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Collaboration for excellence
Growth plan & scheme of delegated authority
Welcome – vision & values of the trust
Benefits for all schools within Chancery Multi-Academy Trust
The members and directors
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Scheme of delegated authority
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Welcome to Chancery Trust.
Our Trust was created with one sole aim. For member schools to
deliver, through partnership and collaboration, an outstanding
learning
experience for all children so they flourish and thrive;
enabling them to achieve their own individual excellence.
Our ethos is rooted in the celebration and promotion of each
member school’s own diverse and dynamic character. At Chancery
Trust we
recognise the unique qualities of different schools; promoting
their autonomy to enable each school to develop their own
curriculum and
practices to reflect the needs of their learners. We will share
best practice by ensuring that all member schools across the Trust
benefit
from the successes of others and by investing in ‘expert
teaching’ and an ‘irresistible curriculum.’
At Chancery Trust we believe that strong, innovative leadership
is core to any school’s success and we will ensure that we
promote
networking and shared working and that we are relentless in our
‘no excuses’ approach.
To achieve our aim, we will offer a rich range of professional
development opportunities for all staff. Through highly effective
coaching,
high quality continuing professional development and a culture
of reflective practice and support, we will invest in broadening
the
experiences of emerging leaders. We will ensure that all staff
benefit from a rewarding and successful career within, between
and
beyond our schools. We will combine resources where possible to
build efficient organisations and share the strengths of each
member
school in order to bring about school improvement and therefore
build better futures for all of our children.
Mutual trust and respectful relationships amongst our schools
will ensure that all prosper and excel.
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Benefits for all schools within Chancery Multi-Academy Trust
A lasting legacy
A school-led system ensures that schools have strong networks
and a strong voice in their own future. Our school improvement
approach
will help to build the capacity to improve from within, and a
culture of looking outward and always trying to be better. Schools
which join
our Trust are able to help shape our work, and to benefit both
from the support they themselves receive and from participating
in
supporting improvement in other Trust schools.
A culture of collaboration leads to success
School autonomy should not mean schools working in isolation. On
the contrary, our schools, though independent from local
authorities,
have a strong commitment to each other so that individual
schools, and the family of schools, grow and improve through
working
together.
School improvement strategy:
We will get to know our schools through robust monitoring and a
formal planned cycle of peer reviews between schools,
facilitated through the headteacher executive sub-committee.
These evaluations will be routinely reported to the directors.
This
will ensure Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for each school
are accurately identified and resources within the MAT across
our
schools are directed to accelerate improvements (no deficit
model) - building momentum by sharing strengths and expertise;
Quality Assurance - a rigorous and robust programme of quality
assurance that helps to support staff, build expertise and
capacity, and raise standards to deliver positive outcomes for
pupils;
Investment in ‘expert teaching’ at all levels by growing and
retaining talent through Schools Direct, mentoring, CPD
programmes,
peer enquiry models and partnership work at middle leader
level;
Ensuring best practice is shared within the MAT
(SLE’s/LLE’s/specialism development);
Innovate and ensure an ‘irresistible’ curriculum across the
schools which is relevant, rich and engaging;
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Leadership – we are growing a coaching culture, School
Improvement Partner (SIP) work, Special Educational Needs
Development Coordinator (SENDco) development, learning &
teaching leads and succession planning by broadening the
experiences of emerging leaders;
Outward facing - maintaining and growing links with partners to
support practice – e.g. local cluster, Good to Outstanding
groups,
other MATs, teaching school alliances, local authorities;
Centralising services, maximising economies of scale and
generating income to enable money to be focused on learning
&
teaching and to grow support services for children &
families.
The behaviours we expect to see of all schools joining the
trust:
Children at the heart of all decisions made Strong and capable
leadership A focused determination to deliver excellent outcomes
for all pupils Interacting with colleagues with respect and trust A
commitment to continuous improvement through the development of
expertise
Membership of Chancery Multi Academy Trust also brings:
A flexible scheme of delegation for the LGB to continue to lead
and manage the school; A chance to generate income and lead on
school improvement by offering school-to-school support; Continuing
professional development for all staff; An opportunity for head
teachers to join an executive committee to shape the working of the
Trust; Stability in a fast-changing educational landscape; Access
to shared services and economies of scale.
