PYRAMID TEACHING PARTNERSHIP - Scheme Of Delegation

PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST SCHEME OF DELEGATION

It is important to note that this document sets out the delegations which apply from the start of the MAT. Although many elements may be delegated, final responsibility always rests with the Trust Board. It is expected that the Scheme of Delegation will need to be adjusted over time in consultation with LGBs and Principals.
General Statement of Intent The Pyramid Schools Trust seeks to provide an exciting and innovative collaborative approach to teaching, learning and governance, in order to ensure that every child in the Pyramid Schools Trust family receives an excellent well-rounded education from age 2-19” (MOU) The Pyramid Schools Trust is accountable for all of the academies within the trust. MAT trustees govern in the interests of the trust as a whole (DFE) The Trust Board has three core functions: 1. To establish a clear and ambitious vision and the ethos and strategic direction for the trust; 2. To hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and 3. To oversee the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent. (DFE) Where evidence shows that quality of education, leadership and financial management of the organisation are assured and are consistent with the aims and strategic direction of the Trust, the Trust Board will delegate operational decision making to schools so far as possible. Where individual schools act outside the limit of delegation, or statutory requirements, or where monitoring shows evidence of a cause for concern, the Trust will provide support and may require the school to act to address concerns. If improvement is not achieved urgently, the Trust may require a school to take further specific action and may remove relevant delegations. Where concern is significant, or affects more than a single area of operation, Trustees may require immediate action and may seek a comprehensive action plan from the school and may remove a range of delegations. Once the Board is assured that these concerns have been addressed, delegations will be restored.
1.0	Governance
	Statement of Intent: Trustees will determine the overall strategic direction of the Trust. Any significant changes to the strategic direction of a school will require approval from the Trustees. The Board will establish the overall shape and governance structure of the Trust as set out in the Articles of Association. Within this structure, LGBs will appoint their own members and establish their own governance committees. They will be responsible for scrutiny, support and challenge within the school. Where an LGB does not provide adequate governance to ensure that statutory requirements are met, to maintain the quality of education, or to promote the strategic objectives of the Trust, the Trust Board will support the LGB and may require the LGB to identify and implement improvement. If improvement is not sufficiently urgent or where identified improvement action is not implemented, delegations may be adjusted until improvement is in place.

Key: Approve (A), Recommend (R), Propose (P), Develop (D), Monitor & Report (M), Consulted (C) and Notify (N). *Annual review required. (C) Where Trustees consult this will generally be by email and 14 days will be allowed for comment.		Board
1.1	Approve Trust Articles of Association	R
1.2	Approve Trust Board Terms of Reference	A
1.3	Approve Trust Scheme of Delegation	A
1.4	Approve new academies joining MAT	A
1.5	Establish and disband Trust Committees*	A
1.6	Approve Trust Committee Terms of Reference*	A
1.7	Approve LGB Terms of Reference*	A
1.8	Establish LGB structure including any sub-committees, determine the number and type of governors (subject to requirements set out in the ToR),	N
1.9	Appoint Governors in line with the LGB structure.	N
1.10	Appoint the Clerk to the LGB.	N
1.11	Appoint Chair and Vice Chair of Trust Board *	A
1.12	Appoint Chair of LGB	C
1.13	Appoint Vice Chair of LGB and members and chairs of LGB committees.	N
1.14	Appoint and remove Chair(s) of Trust Committees*	A
1.15	Appoint and remove Members	N
1.16	Appoint and remove Trust Board members	R
1.17	Conduct regular self-review of Trustee skills and contribution	A
1.18	Appoint and remove Clerk to Trust Board	A
1.19	Appoint Accounting Officer	A
1.20	Trust Governance Calendar	A
1.21	LGB Governance Calendar	N
1.22	Approve Trust policy matrix	A
1.23	Compliance review (e.g. safeguarding audits, H&S reports etc)	A
1.24	Trust Website (Ensuring meets legal requirements)	M
1.25	Trustees Expenses Policy	A
1.26	Trust Risk Register	AM
1.27	Trust vision and strategy	AM
1.28	Trust ethos and values	RM
1.29	Trust stakeholder communication and engagement plan	A
1.30	Change to Academy ethos and values	A

2. Performance, Curriculum

Statement of Intent:

The Trust will foster a culture of aspiration to educational excellence and is committed to an absolute focus on improvement in order to achieve the highest standards of academic and personal achievement.

