To ensure for Finance, that:

• Monthly management reports are produced and distributed to Directors

• Purchases and contracts are ratified inline with our Procurement Policy and recorded in our Contracts Register.

• Budgets are set and three further years forecast for each school and the Trust. The budgets and forecasts are reviewed annually and presented to the Board of Trustees.

  • For each school, if the In Year Surplus - One off Costs > £0, then the school is financially sustainable.

    • If not, there is a strategic plan to ensure the school will be financially sustainable in the future, or otherwise mitigated.

  • The Trust surplus is 2-5% of annual income, or greater. If greater, strategic spending is identified.

    • If not, there is a strategic plan to move towards this in the future.

• Staffing models are reviewed annually for each school and the Trust.

  • For each school, if the potential staffing budget - theoretical staffing model >£0, then the school is financially sustainable

    • If not, they must review their theoretical model until it is affordable

  • For each school, if the actual staffing budget - actual staffing >£0, then the school is financial sustainable

    • If not, they must review their actual staffing to ensure it is affordable, and there is a strategic plan to move towards this in the future

    • One-off staffing costs, such as maternities, are agreed through reserve funding wherever possible, but there must be a strategic plan to move towards when this comes to an end

• SEND funding and provision maps are reviewed, at least half termly, to ensure the correct levels of funding are receipted against the cost of provision in place.

  • For each school all EHCP provision must be fully funded, at cost

  • For each school all additional SEND provision must be calculated at cost, and fully funded before it is put in place

    • If the provision is not fully funded, the school must reduce the provision accordingly - to only provide what we can fund

• Trust accounts are carried out appropriately, audited annually and approved at the Trust AGM

To ensure for Audit, that:

• Oversight and approval of the trust’s programme of internal scrutiny is effective

• Risks are being addressed appropriately through internal scrutiny

• An annual internal audit report on the adequacy of the trust’s internal control framework, including financial and non-financial controls and management of risks is shared with the board.

• Recommendations and findings from external and internal audits will be implemented in a timely manner.

To ensure for Legal, that:

• The Trust complies with its Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association

• The requirements of the Academy Trust Handbook are being carried out

• The Trust adheres to the Master Funding Agreement and Supplemental Funding Agreements

• Related party transactions are recorded and monitored, with proper notification to and approvals obtained from the DfE prior to all financial transactions.

• Legal issues relating to contracts are identified and mitigated.

• Data Protection information is reviewed to ensure compliance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, ensuring all staff are appropriately trained

To ensure for Human Resources, that:

• A CEO is appointed as Accounting Officer and Line Manager to the whole executive organisation.

• A robust staff handbook is in place, ensuring all staff have the information available to them to be successful, and line managers have the right tools to hold their staff to account

• An effective recruitment process is in place, ensuring compliance with safer recruitment policies 

• The performance management of the trust is carried out effectively in line with policy, including:

  • Professional Engagement Process (PEP) cycle in place, outcomes recorded and documentation stored

  • Monitoring of all new or training staff, such as probationers, ECTs and apprentices, in line with the appropriate standards and review cycles

  • Tracking of all underperforming staff through the informal and formal support cycle under the Appraisal and Capability policies

• Staff absences are monitored against policy and process, ensuring any risks are mitigated and strategic plans are in place for long term absences

• Payroll and statutory returns are carried out thoroughly, and on time

• Issues are raised with Directors in line with policy, including external HR and legal advice.

To ensure for Administration, that:

• The Trust’s calendars and schedules are in place

  • For each school the calendar is aligned as closely as possible with their Local Authority calendar

  • Annual calendars are prepared for the current school year, as well as two years in the future

• Admissions are being administered effectively, and without delay, including addressing any specific issues in relation to

  • Admissions

    • Looked after children

    • EHCP children

    • Fair Banding assessments

    • Aptitude tests

    • FAP

  • Appeals

  • Census returns

• GCSE examinations are administered in support to the Exams Officer and Head of Centre of each school