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Trust key performance indicators:
Each school will be judged good or outstanding by the Office For
Standards in Education (OFSTED);
All teaching and learning within our schools will be
effective;
All groups of pupils will make good or better progress from
their starting points;
Strong leadership will lead to sustained and substantial
improvements within our schools;
Quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and career
opportunities will attract and retain expert practitioners;
The MAT will provide good value for money and comply with all
statutory regulations.
It will be the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) to alert the Trust if any of these key performance indicators
are unlikely to
be met.
Due Diligence
Once a school formally requests to explore joining Chancery MAT,
a reciprocal due diligence procedure will take place around the
following themes:
Standards and track record
People and leadership
Financial sustainability
Risk
Vision & growth plan
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The Members
Role description for Members - Members have an overarching
responsibility for the viability and performance of the Academy
Trust through the appointment of trustees and approval of the
annual report. They have the power to amend the Articles of
Association that govern the way the Trust is constituted and
managed. Main duties and responsibilities
To appoint trustees to the Trust Board bearing in mind the
Articles of Association and the need for a balanced skill set to
manage the Trust effectively
To remove any trustee who is not considered to be acting in the
best interests of the Trust From time to time to review the
Articles of Association and to make changes where deemed necessary
after taking advice from
the Trust Board To appoint other Members (to not exceed 5) as
necessary in line with the provisions of the Articles of
Association To approve the annual report and accounts prior to
submission to Companies House To appoint and if deemed necessary to
remove the CEO
The Directors
Role description for Directors - Directors are responsible for
the strategic direction, broad policy framework and oversight of
the
Trust and all its schools. They take decisions that are in the
best interests the MAT as a whole and are not representative of any
one of
the constituent schools. The team are Directors of the Academy
Trust which is a company limited by guarantee and registered as
such at
Companies House.
Main duties and responsibilities To ensure that the activities
of the Trust fulfil the objectives as described in the Articles of
Association To ensure compliance with the Trust’s duties under
company and charity law To ensure the schools are compliant with
all statutory obligations (e.g. curriculum, SEND, safeguarding) To
safeguard the assets of the Trust
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To ensure the solvency of the Trust and to abide by the
agreements made with the Department For Education (DfE) and
Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) including the Master
Funding agreement and the Supplemental Funding Agreement and as
defined in the current issue of the Academies Financial
Handbook
To determine the overall strategic direction and development of
the Trust through good governance and clear strategic planning To
approve the Trust’s strategic plan To challenge and support the
Trust’s CEO, senior staff and school leaders to achieve the
outcomes of the strategic plan To oversee the performance of the
Trust and its schools and direct change where performance falls
short of expectation To agree policies across the schools within
the Trust (unless otherwise delegated to individual schools) To
ensure that risks are mitigated where possible and otherwise
effectively managed To review the Trust Board’s terms of reference
on a regular basis and to recommend any changes to the Board of
Members To approve the terms of reference of the Board’s committees
To approve the Trust’s annual budget and monitor progress through
the receipt of regular reports and to commission auditors To
approve the annual budget for each school and monitor expenditure
against the budgets To approve the annual and other statutory
reports to Members and the ESFA To agree and review from time to
time the scheme of delegation to the schools To review the
effectiveness and skill set of the Board and recommend appropriate
changes to the Board of Members
Pen portraits of the current members and directors are available
on our website: www.chancerytrust.co.uk
http://www.chancerytrust.co.uk/
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Phase 1 – current situation April 2018
MEMBERS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Gail Tindall
Education
Ian White
Community/legal
Jenny Whiston
Finance
Ray Palin
Legal
DIRECTORS
Lise
Houldsworth
HT Excalibur
Education
Louise Gohr
HT Pikemere
Education
Liz Martindale
Governor Pikemere
Education
Nicky Ratcliffe
Governor Excalibur
Business
Jenny Whiston
Independent
Finance/Special
Justine Twiss
Independent
HR
Becci Martin
Independent
Business
Ros Caulfield
Member
Independent
Education
VACANCY
Required skillset: Legal
EXCALIBUR LGB
PIKEMERE LGB
Executive Leadership Team Business Development Officer – Louise
Gohr Chief Finance Officer – Yvonne Hilditch Chief Executive
Officer – Lise Houldsworth
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Why join Chancery?