The core aim of The Pyramid Schools Trust is to strengthen our learning community by creating a sustainable all-through educational partnership.

School improvement is at the heart of The Pyramid Schools Trust. This ensures that every child is given the best opportunity to succeed.

The schools in The Pyramid Schools Trust have a commitment to support member schools and to share good practice and innovations, in order to establish a hub of educational excellence.

The Pyramid Schools Trust will establish effective accountability to secure improvement in all schools. This accountability ensures that we each achieve our core aims. (MOU)

As the Trust will be an ‘all through’ pyramid, the curriculum framework will be established by the Trust.

Individual schools will be responsible for working collectively and individually to deliver a seamless, high-quality curriculum that is consistent with the Trust curriculum framework. LGBs will be responsible for monitoring curriculum intent, implementation and impact. They will report to the Trust Board with evidence of a clear curriculum rationale and an ambitious and accessible curriculum, which is successfully implemented to ensure pupils’ progression in knowledge and skills. Where there is evidence that this is lacking, the Trust will provide support, but schools will be responsible for identifying and implementing improvement. If this is not sufficiently rapid or effective, the Trust may intervene to ensure curriculum improvement.

The Trust will consult schools in agreeing and setting realistic but ambitious targets for attainment and progress across the age range. Schools will be responsible for identifying and implementing school improvement to deliver achievement. LGBs will monitor performance, including that of groups of pupils, and report to the Trust. Where there is evidence of insufficient pace of improvement, the Trust will provide support and may intervene as necessary to effect more rapid improvement.

Key: Approve (A), Recommend (R), Propose (P), Develop (D), Monitor & Report (M), Consulted (C) and Notify (N). *Annual review required. (C) Where Trustees consult this will generally be by email and 14 days will be allowed for comment.		Board
2.1	Trust Improvement Plan	A
2.2	Annual performance report	A
2.3	Academic Performance Targets	A
2.4	Academy Performance Self Evaluation and report to Trust Board	M
2.5	Academies Performance Review	A
2.6	Academy Improvement Plan	N
2.7	Academy Intervention Plan	A
2.8	Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Plan	A
2.9	Trust Inset Days	N
2.10	Academy Inset Days	x

3. Staff Policies and Pay

3.

Staff Policies and Pay

The Trust Board is responsible for appointing, overseeing and performance managing executive leaders and other key staff (DfE)

Statement of Intent:

The Trust Board will establish all the HR policies for its staff across the Trust.

Schools will be responsible for operational decisions within the school that are consistent with these policies and fall within delegated budgets, and for reporting on their actions to the Trust Board.

The Trust Board will be responsible for performance management for the CEO and the CEO will undertake performance management for Academy Principals.

The appointment and management of central staff will be the responsibility of Trustees and the CEO.

The appointment of Principal to individual schools, will involve LGBs and require the involvement and approval of the Trustees and CEO.

Schools will be responsible for making other appointments within the school within their delegated budget and in compliance with HR policies.

Dismissal and redundancy of staff will be the responsibility of the Trust and subject to a formal process in line with Trade Union agreements and HR law, including appropriate rights of appeal. Governors from LGBs and Trustees may be required to serve on relevant panels.

Where schools act outside the policies, or the law or in a way that may jeopardise responsible management the Trust Board may take responsibility for such operational decisions.

