Page 7 - 2019-20 Annual Report and Financial Statements

DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER ACADEMY TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020
Method of recruitment and appointment or election of trustees
The Members of Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust (DCAT) approve the appointment of trustees. The Members shall appoint no fewer than 5 Foundation Directors at least one of whom shall be a member of the local clergy. The Members shall ensure at all times that the number of Foundation Directors exceeds the number of other Directors (including any Co-opted Directors). For further detail on appointment of trustees, see Articles 50A-52oftheTrust'sarticlesofassociation.
Trustees are appointed taking account of the skills and expertise required to provide strategic direction for the Trust and to ensure that the Trust satisfies the statutory obligations as set out in the Academies Financial Handbook, which is published by the Education Skills and Funding Agency. Stated within the articles of association, the number of trustees shall not be less than three and shall not be subject to any maximum.
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees
All trustees are provided with statutory information, policies and procedures, agendas and minutes, and financial reports to enable them to undertake their role as a trustee and have been involved in all aspects of the Board's activity as it develops. The Trust has provided access to on-line resources with associated training for trustees and governors of local governing bodies. The Trust's Governance Manager provides in-house training as identified.
Organisational structure
The organisational structure of the Trust consists of the:
• Members (currently five members)
• Board of Trustees (currently eleven trustees)
• Local Governing Body or Core Executive for each academy
• Audit and Resources Sub-Committee
• Education, Skills and Standards Sub-Committee
The Trust met eight times in the year as a full board to consider a wide range of issues concerned with the strategic direction and operations of the multi-academy trust (MAT). Due to the worldwide pandemic, several meetings were held virtually.
The Trust most recently reviewed its model scheme of delegation in December 2020 in consultation with the Local Governing Bodies, and agreed delegation for each of its academies that explain the ways in which the trustees and local governing body members will fulfil their responsibilities for the leadership and management of the academies, the respective roles and responsibilities of the directors, and the members of the local governing body and the commitments to each other to ensure the success of the academies.
The local governing bodies or equivalents and academies operate within the limits stipulated in the schemes of delegation, which require budgets, pay review decisions, and some leadership post appointments to be approved by the trustees.
The directors are accountable to external government agencies including the Charity Commission and the Department for Education (including any successor bodies) for the quality of the education they provide, and they are required to have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of quality, safety and good practice.
Day-to-day management at academy level is delegated to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Teams in each academy. They are supported by the central MAT team. The current executive team, in addition to the Chief Executive consists of a Deputy Chief Executive (Finance and Operations) who is Company Secretary and fulfils the statutory Chief Financial Officer role, and a full-time Deputy Chief Executive who leads the Trust's School Improvement.
Headteachers and Business Managers within the academies work closely with the central MAT officers. The Chief Executive Officer is the Accounting Officer.