How does it work?
The funding comes in to Chancery MAT, 4.8% is currently top
sliced (from the pupil led and the lump sum elements only). Each
school then
receives the remaining funding and controls their own budget and
cash flows.
The top slice is currently set at 4.8% and is reviewed on an
annual basis or when a school joins the trust by the directors
(there is a financial
procedures policy and appeal process in place). The top slice
currently pays for the following:
CEO & Training and Development Lead support
Access to quality assurance and expertise for example, SIP’s,
LLE’s and SLE’s
Executive coaching core package – SLT group coaching session per
half term + individual coaching of 2 SLT members
Leadership school to school improvement network, development and
innovation with high achieving schools
Finance/SBM network
Finance package (PS Financials)
Auditors (Dains chartered accountants)
CFO support
HR support and employment Law – (Cooks lawyers based in
Wilmslow)
Payroll – APS Global
MAT advisory service – J&G Marshall
Clerking/governance support to the Trust
The schools use IT support from Apex – this is not currently top
sliced but is necessary to run the finance systems.
Each school has a streamlined LGB structure by holding full
LGB’s half termly without committees. It is up to individual
schools how to
structure their meetings as long as the terms of reference are
adhered to.
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The scheme of delegated authority will be reviewed by the board
of directors regularly. At Chancery MAT, the board believes the
best results
will be achieved when each school’s LGB receives a level of
responsibility and autonomy appropriate to its specific
circumstances. We believe
that individual schools should develop their own unique
qualities and expertise. It is important to understand that
although a responsibility
may have been delegated to a LGB, the legal responsibility still
lies with the MAT – in terms of performance, finance and as the
employer of
staff. Therefore, extra support from the trust may be triggered
and the scheme of delegation reviewed and amended by the board
of
directors.
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Phase 2 – next school joining November 2019
MEMBERS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Gail Tindall
Education
Ian White
Community/legal
Jenny Whiston
Finance
Ray Palin
Legal
DIRECTORS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Steven Coles
Legal
Alison Hattersley
Business
Lise Houldsworth
CEO
Education
Liz Martindale
Education
Nikki Ratcliffe
Business
Justine Twiss
HR
Vacancy
Finance
Jenny Whiston
Finance/Special
EXCALIBUR LGB PIKEMERE LGB THE BERKELEY LGB
Executive Leadership Team Training & Development Lead –
Louise Gohr Chief Finance Officer – Yvonne Hilditch Chief Executive
Officer – Lise Houldsworth
Audit Committee CFO – Yvonne Hilditch Director - Jenny Whiston
Director – Nikki Ratcliffe Director - another
Finance Committee CFO – Yvonne Hilditch CEO – Lise Houldsworth
Director - Jenny Whiston Director - another
SCHOOL LEADERS GROUP
All HTs/DHT’s
FINANCE GROUP
All SBMs
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Building Capacity
As a school joins there will be a review of the paid roles
within the central MAT team and the top slice.
Consider/review any SLA’s (external and internal) to ensure
efficiencies and optimise expertise.
Continue to focus on school improvement activities through the
operational school leaders and finance groups.
Review the directors’ skills set and recruit to any gaps
identified.
As our capacity has grown, we will complete and apply for
sponsor status in order to be ready for future opportunities.
As schools continue to evolve we begin to consider opportunities
for central service ideas to create greater efficiencies –For
example SENCO
role across MAT rather than 1 in each school.
Continue to network with like-minded schools with a view to
growing the MAT further – 5 schools by 2021.
