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Introduction ThishandbookoutlinesthestructureofTheSTEPAcademyTrustand setsouttheexpecta onsandcommitmentrequiredfromgovernorsin orderforLocalGoverningBodies(LGBs)toeec velycarryouttheir work.Ithasbeendevelopedtoensureaconsistentlyhighlevelof governanceacrossTheSTEPAcademyTrust.Thisdocumentshouldbe readinconjunc onwiththeSTEPSchemeofDelega on,whichdenes theresponsibili esdelegatedtoSTEPAcademiesbydirectors. The Structure of the STEP Academy Trust Members(max4) ChairofDirectors,ViceChairofDirectors,Academy Directors(LGBs)
ThemembersortrusteesarethenamedownersoftheSTEP AcademyTrust,registeredatCompaniesHouse.Allaredirectors.

BoardofDirectors Execu vePrincipal(appointedbyDirectors) AcademyDirectors(2electedChairsofLGBs), HeadteacherDirectors(1elected,1appointedbyDirectors), CommunityDirectors(nomax,appointedbyDirectors) TheBoardofDirectorsaresupportedintheirworkbythe CompanySecretaryandCompanyClerk.

ApplegarthAcademy LGB

DLAcademy LGB

GonvilleAcademy LGB

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The Purpose of the Board of Directors

TheSTEPAcademyTrustBoardofDirectorshasoverallresponsibility forthestrategicdirec onoftheTrust,whichincludesApplegarth Academy,DavidLivingstoneAcademyandGonvilleAcademy.The BoardofDirectorsoperateaccordingtothetermslaidoutinthe Ar clesofAssocia on.

Keyresponsibili esinclude: Se ngthevalues,aimsandobjec vesofTheSTEPAcademy Trust; Agreeingapolicyframeworkforachievingtheagreedaimsand objec ves; Appoin ngtheExecu vePrincipalandHeadteachersofthe STEPAcademies; Deninganddelega ngresponsibili estotheLocalGoverning Bodies(LGB)intheSTEPSchemeofDelega on. TheBoardofDirectorsmeetatleastonceaterm.

The Purpose of the Local Governing Body TheLGBisacommi eeofTheSTEP AcademyTrustandisdelegated responsibilityfortheconductofthe Academyandforpromo nghigh standardstheseresponsibili esare denedintheSTEPSchemeof Delega on.TheLGBaimstoensure thatchildrenarea endingasuccessfulAcademywhichprovides themwithahighqualityeduca onandsupportstheirwellbeing. LGBshavearangeofkeyresponsibili es.

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 Se ngthestrategicdirec onoftheAcademy by: Ensuringthevalues,aimsandobjec ves fortheAcademyarealignedtothoseof TheSTEPAcademyTrust; Implemen ngthepolicyframeworkfor achievingtheagreedaimsandobjec ves; Se ngstatutorytargets; AgreeingtheAcademyimprovement strategywhichincludesapprovingthe ChallengesandsupportstheAcademybymonitoring,reviewingand evalua ng: Theimplementa onandeec venessofthepolicy framework; Progresstowardstargets; Theimplementa onandeec venessoftheAcademy improvementstrategy; Thebudgetandthestangstructure.

Ensuresaccountabilityby: MonitoringtheAcademysselfevalua on documenta on; RespondingtoOfstedreportswhennecessary; HoldingtheHeadteachertoaccountfortheperformance oftheAcademy; Ensuringparentsandpupilsareinvolved,consultedand informedasappropriate; Makingavailableinforma ontothecommunity.

Inaddi on,theLGBperformancemanagestheHeadteacherwhowill delivertheaims(throughthedaytodaymanagementofthe Academy,implementa onoftheagreedpolicyframeworkand Academyimprovementstrategy,anddeliveryofthecurriculum) andreportappropriatelytotheLGB.

