Becoming a trust school

The process to become a trust school is straightforward and ensures both parents and the local community are fully consulted. The basic process is as follows:

  1. The school's governing body decides it would like to become a trust school and who it would like to work with
  2. The governing body draws up proposals and consults with parents and other stakeholders
  3. On agreement with stakeholders formal proposals are published
  4. After consultation the governing body decide whether to set up a trust
  5. Once the trust is established, land is transferred to the trust and new governors are appointed

If a local authority thinks that parents have not been listened to, or that the trust will be unable to raise educational standards, it can refer the school’s proposals to the schools adjudicator.

The process

Example timescales

This table gives an indication of how long the formal process may take. The process can start at any time during the school year. Timescales will depend on how much detail has already been agreed by the school and its partners before beginning the formal process and on how frequently the governing body meets.

Step In a term (15-16 weeks) Over a year
1. Schools and partners decide to work together Already agreed Autumn term
2. Consult parents and local stakeholders 6 weeks Spring term
3. Publish statutory proposals 1 day After Easter
4. Invite representations 4 weeks After Easter
5. Consider representations and decide whether to acquire a trust 2 weeks Summer term governors' meeting
6. Implementation 2 weeks September

 

Trust schools toolkit

The DCSF has developed a toolkit which gives further information and guidance to take schools through the process of becoming a trust school.