Governance

The TSAT Governance Model

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust governance model is different from that of a traditional maintained school. 

Governance within the trust operates through a clear layered structure, combining strong local oversight with trust-wide strategic accountability.

Local governance is delivered through the Academy Governing Body (AGB), with overall responsibility held by the Trust Board of Directors.

This ensures that each school benefits from dedicated local governors who understand the community, alongside consistent trust-wide leadership and assurance.

For information on the role of the Board of Directors, Members and Board minutes, please follow the link here: www.tsatrust.org.uk/about/governance/

Academy Governing Body (AGB)

Each academy (or small cluster of academies) has an Academy Governing Body.

AGBs typically consist of between 8 and 11 governors in addition to the Headteacher, made up of:

• Parent representatives
• Staff representatives
• Trust-appointed governors
• Community governors

Governors are appointed or elected based on the skills and experience required to support effective governance. Governors usually serve a term of four years and AGBs meet a minimum of six times per year.

The role of the Academy Governing Board

The key responsibilities of the Academy Governing Board are to:

• Hold academy leadership to account for educational performance, quality of care and provision
• Ensure the Trust’s vision, policies and strategic priorities are delivered within the academy
• Monitor the effectiveness of local strategies and progress against the School Improvement Plan
• Represent and consider stakeholder voices in strategic decision-making
• Contribute to the performance management of the Headteacher, including the involvement of the AGB Chair in annual professional growth reviews.

Becoming a Governor

The role of a governor can be very rewarding, and volunteering within our schools will provide you with the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to your local community and the future of our young people.

Governors will sit on our Academy Governing Board and work with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to ensure students are receiving the best education possible and that all resources are being used effectively to support this ambition. A strong governing body is made up of a group of people who will contribute various skills and experience, and who will commit to working together for the benefit of the Trust and the local communities in which we work.

Being a governor requires individuals to learn about schools and ways of working, and it is also about individuals bringing their skills and experience to contribute to an existing skillset. It is important that every governing body is made up of a group of people who understand their role and responsibilities, who are committed to gaining knowledge about the school and who will ask challenging questions to scrutinise leadership and decisions made within school. Governing bodies have key strategic responsibilities and these need to be explored within every meeting, without getting involved in the day to day operational activity within the school.

Our AGB Members

If you are interested in discussing our governor vacancies further, please email governance@tsatrust.org.uk to register your interest and a member of the Governance department will contact you to discuss your enquiry.