The governance structure is set out as follows:

Members

The members are akin to the shareholders of a company. They have ultimate control over the academy Trust, with the ability to appoint some of the trustees and the right to amend the Trust’s articles of association.

Trustees

The trustees are responsible for the same three core governance functions performed by the governing body in a maintained school: setting the direction, holding the headteacher to account and ensuring financial probity. Academy trusts are charitable companies and the trustees are company directors and must comply with company law requirements.

Local Governors

Individuals who sit on local governing bodies (LGBs) are referred to as ‘local governors’. The Primary Cluster is a combined Governing Body, formed by Altarnun Primary School, Egloskerry Primary School and Launceston Primary School; each school has two parent representatives and a staff representative.

This is because trustees can delegate governance functions to the local level. Trustees have complete discretion over what is delegated to each LGB.

There are direct channels of communication between the Chair of Trustees and the LGB chair and central services. The Trust Governance Officer co-ordinates the various Boards and will hold contact details for all local governors of schools within the Trust.