Governance in Academy Trusts requires strong partnerships between those on the Board and those acting for local governance bodies of schools. We wanted to provide a space for our chairs and vice chairs of our local governing committees to reflect openly and honestly together on issues that particularly affected their schools. 

One focus of our discussions in this meeting was the impact of change on the schools and how governors are working closely with headteachers to ensure challenges are overcome and the best possible outcomes for children secured. Our chairs are confident they have strong communication with their headteachers through regular meetings, including checking safeguarding when they visit.  

Having recently held our Trust Development Session and AGM on a Saturday morning at Orton Hall Hotel, we spent time reflecting on the content of the morning and how informative and effective it was. Our chairs and vice chairs had some excellent ideas for packing even more into our agendas for development sessions.  

Termly meetings between chairs and vice chairs of trustees and local governing committees continue to be excellent ways of exploring local governance issues as well as providing briefing time on Trust development and issues. We endeavour as always to act in the best interests of the Trust and our schools at all times, adhering to the Seven Nolan Principles of Public Life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership. My thanks, as always, go to every chair and vice chair of our local governing committees for all they do for our schools and the wider Trust.