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TheSTEPAcademyTrustLocalGoverningBodies
Annually,TheSTEPAcademyTrustBoardofDirectorsreviewthe cons tu onofitsLocalGoverningBodies.Currentlywhenfull, ApplegarthAcademysLGBcomprisesoftwelvemembers,David LivingstoneAcademyLGBconsistsoftengovernorsandGonville Academyeleven.Therearethreecategoriesofgovernor,eachequal instatus. 1. ParentGovernors(Applegarth2,DL3,Gonville2) 2.StaGovernors(Applegarth3,DL3,Gonville3) 3.CommunityGovernors(Applegarth7,DL4,Gonville6) AssociateMembersmaybeappointedtotheLGB.Theyaretypically seniormembersofstawhoarenotStaGovernors.Associate Membersdonothavevo ngrightsatmee ngsoftheLGB. Atthebeginningofeachacademicyear,theLGBelectsaChairand ViceChair.Theseappointmentsarethenra edbytheBoardof Directors. Allgovernorsareelectedtoserveforfouryears,exceptthe Headteacherwhoisexocioandconsequentlyservesonthe AcademysLGBforthedura onofhis/herappointment.Governors arerequiredtosignanundertakingtoupholdthevaluesoftheTrust beforeappointmentsarera edbytheBoardofDirectors. EachLGBemploysaClerktosupportthemintheirwork.Allmee ngs areminutedbytheClerk.Withintendaysofmee ngshavingtaken place,minutesareemailedbytheClerktoallgovernorsand uploadedbytheHeadteachertotheAcademyGovernorsRoomon Fronter.

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BecauseTheSTEPAcademyTrustBoardofDirectorshasan overarchingremit,allspecicma ersrela ngtotherunningofthe AcademyarehandledbytheLGB.TherearetypicallytwofullLGB mee ngseachterm;however,extraordinarymee ngsmaybecalled asrequired.Commi eesarearrangedwhenneededtodealwith specicissues,forexamplepupildiscipline.

Allgovernorsareexpectedtoassumeaspecicmonitoringrole whichisassignedbytheLGB.UsingTheSTEPAcademyTrust GovernorsProle(completedbyallgovernorsonappointment)and throughdiscussions,theChairandViceChairofGovernorsmatch theskills/interestsofgovernorstoanagreedareaoffocus.For example,agovernorwithanancialprofessionalbackgroundmight beoeredtheroleofFinanceGovernor.Wheretherearenotable areasofweaknessinaLGB,eortsaremaderecruitappropriately skilledgovernors. MonitoringbyGovernors AkeyroleoftheLocalGoverningBodyis tomonitorwhatisgoingoninthe Academy.Itisessen algovernorscan showthatwhattheyarebeingtoldis happeningintheAcademy,isactually takingplace. Informalmonitoringispossiblethrough Fronter,theAcademysmanaged learningenvironment(MLE).Allgovernors areexpectedtologinregularlyusingtheir uniqueusernameandpassword.Aswell askeepinguptodatewiththelatest Academydevelopments,itallows
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governorstoeasilycommunicatewithmembersofstaandother governors.Governorsareaskedtomakeregularcontribu onsonthe MLEsothattheirpresencebecomesknownacrosstheAcademy community.Anygovernorwhoexperiencestechnicaldicul es,is askedtocontacttheAcademyoce.

GovernorsnotemployedbytheAcademyareexpectedtomakeat leastoneformalvisiteachacademicyear.Bytheendoftheautumn term,theChairofGovernorsinconsulta onwiththeHeadteacher organisesamanageableScheduleofVisitslas ngun ltheendof theacademicyear.Followingavisit,awri enreportshouldbe emailedtotheLGBClerk.Inaddi on,brieffeedbackshouldbeposted onthe20132014GovernorVisits/FeedbackForum.Thisislocated intheAcademyGovernorsRoomonFronter.TheSTEPAcademyTrust GovernorVisitsPolicyhasbeenagreedtoprovideguidancefor governorsandsta. GovernorTraining

Onappointment,newgovernorsare assignedamentortohelpthemgetto gripswiththerole.Anexperienced governor,thementorwillprovide supportandguidance.Governorsare encouragedtoa endregulartraining. Increasingly,TheSTEPAcademyTrust willorganisetrainingsessionsfor governorsacrosstheTrust;however, governorsareexpectedtobe proac veandtakeadvantageof onlineandexternaltraining opportuni es.Inaddi on,eachSTEP Academyorganisesanannual

