Academy Governing Committees

Academy Governing Committees are established by the Board of Trustees.

Each Academy forms an Academy Governing Committee (AGC), where governors are appointed initially for a four year term of office.

Delegated by the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the work of AGCs, working with the Director of Primary Education to set work programmes and schedule training.

The Director or Primary Education will be appointed to each Primary Academy’s AGC, supporting the Principal and Chair.

All governors must have an enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) and section 128 direction check, which identifies whether someone is barred from management and/or governance.

An AGC may determine its own number, membership should include; CEO, Principal (who is ex-officio), parents, staff, and members of the community (and any other appointment the AGC agrees is necessary). The Vice-Principal is expected to attend and participate, but has no voting rights and is not a formal member of the AGC and serves in an observatory capacity.

The CEO, Principal and Chair (in consultation) may make appointments via co-option, which will then be ratified by the Committee, at a formal meeting.

Meetings are supported by a member of the Finance Team and a Governance Professional, who prepares agendas and maintains records of the meetings.

Chairs of Governors may meet on an informal basis, four times per year. They will be briefed on Trust matters, discuss key areas for development and help to formulate AGC business; the aim is to bridge the gap between trustees and governors.

It is important that governors feel free to make visits to the Academy, this should be arranged through the appropriate Governance Professional.

Each AGC will elected a governor for the following areas; Safeguarding/ Child Protection, Attendance and Behaviour, SEND and Pupil Premium.

Terms of reference

Quorum:        One third of those governors currently serving.

Decisions between meetings can be arrived at through electronic means, providing at least 51% of the Committee contribute to the decision.

4 times per academic year (additional meetings may be called at the request of the CEO, Principal and Chair).

• Two training sessions for all governors each year, which will include guidance and training on safeguarding.
• Ensuring the Academy is working to its ethos, within the Mission and Values of the Trust.
• Act as consultee for the Principal on matters of significant impact to the academy.
• Holding the Principal and senior staff to account for the educational performance of the Academy, ensuring that young people have a high quality and relevant curriculum, with all abilities appropriate resources.
• Ensuring its meeting all the relevant safeguarding regulations and creating supportive environment for its children and young people to learn.
• Oversight and consultation of financial performance, ensuring good value for money and buildings and facilities are safe and fit for purpose.
• Providing in-put into the academy’s key plans and policies.
• Oversight and consultation of the curriculum framework and focusing upon pupil progress; including special groups, such as Pupil Premium and SEND pupils.
• Review and approval of policies delegated by the Board of Trustees.

If there is significant disagreement by an AGC on a key piece of academy work, then the Chair should note the strong differences and refer the matter to the CEO, who will them arrange for Trustees to make the final decision.

Academy Governing Committee Membership