What should be the role of 'local governors' in a trust?

Malcom Trobe is an independent consultant and works alongside the Confederation of School Trusts, conducting external reviews of trust governance.

He says many of the trusts he works with find it hard to find a role for this layer of governance that has value and meaning and yet doesn't involve any repetition of work.

Sam Henson from the National Governance Association says they have identified the four Ss as functions typically delegated to the local tier of governance: SEND, safeguarding, stakeholder engagement and standards.

He says whilst this model is useful - it's important that trusts have the autonomy and flexibility to develop a structure that works for them.

Anna Machin is from Trust Governance Professionals which provides support to academy trust governance professionals.

She says the sector first defined its local tier in contrast to maintained school governance but now things are moving forward again as individual trusts grow and develop.

Sam Henson from the National Governance Association says the local tier can provide trusts with an important link to the community but giving a group of volunteers that stakeholder role alone, doesn't always work.

Sam says without a meaningful way to have an impact, it's hard to retain and engage volunteers. 

Independent consultant Malcom Trobe says that for the local tier to have meaning it has to be able to influence decision-making.

He says for that to happen, the flow of information between the trust board and its local committees must be a 2-way conversation.

Anna Machin from Trust Governance Professionals says some trusts are developing an advocate model for local governance where individual volunteers take on link responsibilities. 

She says it's an emerging concept, and trusts are still sharing best practice, but many have found that giving one volunteer responsibility for the headteacher's wellbeing is important.