The governing body

Every maintained school has a governing body which is responsible and accountable for all major decisions about the school and its future. Governors have a legal responsibility to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Governors:

• Set the school’s vision and strategic aims
• Monitor and evaluate performance
• Approve the school’s budget
• Ensure the school is accountable to those it serves
• Appoint the headteacher
• Act as a critical friend by providing support and challenge

In a trust school the governing body remains responsible for all aspects of the conduct of the school. It is a separate entity from the trust.

All trust schools are foundation schools with foundations.  The governing body can decide that the foundation can appoint up to 45% of the governing body or can appoint the majority of the governing body.  In the latter situation these schools are popularly known as majority Trust schools but are referred to in the relevant regulations as ‘qualifying foundation schools’.

Governors in a trust school

The governing body of a trust school includes the following:

• Parents
• School staff
• Local Authority representatives
• Community representatives Foundation or partnership representatives

On setting up the trust, a school can decide if they want to appoint the minority or majority of governors.  The proportion of places on the governing body that must be reserved for the different categories of governors will depend on which option is chosen.