Progress further the business development opportunities:
- Before and After School Club, Holiday Clubs, Centre of
Excellence hub
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Phase 3 – 4-6 school joining - 2021
MEMBERS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Gail Tindall
Education
Ian White
Community/legal
Jenny Whiston
Finance
Ray Palin
Legal
DIRECTORS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Steven Coles
Legal
Alison Hattersley
Business
Lise Houldsworth
CEO
Education
Liz Martindale
Education
Nikki Ratcliffe
Business
Justine Twiss
HR
Vacancy
Finance
Jenny Whiston
Finance/Special
Executive Leadership Team Training & Development Lead –
Louise Gohr Chief Finance Officer – Yvonne Hilditch Chief Executive
Officer – Lise Houldsworth
Audit Committee CFO – Yvonne Hilditch Director - Jenny Whiston
Director – Nikki Ratcliffe Director - another
Finance Committee CFO – Yvonne Hilditch CEO – Lise Houldsworth
Director - Jenny Whiston Director - another
SCHOOL LEADERS GROUP
All HTs
FINANCE GROUP
All SBMs
EXCALIBUR LGB
PIKEMERE LGB
ANOTHER
ANOTHER
ANOTHER
SPONSORED/FREE SCHOOL?
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Thinking differently…
It could look like this…
Centre of Excellence hub is established to:
- Ensure high quality CPD / expertise is utilised within the MAT
and beyond to improve outcomes
- Opportunities provided for staff to develop professionally
- Income generation
- 3 streams to be investigated – Leadership, SEN, Primary
Trainees/NQT support and EYFS.
Consider Central Service Hub
As schools continue to evolve we begin to consider opportunities
for central service ideas to create greater efficiencies; SENCO, LA
links, site
maintenance etc.
It could be that an existing HT leaves or a school looking to
join has a retiring HT / HT vacancy. The MAT could then consider an
Executive HT
role. So for example, School 1 and 2 have Head of School roles
created with an Executive HT who is Ofsted accountable. This would
create
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great professional development opportunities for the existing
staff within the MAT and also allow us to retain our future
leaders. This doesn’t
mean that every school within the MAT has to work to an
Executive HT model. It grows according to the needs of the schools
at that time.
Ongoing developments from phase 2 continue
As a school joins there will be a review of the paid roles
within the central MAT team and the top slice
Consider/review any SLA’s (external and internal) to ensure
efficiencies and optimise expertise
Continue to focus on school improvement activities through the
operational school leaders and finance groups
Review the directors’ skills set and recruit to any gaps
identified
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Phase 4 – hub model
MEMBERS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Gail Tindall
Education
Ian White
Community/legal
Jenny Whiston
Finance
Ray Palin
Legal
DIRECTORS
Ros Caulfield
Education
Steven Coles
Legal
Vacancy
Business
Lise Houldsworth
CEO
Education
Liz Martindale
Education
Nikki Ratcliffe
Business
Justine Twiss
HR
Vacancy
Finance
Jenny Whiston
Finance/Special
Executive Leadership Team Training & Development Lead –
Louise Gohr Chief Finance Officer – Yvonne Hilditch Chief Executive
Officer – Lise Houldsworth Hub leaders x4 (2x HT, 2x SBM)
Audit Committee CFO – Yvonne Hilditch Director - Jenny Whiston
Director – Nikki Ratcliffe Director - another
Finance Committee CFO – Yvonne Hilditch CEO – Lise Houldsworth
Director - Jenny Whiston Director - another
HUB SCHOOL LEADERS GROUP x2
Local group of schools work as HT and finance group and then
have representation on the Trust Executive
All HTs
HUB FINANCE GROUP x2
Local group of schools work as HT and finance group and then
have representation on the Trust Executive
All SBMs
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Scheme of Delegated Authority (updated September 2018)
Members
Directors
CEO
CFO
LGB
HT
MAT strategy
New schools joining the MAT after due diligence completed
Entering in to funding agreements for new partner schools
Governance
Appointment and removal of members
Appointment and removal of directors
Appoint and remove chair of members
Appoint chair of directors
Remove chair of directors
Appointment/recruitment of LGB (as per articles of
association)
LGB chairs appointment
Removal of LGB (based on specific issues)
Appoint and remove clerk to directors
Appoint and remove clerk to LGB
Approval/amend scheme of delegated authority (recommended by
directors)
