Members

The Oak Partnership Trust was founded by members who have a general duty to exercise their powers to further the academy trust's charitable purpose.

They are tasked with assessing if the board of directors is performing well and, as such, are ensuring that the purpose of the trust is being met and its charitable object is being fulfilled. Each member will bring knowledge and expertise in their specific areas of practice. The members hold a meeting once a term and an annual general meeting (AGM) once a year.

As our trust has church schools, the Diocese of Bath & Wells has a corporate Member on the Members Board. The diocese also offer oversight and provide support to the trust; ensuring the maintenance of the religious character of the church schools.

Trust Board of Directors

The trust board is the decision making body of the academy trust and is accountable and responsible for all the academies in our trust. The Board oversees the educational standards, performance and finances of all the schools in the Trust. The Board determine what matters are delegated to sub committees, including the Local School Committee, through the Scheme of Delegation.

Board Sub Committees

The Board has determined a number of sub committees that receive reports and report to the Full Board of Directors.

Membership of the Trust Board Sub Committees (Standards, FAR and Nominations Committee) will come from the board of directors.

The Board will establish any additional sub committees as it considers necessary.

Executive Leaders

The Oak Partnership consists of multiple academies and the Executive Leader is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  The members have appointed the CEO to the Trust Board.

Executive Roles

The Oak Partnership consists of a number of schools and the Executive Leader is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  The members have appointed the CEO to the Trust Board.

There are two additional centralised Executive Roles:

Trust Executive Business Manager whose main function is to oversee the strategic delivery of the Effective and Efficient Business Function of the Trust. The TEBM reports to the FAR Committee.

The Executive Lead for School Improvement whose main function is to oversee the strategic delivery of the Quality of Education. The ELSI reports to the Standards Committee.

Headteachers (holding Trust Executive Responsibilities)

The Trust expects our experienced Headteachers to hold Trust-wide responsibilities. This includes:

Executive Headteacher for Selworthy is the Executive Lead for Inclusion, whose main function if to oversee the strategic delivery for inclusion, which includes SEND, Pupil Premium and all others identified as disadvantaged (an identified barrier to learning).

Headteacher for Blackbrook is the Executive Lead for Strategic Delivery, whose main function is to support the ELSI in implementing the Trust’s strategic plans for continuous improvement in the quality of education.

These functions report to the Executive Lead for School Improvement and to the Standards Committee, when appropriate.

Headteachers and Heads of School

For those new to Headship and or with a Head of School role, the Trust expects an appropriate contribution to the wider work of the Trust.

The meeting structure, chaired by Executive Leaders, creates the opportunity for Heads to report back on the implementation and impact of these Trust workstreams.

School Improvement Group

The SIG is a committee of the main board of the Trust. This committee is chaired by the Executive Lead for School Improvement. Membership of the committee includes the Chief Executive Officer, the individual school Link Director, the Chair of the Standards Committee and the individual school leadership team.

The CEO, Link Director and Chair of the Standards Committee are invited to attend, participate and provide quality assurance.

The core purpose of the SIG is to ensure that the School has a robust strategy in place for achieving its vision within The Oak Partnership Trust and to monitor and support the implementation of the vision and ethos of the School. Monitor and challenge Academy School progress against SDP and SEF data; hold Academy Schools to account for implementing Academy School curriculum and monitor and challenge quality of teaching and learning and pupil attainment within the Academy School

The SIG meets once a term. The ELSI reports the outcomes of the SIG to the Standards Committee for scrutiny. The report is also shared with the LSC for information.

Delegated powers for the School Improvement Group are defined within the scheme of delegation and can also be found in the appendices of this document.

The Terms of Reference for this committee have been agreed by the Full Board of Directors.

Local School Committee

The LSC is a committee of the main board of the Trust. The chair of this committee is elected by the members of the LSC and ratified by the Trust Board. Membership of the Committee consists of the school headteacher, elected parent and staff representatives and co-opted members (including foundation members for our church schools).

The CEO is invited to attend these meetings.

The core purpose of the LSC is, in collaboration with the Academy Head, to determine the Academy School vision and ethos in the context of its own school community and its membership of the Oak Partnership. Work with School Leaders to establish and maintain relationships with members of the local community including agreeing a strategy to promote staff, parental, pupil and local stakeholder voice.

The LSC holds specific workstreams to ensure the effective use of resources for SEND and Pupil Premium, the effective implementation of Safeguarding policy and procedures including oversight of Health and Safety and site security.

The Trust Board will also call upon the LSC to convene committees to review any exclusions; hear any disciplinary appeals and hear complaints at a relevant level.

The LSC meets once a term, alternating with the SIG. The minutes of the meeting are sent to all attendees and to the CEO. The outcomes of these meetings are reported to the Chairs Forum.

Delegated powers for the Local School Committee are defined within the scheme of delegation and can also be found in the appendices of this document.

The Terms of Reference for this committee have been agreed by the Full Board of Directors.