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GovernorsDay.Thisisanopportunity forgovernorstovisittheirAcademyas agroupandundertakefocused training.Theday,organisedbythe ChairoftheLGBandtheHeadteacher, usuallytakesplaceinthesummerterm. Wheretrainingisnotprovided inhouse,governorsmaywishto a endcoursesdeliveredexternally,for examplebytheLocalAuthority.Should agovernorwishtoa endanexternal course,theyshoulddiscusstheir trainingneedswiththeChairof Governors.TheChairofGovernorswill determinewhetherornottoproceedwiththebookingusingthe followingcriteria: Whetherthecoursewillenablethea endeetobemore eec veintheirroleasagovernor; WhetheritwillsupporttheAcademysimprovement agenda; WhethertheAcademyGovernorTrainingBudgetcan coverthecostofthecourse. Onceapprovalhasbeengivenby theChairofGovernors,detailsof thecourseshouldbeemailedtothe Academyoce.Amemberofthe adminteamwillthenproceedwith thebooking.

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TheRoleofaGovernor
TheBoardofDirectorshasdenedtheroleofSTEPAcademy governors.Allgovernorsshouldbemindful ofthefollowing: Nogovernorcanactonher/his ownwithoutproperauthority fromthefullLGB; Allgovernorscarryequal responsibilityfordecisionsmade, andalthoughappointedthrough dierentroutes(i.e.parents, sta,communityetc),theoverridingconcernofall governorshastobethewelfareoftheAcademyasa whole. ToensurethereisconsistencyinthewaygovernorsofSTEP Academiesundertaketheirroles,allareexpectedtomaintainThe STEPAcademyTrustGovernorsCodeofConductandMee ngs Charter. TheSTEPAcademyTrustGovernorsCodeofConduct General

WeunderstandthepurposeoftheLGBandtheroleof theHeadteacherassetoutabove; Weacceptthatwehavenoauthoritytoactindividually, exceptwhentheLGBhasgivenusdelegatedauthorityto doso,andthereforewewillonlyspeakonbehalfofthe LGBwhenwehavebeenspecicallyauthorisedtodoso.

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Wehaveadutytoactfairly andwithoutprejudice,and insofaraswehave responsibilityforsta,we willfullallthatisexpected ofagoodemployer. Wewillencourageopen governmentandwillact appropriately. Weacceptcollec ve responsibilityforall decisionsmadebytheLGB oritsdelegatedagents.This meansthatwewillnot speakagainstmajority decisionsoutsideLGBmee ngs. Wewillconsidercarefullyhowourdecisionsmayaect theAcademycommunity,memberSTEPAcademiesand otherschools. Wewillalwaysbemindfulofourresponsibilityto maintainanddeveloptheethosandreputa onofThe STEPAcademyTrustandourAcademy.Ourac onswithin theAcademyandthelocalcommunitywillreectthis. Inmakingorrespondingtocri cismorcomplaints aec ngtheAcademywewillfollowtheprocedures establishedbyTheSTEPAcademyTrustBoardof Directors.

Commitment Weacknowledgethataccep ngoceasagovernor involvesthecommitmentofsignicantamountsof me andenergy.Forthatreason,itisimportantgovernors thinkcarefullywhethertheyareinaposi ontocommit thenecessary mebeforeundertakingtherole.

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Wewilleachinvolveourselvesac velyin theworkoftheLGB,andacceptourfair shareofresponsibili es,including serviceoncommi eesorworking groups. Wewillmakefulleortstoa endall mee ngsandwherewecannota end, explaininadvanceinfullwhyweare unableto.Whereagovernors a endancefallsto50%orbelowinan academicyear,amee ngwillbearrangedwiththeChairto discussthenona endance. WewillgettoknowourAcademywellandrespondto opportuni estoinvolveourselvesinAcademyac vi es. VisitstoourAcademywillbeconductedinaccordancewith theSTEPGovernorVisitsPolicy,agreedbytheBoardof Directors. Wewillconsiderseriouslyourindividualandcollec ve needsfortraininganddevelopment,andwillundertake relevanttraining.Thiswillincludea endinganannual AcademyGovernorsDay. Wearecommi edtoac velysuppor ngandchallenging theAcademyHeadteacher.