Maintain register of interests
HR Members Directors CEO CFO LGB HT
Approval of annual school staffing structure with a balanced
budget
Approval of MAT staffing structure
Appointment of CEO
Appointment of CFO
Appointment of executive headteacher (when necessary)
Appointment of headteacher/head of school
Appointment of SLT and other staff
Suspension/dismissal of headteacher
Appeals panel for dismissal of headteacher
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Finance – see also Chancery MAT financial procedures document
Members Directors CEO CFO LGB HT
Completion and approval of trust annual accounts to regulatory
bodies (reviewed by CFO/CEO)
Completion and submission of other accounting returns (as
accounting officer)
Completion of annual and periodic financial reports to the
boards
Authorised to complete PAYE returns
Authorised to complete VAT returns
Assure systems of financial control (as accounting officer)
Approval of financial regulations (reported to directors)
Appointment of external auditors
Approval of annual budget for MAT (prepared by CFO)
Recommendation of line by line individual school budget
Approve individual school budget as based on LGB report – top
line only
Receipt and review of management accounts (prepared by CFO)
Approval of MAT budget and school contributions (recommended by
CFO and CEO)
Authority to make virements within individual school budgets
(recommended by headteacher) (virements over £10,000 or 2% of
budget reported to CFO for approval by directors)
Authority to make virements within MAT budget (up to £10,000
CEO/over £10,000 directors)
Placing orders for goods, services and contracts – up to £2,000
(delegated to SBM)
Placing orders for goods, services and contracts – up to
£10,000
Placing orders for goods, services and contracts – up to
£30,000
Placing orders for goods, services and contracts – up to £50,000
(over £50,000 directors)
Ensuring compliance with tendering processes
Approval to borrow money (not allowed in funding agreement –
always a board decision)
Cashflow management and investment
Opening bank account and approving signatories (by CFO)
Payroll (transaction delegated to SBM as appropriate)
Purchasing (transaction delegated to SBM as appropriate)
Income (transaction delegated to SBM as appropriate)
Expense claim authorisation – cannot authorise own
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Control account reconciliation
Write off bad debts up to £500
Write off bad debts up to £1,000
Write off bad over £1,000
Management of capital projects
Asset register (schools maintain own and CFO for the MAT)
Security of assets
Disposal of assets up to £20,000
Disposal of assets over £20,000 (EFSA to be informed)
Loan of assets
Annual risk review/insurance coverage (reported by CFO)
Policies – see also schedule of Chancery MAT policy listing
Members Directors CEO CFO LGB HT
Annual approval of pay policy to include pay awards,
determination of ranges/ values etc
Allocation of TLR/SEN values and other discretionary
allowances
Monitor annual pay progression via PM procedures/reports from
headteachers/LGB
Pension matters
Approval of MAT policies (see listing)
Implement performance management and appraisal (of own
teams)
Approval of formal restructures
Approval of any severance/redundancy agreements
Authority to issue warnings or disciplinary measures within
school (not dismissal)
Authorisation of settlement budgets
Suspension (within own team)
Dismissal of headteacher (with HR advice and panel from LGB, CEO
and directors)
Dismissal of SLT and other staff (with HR advice)
Appeals
Health and Safety Members Directors CEO CFO LGB HT
Health and Safety Policy (approved by directors, implemented by
LGB)
Critical incident plans
Risk Assessments (including fire, asbestos)
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RIDDOR reports and accident reporting (headteacher to
manage)
Statutory training (monitored by CE0, reported to directors)
Compliance testing (monitored by CEO, reported to directors)
Monitoring of site safety and building condition (reported to
directors)
School outcomes and curriculum Members Directors CEO CFO LGB
HT
School pupil achievement and attendance targets
Monitoring MAT pupil outcomes
Approval/monitoring of MAT development plans
Approval/monitoring of school improvement plans
Curriculum planning, implementation and review
Approve term dates to ensure 380 sessions per year met
Approve length, timings and organisation of school day
Exclusions (reported to LGB)
Exclusions appeals
Admissions policy
Admissions appeal