Key: Approve (A), Recommend (R), Propose (P), Develop (D), Monitor & Report (M), Consulted (C) and Notify (N). *Annual review required. (C ) Where Trustees consult this will generally be by email and 14 days will be allowed for comment.		Board
3.1	Annual Pay Award for teacher and support staff	A
3.2	Teachers and support staff appraisal and individual pay awards (within budget and HR policy)	N
3.3	CEO Appraisal and Pay Review	A
3.4	Principal Appraisal & Pay Review	A
3.5	CEO appointment and dismissal	A
3.6	Trust staff structure	A
3.7	Trust staff appointments within current structure	A
3.8	Principal appointment	A
3.9	Deputy appointment	C
3.10	Teaching and support staff appointments (within approved budget)	N
3.11	Use of Academy staff for Wider Trust Business	N
3.12	Suspension of Principal	A
3.13	Dismissal of Principal	A
3.14	Suspension of teaching and support staff	N
3.15	Redundancy of Academy staff	A
3.16	Redundancy of Trust staff	A
3.17	Restructuring of Academy staff without risk of redundancy	N
3.18	Restructuring of Trust staff	A
3.19	Dismissal of Trust staff	A
3.20	Dismissal of Academy staff (other than the Principal)	N

4. Financial Governance & Management

4.1	Trust & Academy Financial Regulations	A
4.2	Trust & Academy Financial Procedures	A
4.3	Appoint Trust auditors	N
4.4	Trust 3-year Budget Plan	A
4.5	Trust 1-year Budget	A
4.6	Trust Interim Year End Accounts	A
4.7	Trust Annual Accounts	A
4.8	Trustees Report (2 parts)	A
4.9	MAT Accounts Return to EFA	N
4.10	Response to Auditor’s Management Letter	A
4.11	Academy 3-year Budget Plan	A
4.12	Academy 1-year Budget	A
4.13	Academy Monthly Management reports	N
4.14	Spending of specific funds (Pupil Premium, Y7 Catchup Sports Premium etc).	N

5. Financial Processes and Authorisation

Statement of Intent

The Trustees will set the Financial Regulations and financial operating procedures for all schools. Annual financial operating parameters will be set by the Trust in consultation with the individual schools.

Schools will be responsible for managing the delegated budget within these regulations, operating procedures and annual operating parameters, as well as for achieving best value and for reporting to the Trust.

If schools act outside these limits or fail to report as requested, the Trust will provide support and may intervene in operational financial decision-making.

The Trustees will also intervene where there is clear evidence for better value for money being achieved by a different decision being made than that put forward by individual schools.

Key: Approve (A), Recommend (R), Propose (P), Develop (D), Monitor & Report (M), Consulted (C) and Notify (N). *Annual review required.

(C ) Where Trustees consult this will generally be by email and 14 days will be allowed for comment.

Board

5.1

Trust Scheme of Financial Delegation (incl. academy delegations)

A

6. Academy Procedures

Statement of Intent

In addition to policies and procedures relating to HR matters and financial management, the Trust will identify, policies and procedures that must be consistent throughout the organisation to ensure that the statutory responsibilities and key objectives of the Trust are met and for the benefit of the safety and welfare of children. It is expected that these will include: admissions, safeguarding, equality, data protection, freedom of information, risk management, complaints, Governor/Trustee declarations, code of conduct and allowances and health & safety.

Trust wide INSET dates will be set by the Trust.

Changes to term dates, or the visual identity of the school will require the approval of the Trustees.

Key: Approve (A), Recommend (R), Propose (P), Develop (D), Monitor & Report (M), Consulted (C) and Notify (N). *Annual review required. (C ) Where Trustees consult this will generally be by email and 14 days will be allowed for comment.		Board
6.1	Academy times, terms and holidays	A
6.2	Change of Academy Age Range	A
6.3	Change to Academy PAN	A
6.4	Extension of Academy provision	A
6.5	Extended services on-site	N
6.6	Short-term Exclusion	x
6.7	Return after short-term exclusion	x
6.8	Permanent Exclusions	N
6.9	Appeals against Permanent Exclusion	N
6.10	Admissions – determination of policy and PAN	A
6.11	Admissions - allocation of places	N
6.12	Admissions - Appeals Policy	A
6.13	Academy prospectus	A
6.14	Academy website (major changes)	A
6.15	Academy logo & branding	A
6.16	Academy uniform	C
6.17	Establish safeguarding policy and procedure	A