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Governance & Sponsors

Sponsors

The co sponsors of the Cabot Learning Federation are Rolls-Royce PLC and University of the West England (UWE) We are delighted to be able to work closely with these two internationally recognised organisations which will add huge value to our work with teachers and students

Rolls-Royce PLC have been sponsors of John Cabot since the time when it was a City Technology College. Their global reputation and practices within the world of engineering in Bristol, the UK and across the world ensures that our interest and focus in the federation on Science and Technology will be supported and enhanced by their involvement.

UWE is one of the most successful higher education institutions in the country. Their initial teacher training is outstanding and they provide a range of programmes for training and development for established teachers. We look forward to working closely with the University to develop the skills of our workforce and contribute to their research to develop the highest quality education provision across the UK.

Governance

Cabot Learning Federation

 

A New Model of Governance for a New Model of System Leadership

 

  1. Introduction & Board Responsibilities
  2. Aims and Core Principles of the CLF
  3. Composition of Academy Councils
  4. How Academy Councils are different to Governing Bodies
  5. The 10 Core Objectives of an Academy Council and the responsibilities of an Academy Councillor
  6. Roles and Responsibilities of the board and Academy Council. Who does what?

 

1          Introduction

 

The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Trust was formed in September 2009. The co-sponsors are Rolls-Royce and University of West England (UWE). The Executive Principal of the federation is David Carter. The aim of the CLF is to create a model of education support and delivery that reflects the needs and goals of a school in the 21C.

 

At the heart of this is the goal of ensuring that each Academy is a centre of   excellence, where each Principal, Leadership Team and Academy Council has something unique to share with their partner Academies. The CLF is legally responsible for each Academy, but by nurturing a culture of individual identity and by the delegation of identified and agreed responsibilities, each Academy will reflect the diversity and uniqueness of its own staff and students.

 

For this reason, there is full representation at the board level from each Academy as well as sponsor representatives so that there is a two way accountability process. The CLF holds the Academies to account for their performance and the Academies hold the CLF to account for the quality of support offered and the value for money for the annual per student contribution to the operational costs of the federation support team.

 

The CLF board is made up of 15 trustees and these are outlined below:

 

  • 4 sponsor representatives nominated from Rolls Royce
  • 4 sponsor representatives from UWE
  • Executive Principal
  • An Elected Parent representative from the group of parent councillors at the Academy Council level
  • 5 Chairs of the Academy Councils

 

The main responsibility of the CLF is to be accountable to the DFE and Charities Commission for the financial and educational achievements of the Academies within it.

 

In addition, there are 10 Core Objectives that the CLF will be responsible for: 

 

  1. To set the core aims and ethos for the CLF
  2. To provide strategic educational focus for the CLF
  3. To provide strategic financial planning for the CLF
  4. To design the longer term development goals of the CLF including the decision to admit new Academies to the CLF
  5. To assure the quality of provision across the federation, including performance in public exams
  6. To appoint and performance manage the Executive Principal
  7. To appoint with appropriate Academy Councillors the Principal of each Academy
  8. To appoint CLF Trustees, and ensure their induction, support and performance is of the highest quality
  9. To appoint CLF nominees to the local Academy councils and ensure their induction, support and performance is of the highest quality
  10. To remove CLF board members or Academy Council nominees if their performance is unsatisfactory

 

2 The Aims & Core Principles of the Cabot Learning Federation

 

As a Learning Organisation for the 21C, we aim to make our federation the best place to learn and work by:

 

  • Inspiring and Sharing Innovation
  • Drawing upon local, national and international thinking
  • Leading and Communicating Excellence to raise and sustain high standards of attainment
  • Valuing the partnership with families and children and their Communities
  • Building capacity to effect change across the CLF
  • Providing Opportunities for Leadership Development
  • Being actively involved and accountable to our partners

 

Core Principles of the CLF

 

  • To add value to the work of the Academies
  • To recognise the unique contribution that each Academy and its staff can make to the development of the CLF
  • To use the strengths and diversity that exists within the federation to build a sustainable and flexible society of lifelong learners
  • To Quality Assure the educational provision across the Academies and to facilitate the sharing of excellent practice between the Academies
  • To provide high quality support for the staff and students at the Academies in order to help them to be amongst the best schools of their type in the UK
  • To play a role in the re-generation of the communities that the Academies serve, by increasing the belief of parents and carers in the purpose and value of education

 

3          Composition of Academy Councils in the Cabot Learning Federation.

 

There will be 13 Councillors on each Academy Council.

