There are three main models of governance for chains of academies suggested by the Department for Education: 1. Multi-academy Trust: Schools form a single trust which has overall responsibility, with each school having its own governing body and representation on the central trust board. This provides a structure similar to a local authority. 2. Umbrella Trust: Schools form an umbrella trust company but each school maintains its own individual academy trust. This gives schools greater flexibility and independence while still allowing collaboration. 3. Informal Collaboration: Schools can form less formal partnership links with minimal centralized structure but less oversight. Any arrangements to support weaker schools would need Department for Education approval.

1. Chains of AcademiesGovernance Models James Hargrave Chair of GovernorsStradbroke Primary Schoolv1.2a 24 March 2011

2. Models for Governance Governance and Management models are independent and a given governance model doesn’t mean a particular management structure There are three main governance models suggested by the DfE for chains of academies Multi-academy Trust Umbrella Trust Informal collaboration The information about these models was all provided by the DfE

3. Chains of Academies Any school can join a chain irrespective of their own Ofsted rating Each Governing Body needs to pass a separate resolution Needs to be at least one Outstanding or GWOF school in the chain Other schools can join later although they won’t have a say on governance model if they do Need to have appropriate arrangements to support “weaker schools” Each school gets the £25k “support grant” Schools can share expertise and some set up costs Schools decide the model of governance that suits their chain

4. Multi-academy Trust Model 1

6. Multi-Academy Trust Schools form a single multi-academy trust which has overall responsibility Master funding agreement with the multi-academy trust Supplemental funding agreements with each individual school Each school has own Governing Body Each school has representation on the Trust Board Powers “delegated” to individual GBs by the Trust Board This is most like a “mini LA”

7. UMBRELLA TRUST Model 2

9. Umbrella Trust A company formed by the schools that form the chain of academies Has a relationship with each school but does not manage schools Each school has its own academy trust, and each individual academy trust in the chain (not the umbrella trust) will have its own funding agreement This model gives schools greater independence and is very flexible Where there are performance issues with a school the umbrella trust could appoint most governors of that school

10. Informal collaboration Model 3

12. Informal Collaboration Schools can form looser less formal partnership links This gives the most flexibility but less structure Would need to ensure Secretary of State of arrangements to support any weaker schools before he will agree