Page 9 - 2019-20 Annual Report and Financial Statements

DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER ACADEMY TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020
DCAT is a sponsor organisation, as approved by the Department for Education. Three of the academies in the Trust have been sponsored by the trust to convert to academies to address the issues of underperformance inherent prior to conversion. The Trust received a further existing academy from a neighbouring Trust at the instigation of the Department for Education.
Engagement with employees
The Trust engages with its employees directly and through recognised employee unions. Specifically:
• All Local Governing Bodies have staff representation
• The Chief Executive and wider executive team regularly communicates with employees, directly and
through Headteachers and other senior leaders within the schools.
• The Trust has a recognition agreement with the major teaching and support staff unions, and arranges
at least annual joint consultative meetings to address collective matters
• The Trust has an Equalities Policy which demonstrates its commitment to employment, and the
continued employment, of those who are or become disabled.
Objectives and activities
Objects and aims
The Trust's objects are fundamentally defined in the articles of association and the Trust aims to be a Trust in which:
• Developing the whole child means pupils achieve and maximise their potential;
• Continued development of staff is valued and improves education for young people; • All schools are improving and perform above national expectations;
• The distinct Christian identity of each academy develops and is celebrated.
Objectives, strategies and activities
The objectives during the sixth year of operation have been to continue to develop the Trust as a fully functioning multi academy trust and limited company in line with statutory requirements and Department for Education best practice, to support the conversion and establishment of additional schools as academies, and to pursue opportunities for further conversions or associate partnerships with other schools and Trusts. The Trust is closely working with a number of schools wishing to convert to academy status within the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust. Currently, two schools have converted during the 2020-21 academic year (see note 25).
The Trust has developed its operation of the business at the centre by:
• Development of a detailed revised growth strategy and business strategy in response to national
government policy changes;
• Supplementing and widening the skills and capacity at the centre with the appointment of key staff into
new roles, including the roles of Head of Finance and Head of Operations;
• Enhancing appropriate policies and operational systems both at the centre and in the new academies;
• Continuing to establish and improve processes to support and develop Headteachers and business
managers to enable the schools to become successful academies.
Public benefit
The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.
In setting our objectives and planning our activities over the past year, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. The trustees are satisfied that due regard has been given to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission, as required by Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011.
The Trust continues the historic foundation of the schools and their religious designation as Church of England schools. The trustees and the local governing bodies recognise their responsibility towards the common good, not just of the academies for whom the company is responsible, but of all the Church, other schools, families, and communities in the areas served by the academy trusts.