How we work

The Trust is a multi academy trust (MAT), a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity.  This means it must work to the regulations affecting companies and charities and those related to MATs. It works within approved Articles of Association. 

A small group of Members oversees the work of the Trust and is responsible for overarching decisions, such as changing the Trust’s Articles of Association, the appointment of Directors who sit on the Trust's Board, and Governors who sit on the Trust's Local Governing Committees and may hold Trustees and the Board to account.

A Board of Trustees, appointed by our Members, is responsible for the strategic direction of the Trust, in the same way as a Board oversees a Company or Charity. Board meetings are held at least once every term.

Trustees responsibilities are set out in our Terms of Reference and include:

  • ensuring the Trust is being run effectively

  • controlling its management and administration

  • ensuring the Trust maintains its vision and values and delivers the outcomes which it has defined for pupils and the Trust.

The Board delegates some functions to committees and their structure and membership is set out below.

In their meetings, the Trust's committees focus on different areas of the Trust's work and make recommendations for action to the Board. 

  • The Resources and Risk Committee oversees and controls issues related to the Trust’s budget and accounting, health and safety and premises management as well as all issues regarding staffing and employment

  • The Education Standards Committee overall purpose is to advise the Board on matters relating to the Trust’s curriculum, quality and standards.

  • The Pay Committee oversees pay and pensions for all staff employed by the Trust who work to common and consistent standards and conditions.

Local Governing Committees (LGCs) are appointed by the Board  to provide oversight for each of the schools within the Trust. Made up of Governors who are recruited locally, the work of LGCs is set within the vision, values and policies defined by the Trust and governed by an approved Scheme of Delegation. Further details of their work, including thier register of interests and meeting attendance can be found on each schools website.

Blackdown Education Partnership Governance 

Blackdown Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding

Blackdown Education Partnership Articles of Association

Blackdown Education Partnership Scheme of Delegation

Blackdown Education Parternship Governance Structure

BEP Trustees and Local Governors Declarations of Interest 2023-24

BEP Trustees and Local Governors Diversity Indicators

UAT Directors and Local Governors meeting attendance 2022-23

The Castle Partnership Trust Trustees and Local Governors appointments, business interests and attendance 2022-23

Code of conduct

Governance Expenses Policy

The minutes of the Blackdown Education Partnership Trustees meetings are avaliable on request by emailing the Lead Governance Professional at admin@bep.ac

 

Government Guidance on Academy Governance 

Academy Trust Handbook