Rela onships Wewillstrivetoworkasateaminwhichconstruc ve workingrela onshipsareac velypromoted. Wewillexpressviewsopenly,courteouslyandrespec ully inallourcommunica onswithothergovernors. WewillsupporttheChairinhis/herroleofensuring appropriateconductbothatmee ngsandatall mes. Wearepreparedtoanswerqueriesfromothergovernorsin rela ontodelegatedfunc onsandtakeintoaccountany concernsexpressed.
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Wewillseektodevelopeec veworkingrela onshipswith the Headteacher, sta and parents, the Local Authority and otherrelevantagenciesandthecommunity.

Conden ality Wewillobservecompleteconden alitywhenma ersare deemedconden alorwheretheyconcernspecic membersofstaorpupils. Wewillexercisethegreatestprudenceatall meswhen discussionsregardingAcademybusinessariseoutsidea LGBmee ng. WewillnotrevealthedetailsofanyLGBvote. Conictsofinterest Wewillrecordanypecuniaryorotherbusinessinterestthat wehaveinconnec onwiththeLGBsbusinessinthe RegisterofBusinessInterests. Wewilldeclareanypecuniaryinterestorapersonal interestwhichcouldbeperceivedasaconictofinterest inama erunderdiscussionatamee ngandoertoleave themee ngfortheappropriatelengthof me. Breachofthiscodeofconduct Ifwebelievethiscodehasbeenbreached,wewillraisethis issuewiththeChairoftheLGBwhowillinves gate.The LGBshouldusesuspensionasalastresorta erseekingto resolveanydicul esordisputesinmoreconstruc ve ways. Weunderstandthatanyallega onofamaterialbreachof thiscodeofconductbyanygovernorshallberaisedata mee ngoftheLGB.Ifagreedtobesubstan atedbya majorityofgovernors,arecommenda onofremovalmay bemadetoTheSTEPAcademyTrustBoardofDirectors. Therecommenda onwillthenbeconsideredatthenext STEPAcademyTrustBoardofDirectorsmee ng.
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Mee ngsCharter

AsagovernorIexpect: Peopletoa endregularlyandbepunctual; Anagendaandrelevantdocumentstobeavailableatleast sevendaysbeforethemee ng(aswellasbeingemailed, thesearedownloadablefromFronter); Anagendathatmakesclearthepurposeofeachitem; AChairwhokeepstotheagenda,pacesthemee ngsothat meisgiventoeachma erinpropor ontoitsimportance, drawsonallmembersforcontribu onsandkeeps discussionstothepoint; Mycontribu ontobeheardandotherstocontributetothe discussion; Thedecisionmakingprocesstobeclear; Governorstoworktogetherandnottobestubbornly par san; Governorstotakecollec veresponsibilityfordecisions; Minutesthatsummariseviewssuccinctly,recorddecisions accuratelyandaremadeavailable,indra form,withina weekfollowingthemee ng. Otherscanexpectmeto: A endregularlyandbepunctual; Downloadtheagenda,minutesandotherpapersbeforethe mee ngandnoteitemsIwanttosaysomethingabout; Bringmyrelevantpaperstothemee ng; Makerelevantandposi vecontribu ons; Listentoandconsiderwhatotherpeoplewanttosay; Acceptmyshareofcollec veresponsibility,evenforthose decisionsthatIdonotpersonallyagree. AskifjargonisusedandIdontknowwhatitmeans (page14containsalistofcommonlyusedterms).
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Abbrevia onso enused:

AIPAcademyImprovement Plan

SENSpecialEduca onalNeeds

EALEnglishasanAddi onal Language

EMAEthnicMinority Achievement MLEManagedLearning Environment(Fronter) PMPerformanceManagement

NQTNewlyQualiedTeacher

ASEDAcademySelfEvalua on Document

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