 pathfinders involving nearly 50 schools announced28 pathfinders involving nearly 50 schools announced Most would like their Trust to be formed of more than one type of partner - Business and Higher Education Institutions most popular partnersMost would like their Trust to be formed of more than one type of partner - Business and Higher Education Institutions most popular partners Schools in initial conversations with partners and working through draft ToolkitSchools in initial conversations with partners and working through draft Toolkit Legislation – Royal Assent expected in November, provisions commenced and regulations made in early summer 2007Legislation – Royal Assent expected in November, provisions commenced and regulations made in early summer 2007 Further information at: lFurther information at: l

DiscussionDiscussion Similarities with Foundation schools Working with pathfinders What might COGs’ role be in supporting schools considering Trust status? What further information / training is needed? Similarities with Foundation schools Working with pathfinders What might COGs’ role be in supporting schools considering Trust status? What further information / training is needed?