 

  • 7 Sponsor Representatives nominated by Rolls Royce and UWE. The Chair of the Academy Council will be appointed by the CLF Trust

 

  •  
    • 1 of these Sponsor Reps should be the Executive Principal
    • 1 of these Sponsor Reps should be a Student Advocate-an adult who promotes the interests of students and who from time to time where and when appropriate brings student voice representatives to Council meetings.
    • 5 Sponsor Reps appointed by Rolls Royce and UWE who ideally know the local Academy community well and have a skill set that will be beneficial across the Federation

 

  • 6 Local Academy Representatives
    • The Principal
    • 2 Elected Parent Councillors
    • 1 Elected Teacher Councillor
    • 1 Elected Support Staff Councillor
    • 1 Councillor who represents the Local Authority

 

4          How are Academy Councils Different to Governing Bodies?

 

The creation of the CLF makes the role of the Academy Council different. The Council is in effect a sub-committee of the CLF Board. Each Academy Council is represented at the CLF Board level by the Chair of the Council, and the Executive Principal who will know the progress that each Academy is making and be able to describe it and account for it.

 

What the Council will no longer be responsible for

  • The Council is no longer responsible for the overall budget but funding has been restricted and safeguarded to ensure that each Academy receives the grant to which they are entitled. There will be a per student contribution from each Academy towards the running costs of the core CLF activities.
  • The financial reporting to the DCSF
  • Insurances-these will be held by the CLF
  • The election of the Chair of the Council-this will be an appointment by the CLF Board and the Chair of Council will be a CLF board member. 7/13 Academy Councillors will be appointed by the sponsor (see 3 above) and 6/13 will be elected from within the Academy community

 

What the Council is responsible for

  • Sharing in the appointment of the Principal with the Executive Principal and other members of the CLF Board
  • Performance Management of the Principal & senior leaders with the support of the CLF Board through the Chair of Academy Council and Executive Principal & taking on the role of critical friend of the Leadership Team
  • Monitoring of Local Academy Budgets
  • Appointing on behalf of CLF all staff who will work at the Academy
  • The Monitoring of teaching and learning, curriculum delivery & Academy Performance
  • Fulfil the role of critical friend to the Academy Principal and Leadership Team
  • Monitor Academy finance and property
  • The Development Plan of the Academy
  • The quality of education experienced by the students at the Academy
  • Providing support for the CLF and the quality of education at the other Academies

 

5          The 10 Core Objectives of the Academy Councils and what the Role of an Academy Councillor will be in terms of delivering these objectives

 

An Academy Councillor will hold the interests of their Academy first. However

Academy Councillors are Federation Councillors as well and as a result will be

expected to:

 

  • Participate in training sessions with other CLF councillors
  • Share effective practice from their Academy with other Councillors
  • Share their own unique skills and knowledge for the benefit of another Academy in the CLF where and when appropriate

 

5          10 Core Objectives of Academy Councils and the Councillor Role

 

Core Objective

Academy Councillor Role in Fulfilling the Objective
Objective 1

To support, develop and monitor the quality of the curriculum, teaching and learning and student support across the Academy, including the setting and monitoring of targets for the Academy with the Principal and Executive Principal

 

 a) To be a link between the Academy Council and curriculum or themed strategic priorities of the Academy-every councillor must fulfil a link role

b) Each councillor should be prepared to work alongside councillors in the other Academies to share the learning more widely where there is a common focus or theme

c) To work with the Executive Principal and Academy leadership team to set targets for students at the Academy

d) Each councillor should understand the data being used by the Academy and how this is used to construct the Academy targets

e) Each councillor will play a role in ensuring that the targets are monitored on a regular basis
Objective 2

To take responsibility for the ethos and climate for learning in the Academy through the implementation of CLF and Academy policies for safeguarding, teaching and learning, staff management and health and safety

 

 a) Each councillor must be aware of the CLF and Academy policies on safeguarding children and young people

b) Each councillor should be aware of the core teaching and learning policies within the Academy and play a role in ensuring they are up to date

 
Objective 3

To ensure that areas requiring support are recognised and communicated to the CLF through the Chair of Academy Council and Executive Principal so that the Academy benefits from the support available within the CLF

 

 a) Each councillor has a responsibility to communicate the effective practice within their area of responsibility to the CLF via the appropriate channels and to work with the Academy leadership team on securing support where appropriate from the CLF for their area

 
Objective 4

To be aware of the areas of strength that can be the basis for shared practice across the CLF and to facilitate and support this so that the Academy becomes a provider of support across the CLF

 

 a) Recognise and Celebrate the Achievement of staff and students at the Academy

b) Contribute to a best practice database that identifies the core areas of strength in the Academy

 
Objective 5

To share and contribute to the appointment and performance management of the Principal and senior leaders for the Academy with the Executive Principal,  members of the CLF Board, the Academy School Improvement Partner (SIP) and the CLF Educational Advisory Board

 

 a) To contribute to the design of the recruitment process for the appointment of senior federation and academy leaders

b) To take an active involvement in the appointment process through the long listing process, membership of mini panels where appropriate and involvement in final interview boards

c) To ensure that a rigorous induction process is in place for new leaders at the Academy and where appropriate across the CLF

d) To ensure that there are appropriate HR and performance management systems in place at the Academy, supported by the CLF

e) To support the performance management of the Executive Principal through feedback to the CLF through the Chair of Academy Council

f) To support the Chair of Academy Council and the Executive Principal in the performance management of the Principal

g) To ensure that the performance management of all staff is carried out to the highest possible standard and that it meets the time deadlines set
Objective 6

