School Governance
The Board of Education supports governance work in schools by
- Supporting schools and Church of England academy trusts with all issues relating to governance, including foundation governor/trust board appointments and compliance
- Supporting governor recruitment and succession planning
- Advising governing boards on a wide range of statutory matters and good practice
- Providing governor training and development
- Through the Diocese of St Albans Educational Trust (its ‘Umbrella Trust’), the Diocesan Board of Education also has a role in the appointment of Members and Directors (governors) for diocesan academies and free schools. The Trust is also the diocesan corporate member for many of its standalone and multi-academy trusts.
Foundation governors
The role of Foundation Governor is a vital one within church schools, to ensure that the church vision and ethos is maintained. Being a Foundation Governor means that you will help ensure that the Christian ethos of the school is secure and that the school is adhering to its trust deed.
How to become a foundation governor
You will find below a guidance document and the current application form for the appointment of Foundation Governors. A formal appointment process, including a completed application form, are required for all foundation governor appointments and for each term of office.
- Diocese of St Albans Foundation Governor Appointment Process
- Maintained schools: Diocese of St Albans VA/VC Foundation Governor Application Form
- Academies: the governance of academy trusts is stipulated in their articles of association. Therefore each trust may see some variation in appointment routes. To talk about appointing to your trust boards, please contact the Schools Team on 01727 818 174 or by email to vbarriere@stalbans.anglican.org.
You will find below a number of resources providing national and diocesan guidance and points of reference to support your school in governance matters.
Governance resources
Diocesan information and guidance
National information and guidance
- Academy Trust Handbook 2024 (DfE, effective from 1st September 2024)
- Making Significant Changes to an Academy (DfE, applies from April 2024)
- The constitution of governing bodies of maintained schools – Statutory guidance (DfE, August 2017)
- Governance in Multi-Academy Trusts (National College for Teaching and Leadership, April 2014)
- Charities & Charity Trustees – an introduction for school governors (The Charity Commission, 2014)
Contact the Schools Team on governance matters
Maintained school governance
For foundation governor appointment processes in maintained schools, please get in touch with Dawn Brown by email to dawn.brown@stalbansdiocese.org. or call 01727 818 176. Dawn is also first point of contact on wider governance matters in maintained schools and will be able to direct your enquiry to the appropriate Team member.
Academy governance
For matters relating to academy trust governance, please contact Vicki Barrière by email to vbarriere@stalbans.anglican.org or call 01727 818 174.