E-ACT Governor Role Description Purpose E-ACT exists to break the cycle between poverty and under-achievement. As a leading academy sponsor, we have 34 academies and Free Schools across England that provide first class teaching, development and support to over 20,000 young people each year. As part of a Multi-Academy Trust, E-ACT Governors are a sub-Committee of the E-ACT Board of Trustees. They act within a scheme of delegated authority to: •
Provide strategic direction for the academy, in line with E-ACT’s organisational mission and strategic objectives
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Provide strong support and challenge to the academy Principal, holding the senior leadership team to account and constantly seeking to raise standards
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Ensure accountability in enabling the academy to reach operational and educational excellence
Duties A Governor must work as part of the Local Governing Body to: •
Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the academy, in line with E-ACT’s overall mission and strategic objectives
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Contribute to the academy’s self-evaluation and understand its strengths and weaknesses, including the impact of the Local Governing Body. Continually monitor the implementation of agreed actions and the impact of these actions on the academy
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Support and strengthen academy leadership, including the development of your individual and the collective skills of the local governing body
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Provide challenge and hold the Principal and other senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching, pupils’ achievement and pupils’ behaviour and safety, including by using the Ofsted data dashboard, other progress data, examination outcomes and test results
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Use performance management systems to improve teaching, leadership and management
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Ensure that the pupil premium and other resources are used effectively to overcome barriers to learning
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Ensure solvency and probity and that the financial resources made available to the academy are managed effectively and in line with the academy and E-ACT organisational business plan
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Monitor the implementation of local policies and procedures including Health and Safety, Risk Management Plan, Equality and Protection/ Safeguarding, ensuring that all staff and pupils are safe and treated fairly
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Contribute to effective communication with key stakeholders of the academy, including parents/ carers, students, and staff, ensuring that they have an opportunity to have play a role in the life of the academy
Commitment Time •
To attend full governing body meetings once a term (about 2 hours) and you may also join a committee(s) which usually meets once a term. All of these meetings are normally held in an evening
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New governors receive a welcome pack, and are expected to attend a one day Induction course – essential to help you understand your role. Governors must be prepared to undertake ongoing training to help improve their knowledge and skills
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Governors are strongly encouraged to visit the academy to help them get to know and understand how it works, and to monitor academy improvement
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You may be invited to special occasions, such as assemblies, sports days, plays and presentations.
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The term of office for an E-ACT governor is normally 4 years
Expectations •
To share the values of E-ACT and to work as part of a team in achieving this
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Ask challenging questions, press for improvement, test out the resource implications of plans and ensure that the academy is viable and can deliver E-ACT’s core mission
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Discuss, question and seek to refine proposals whilst respecting the professional roles of the Principal and staff
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Read all papers thoroughly before each meeting
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Ensure that the local governing body knows its delegated authority and carries out the relevant responsibilities correctly, including the reporting procedures
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Take part in an annual evaluation process of the governance procedures including appropriate self-evaluation/assessment processes and ensure and action is identified and followed through
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Support new Governors through an appropriate induction process