Trustee Development in Multi Academy Trusts Programme 

Session 1

MAT’s as Civic Structures and the Mindset required

This module will focus on the structure of a Multi Academy Trust, the relationship between the layers of governance and the requirements of having the right mindset in a new Civic Structure entity. The module will focus on:

• The formation of the Academy Trust, its Trust status and its civic structure
• Consider the responsibilities of its officers who are the Members, the Trustees and the Local Advisory Boards for the individual academies
• Consider the mindset required to succeed in the Academy arena
• Consider the contractual position of the Academy Trust and the Academies who form part of it
• Look at the occupation of the land that each academy and how this works legally and in practice
• Look at the Insurance arrangements for each academy
• Look at the Funding documents between the DfE and the Academy Trust and what must be followed by the Academy Trust to ensure that they do not breach the terms of this

Session 2

Strategic Leadership for Trustees

This module will provide a comprehensive introduction to current research and organisational practice in Leadership and Management. The module will be specifically contextualised to reflect the challenges of Trustee level leadership in an Academy Trust.  The module will focus on:

• Defining Leadership and Management, and the differences between the two
• Understanding Authentic and Transformational Leadership theories
• Define your own leadership values and consider your identity as a Trust leader
• The importance of understanding how to communicate both ‘how’ and ‘why’
• Defining, evaluating and leading organisational culture and how it overlaps across all layers of governance.
• Evidence led practice in leadership and management
• Critical decision-making processes at a strategic level and how it is communicated across all schools in the MAT
• Developing soft skills for performance (coaching and mentoring), and understanding the ‘Situational Approach’ to leadership
• Theory to support difficult and challenging conversations with peers
• A consideration of modern leadership practice in the Academy Trust environment; the values and behaviours

Session 3

Strategic Planning for Trustees

A module that will ask participants to discuss the complex and equivocal definitions of strategy, examine their own organisation’s strategy, and clearly define their own role in managing and leading strategy. This module will also examine the challenge of change management, and strategies to manage change within Academy Trusts.

• Examine definitions of strategy, and the difference between strategy and operations
• Learn how to develop a robust strategy for growth for a Multi-Academy Trust whilst maintaining school performance
• Understand the overall role of strategic management and leadership
• Identify a vision for growth in the context of a Multi Academy Trust and develop a strategy to achieve growth objectives
• Examine the skills and techniques involved in developing and executing a strategic business plan
• Clarify own leadership role in shaping organisational cultures and values
• Consider the interplay between culture and strategy, and the role of senior leaders and managers in embedding strategy
• Examine the challenge of change and develop an evidence-based method for implementing successful change
• Consider the importance of knowledge management within organisations, and how to enable the flow of knowledge, information, and intelligence between all levels of governance
• Identify how to develop a tailored communications plan, aligned to the culture of a Multi Academy Trust
• Consider effective due diligence in the Academy Trust context and how to conduct it

Session 4

Stakeholder Engagement, PR and Communications

This module will provide non-marketing Educational Leaders with the knowledge they need to develop a competitive brand, manage external communications and engage effectively with PR in relation to an Academy Trust.

• Explore why brand and marketing are important to Academy Trusts
• Consider how brand and marketing impacts both internal and external communications and perception
• Know how to develop both an effective PR and Comms plan
• Examine and understand competitor Trusts
• Consider customer relationship management and the relevance of brand loyalty within the Educational context
• Examine the rationale and approach towards developing a brand personality and the ‘Universal Truth’
• Consider approaches to engage and manage stakeholder communications effectively
• Evaluate the world of digital and social media marketing
• Understand working within data protection legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Understand corporate social responsibility when making strategic marketing decisions

Session 5

Finance for Non-Finance Trustees

Contextualised specifically for the management and scrutiny of financial decisions within Academy Trusts, this module will refresh and bring up to date existing financial Trustees and provide an engaging and vital introduction to financial management for non-finance managers.

• What is the Academies Financial Handbook? – A detailed look in to the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook
• The implications of Central Government funding and the functions of General Annual Grant (GAG)
• Finance and resource management – characteristics of an efficient academy and a Multi Academy trust
• Financial arrangements – understand the financial dynamics between Academies and the Trust. Explore academy budgeting and contribution to central MAT costs via the topslice
• The balance between sufficient topslice and ensuring sufficient resource is directed to each school in the MAT
• Financial accounting – financial reporting/statements of the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and a cash flow statement/corporate financing/financial control techniques/cash flow management
• Management and cost accounting – operational/implementation/strategic financial decision making/performance measurement/budget analysis
• Financial decisions – appraisal/risk/financing/strategy/rationalisation/acquisitions and mergers using appropriate tools
• Ethical issues in financial decision-making
• Understanding risk, and the role of the Trustee in challenging financial decisions that expose the Trust to risk

Session 6

The Trustees role in Governance, Due Diligence and the Board

This module will give delegates an essential understanding of the role of case studies and group exercises around directors, trustees and members of Multi Academy Trusts. The course will explore good governance principles, provide up to date legal requirements and give Trustees a renewed confidence to tackle the increasing challenges facing educational leaders of MATs.

Attendees will gain insight into the governance of academy trust and the key foundations of strong governance structure.

• Overview of the regulatory and legal framework
• What does effective Due Diligence look like?
• Explore and understand the obligations and duties of Directors, Trustees and Members in how the Academy Governing Bodies are regulated
• Examine the relationship between the Trust Board, the Members Board and the Local Advisory Boards
• Examine how important Schemes of Delegation are in the MAT world
• Discuss the legal structures and framework of Multi Academy Trusts
• Understanding Good Corporate Governance: an overview
• Delivering good corporate Governance and meeting the legal and regulatory challenges: the need for robust internal processes and systems
• Understanding, managing and reporting risk
• Being prepared for OFSTED – What Directors and Governors need to know
• Managing compliance through effective auditing
• Reporting requirements and the disclosure of information
• What does self-evaluation and a review of governance look like
• Business continuity planning and crisis management
• Case studies and group exercises

Attendees of this Programme will be well equipped to:

• Develop a framework for conducting robust Due Diligence and an increased understanding of how to drive and deliver robust Trust growth.
• Think and perform strategically versus operationally and develop coherent strategies for shaping and influencing change and transformation
• Detailed knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the role and responsibilities of Trustees, Directors and Governors including legal obligations, personal liabilities and expected duties and how these relate to your role in your Multi Academy Trust
• Build crucial commercial, operational and leadership skills and knowledge as a cohesive team
• Improved confidence and effectiveness operating at Board level management
• Knowledge of the latest governance and board level best practice and principles
• Development of the personal key skills to be more effective and influential at senior and board level to improve Trust performance
• Make improved and better-informed decisions, viewing challenges more objectively and deliver better results and improving learning outcomes across schools in the MAT
• An ability to lead and plan more strategically, identifying threats and exploiting new opportunities
• Confidently interrogate financial data and challenge financial reports to make balanced, informed Board level decisions based on a deep understanding of financial data
• Develop strategies and approaches for the effective management of stakeholders at Board level

Our dedicated In-House Training team can work with you to create a tailored training course that creates an optimal learning experience. Our bespoke built training programmes are designed around your needs and allow you to meet the specific requirements of your business.

Click here to view our In-House Training services.