LEO ACADEMY TRUST (“the Trust”)

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ACADEMY COMMITTEE (“the Academy Committee”)

PURPOSE

The Academy Committee of the board are authorised to investigate any activity within its terms of reference or specifically delegated to it by the Board. Each Academy is accountable to and must serve its community. All children deserve and should expect to receive a high standard of education. Whilst the Trustees of the Trust have overall responsibility and ultimate decision making authority for all the work of the Trust, and the standards achieved by the pupils and students of the Academies, an Academy Committee has been set up to ensure the vision of the Trust is fulfilled. The Academy Committee is focused on the day to day life of the Academies for which it has responsibility and is there to ensure the staff working in the Academies are supported and challenged, when necessary, and the needs of the pupils and students are met with a particular focus on the context of each academy.

The role of those serving on the Academy Committee is an important one, fulfilling the Trust’s mission and providing feedback to the Trustees of the Trust. Those serving on the Academy Committee must act independently and in the best interest of the Academies and the Trust, whilst recognising that the Academy is part of a family of schools run by the Trust each with collective responsibility. They will act as ambassadors of  the Academies and the Trust and must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the ethos and values of  the Trust and a commitment to fulfilling the Trust’s mission and objectives for the Academies, using their skills  and experience and drawing on specialist skills where required.  

Specific skills may be needed if a member of the Academy Committee is to take responsibility for and lead on a specific area as part of a working party or when invited to serve on any of the Trust’s committees looking at stakeholder engagement and continuous school improvement across the Trust. A regular skills audit will be undertaken and those serving on the Academy Committee should expect to be able to articulate their contribution to the success of the Academies.

The Academy Committee will comply with any guidance issued by the Trust Board.

MEMBERSHIP

The composition of an Academy Committee is:

• Principal, ex-officio (the leader of the Academy);

• 2 Parent Academy Committee members (elected by parents/carers or appointed by the AC where no-one has stood for election);

• 3 Co-opted Academy Committee members (i.e. appointed by the Trust Board).

In addition to the model composition, the Trust Board may appoint a further Co-opted Academy Committee member to ensure the Academy Committee has a good blend of knowledge, skills, and experiences, along with a balanced and diverse set of views and backgrounds, which is essential to driving school improvement. 

The Board of Trustees will approve the composition and membership of the Academy Committees annually and appoint the Chair. The Academy Committee will appoint the vice chair and agree to the Lead ACM responsibilities.

QUORUM

The quorum for a meeting of the Academy Committee is any three of the members of the Academy Committee (including the Chair or Vice Chair).  Trustees can be members of the Academy Committee. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities of Academy Committee Members are specified within the LEO Scheme of Delegation

The Academy Committee will be responsible for:

• Reviewing, questioning and, where appropriate, challenging the Principal’s feedback, with reference to the specific areas of focus for the AC (safeguarding, inclusion & SEND, curriculum, stakeholder voice & community engagement).

• Review and consider the Trust Board’s risk register on a termly basis, providing relevant updates on  safeguarding, inclusion & SEND, curriculum, stakeholder voice & community engagement for their academy.

• Assisting with the promotion of a public face and external identity of Academies within the Trust.

• To promote positive parent, community and stakeholder engagement and to drive school-to-school partnerships for improvement within the Trust.

• Supporting the implementation of the Admissions, Complaints, Behaviour and Exclusion Policies.

• Determining who will be offered a place in accordance with the Admission Policy

• Be responsible for engagement with the local community (including consultations where appropriate.)

• Establishing trust policies (the trust will decide how policies are developed and approved, between the trust board, executive team and local governance - see Table of Policies)

• Receive termly reports from Lead ACM’s, raising strategic questions as appropriate.

• Considering  the Academy’s safeguarding procedures in accordance with statutory and DfE requirements  and best practice.

• Ensuring that the Register of Interests for the academy is completed for review by the Trust Board. 

• Reviewing Academy Committee member attendance.

• Reviewing the Academy Committee performance and impact including a 360 review of the Chair.

REPORTING

The Academy Committee will:  

• Report back to the Board of Trustees at the termly Chairs’ and Trustees’ forum, identifying patterns and trends to bring to the attention of the Board. 

• Committee agendas will be agreed in advance with all required papers and reports circulated by the Clerk at least five working days in  advance of the meeting. 

• Minutes of all meetings will be available to the Trust Board.

• The Academy Committee shall meet at least once a term. 

REVIEW

In accordance with best practice, the Academy Committee will carry out a regular review of the skills and experience available on Committee and the Trust Board will seek to develop additional capacity and skills where required. 

The Trust Board will review these Terms of Reference on a regular basis and will support the work of the Academy Committee. 

THE GENERAL EQUALITY DUTY

The Academy Committee must have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by the Act;

• Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;

• Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

Protected characteristics:

• Age (not pupils)

• Disability

• Ethnicity and race

• Gender

• Gender reassignment

• Marriage and civil partnership

• Pregnancy and maternity

• Religion and Belief

• Sexual identity and orientation