Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on a proposed model governance structure for local governing bodies (LGBs) of the City of London Academies Trust (COLAT). The Education Strategy Director noted that the proposal related to new and forthcoming City academies, and that LGB arrangements for existing City academies would remain the same. Furthermore, he noted that contrary to language used in the report, the City was not ‘obliged’ to make appointments but that it would be ‘expected’ to. The following comments were made.

·         Members noted that had previously considered this issue at their May 2016 meeting.

·         If the principle of only one sponsor governor per LGB was adopted, it would be important for the City to be confident that its interests as academy sponsor were safeguarded as far as possible on each LGB. This could be ensured in part by an annual City governor conference.

·         The principle of 1 staff governor and 1 non-staff governor on each LGB should be adopted.

·         Governors should be appointed for terms that mirrored the school year.

·         A report on the development of COLAT governance to date should come back to the Board, along with COLAT’s scheme of delegation and accountability framework.

·         Members noted that decisions on LGB governance were ultimately for COLAT, in consultation with the City as sponsor. The City also approved LGB chairs under the COLAT-City sponsorship agreement.  

RESOLVED, that

·         The proposed model governance structure be adopted for the City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, and that arrangements be made of the appointment of a City of London sponsor governor onto that LGB;

·         Members take a final view on COLAT LGB governance subject to the forthcoming report on the development of COLAT governance.