To ensure that the Academy has a development plan that reflects the uniqueness of the individual school alongside the delivery of the Federation Core Principles

a) To develop a vision for the Academy

b) To be aware of the core goals of the Academy in terms of its development

c) To be a part of the review and monitoring process where a development goal is related to the area of curriculum or themed responsibility in the Academy

d) To be aware of and to review the core vision of the CLF and how it relates to the Academy
Objective 7

To appoint teaching and support staff of the highest quality, ensuring that their induction & training needs are fully identified and met

 

 a) To support the Academy leadership team in the appointment of new staff as leaders, teachers, and support staff

b) To be aware of the induction and training opportunities that are in place at the Academy to ensure that new staff or existing staff in new roles perform to the highest level possible
Objective 8

To ensure that the Academy Council has full membership and that councillors have a clear link to teaching and learning monitoring in their own Academy and across the CLF

 

 a) Each councillor should be aware of the KPIs for the quality of teaching and learning at the end of each long term

b) Each councillor should be aware of the CPD and support that is being provided for staff in the curriculum or themed area that they are supporting

c) Each councillor should make every effort to attend CLF training session for councillors and be prepared to share their expertise across the CLF where appropriate

 
Objective 9

To ensure that the Academy budget is well managed and monitored and that the required reports are provided for the CLF on time

 

 a) Each councillor has the responsibility to understand the management of the Academy budget and the ways it is reported to the CLF Board and to scrutinise expenditure in line with the Academy budget and the Academy Development Plan

 
Objective 10

To take responsibility for communications to parents and the local community that the Academy serve

 

 a) Each Academy Councillor should make a contribution to the Academy Council Newsletter published to parents once per year that outlines their role and the curriculum area or themed area they are linked to

 

 

6          What are the Roles and Responsibilities of the  Board and Academy Council?

 

The Academy Council needs to play a full part in the delivery of outstanding teaching and learning at each Academy and across the Cabot Learning Federation. The sections below are intended to give an outline of the core areas of responsibility and not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks.

 

a) Strategic Responsibility

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To decide on the admission of new Academies to the CLF  
To approve the CLF Development Plan To approve the Academy Development Plan
To support and advise the Executive Principal on the strategic direction of the CLF To support and advise the Academy Principal on the strategic direction of the school in response to the CLF core aims and goals
  To support and advise the Academy Leadership team and ensure that there is good councillor coverage of the main Academy strategic goals
  To ensure there is excellent communication between the Academy and the parents and local community
To approve the CLF Policies and Procedures To ensure that the Academy Policies and Procedures are in line with the CLF policies and to implement them at Academy level
To agree the parameters of the CLF Academic Year To set the term dates for the Academy within the parameters agreed by the CLF Board
  To agree the organisation of the Academy day, ensuring that the common times that are needed for Collaborative 14-19 learning can take place

 

b) Governance

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To approve and confirm the appointment & removal of CLF Board members  
To approve the delegated authorities between  the CLF and Academy Councils  
To appoint the Chair of the Academy Council  
To appoint the 7 sponsor nominees to the Academy Councils To appoint the local Academy council members-staff, parents and LEA reps
  To ensure that there is good communication between the Academy council and the CLF Board through the Chair of Academy Council and the Executive Principal

 

c) Finance and Asset Management

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To Delegate the Academy Budgets from the Master Funding Agreement for CLF To Manage the Academy Budget and identify core priorities
To monitor each month the CLF Budgets, maintaining a clear communication line to the finance team in each Academy To monitor the Academy budgets and to report and meet with the Federation Finance Director when required
To prepare the report the financial accounts for the CLF to the DCSF To provide financial information as required to the Federation Board
To set up convene and manage the CLF Finance and General Purpose Committee To provide Academy Council Representation to the CLF Finance and General Purpose Committee
To appoint auditors and a Responsible Officer for the CLF  
To insure where appropriate buildings and liabilities for the CLF  
To approve Income Generation Activity across the CLF To approve Academy Income Generation Activity and to support Academy involvement in CLF Income Generation Activity

 

d) Staffing

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To approve the main HR Policies and Practices that will be implemented by the Academies To ensure that the CLF and Academy Policies and Practices are implemented consistently and to the highest standard possible
To ensure that the Academy recruitment policies and practices are consistently applied when appointments to the Academy are being made To ensure that the Safe Recruitment Policies are in place at the Academies
To appoint and performance manage the Executive Principal To appoint and performance manage the Principal and Leadership team & to contribute to the PM of the Executive Principal where appropriate
To sign off the recruitment of all staff to the CLF where individuals are working across the Academies rather than being based only in one To appoint staff as required to work in the Academy
To review and approve the salary structure across the CLF  
  To monitor the performance of all staff across the Academy

 

e) Communications

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To take responsibility for determining and approving the CLF brand  
To approve key marketing documents for wider distribution across the CLF community To approve the Academy prospectus and other marketing documentation
To be proactive in communications with the local and national Press and Media To use the CLF marketing and PR structure to get positive press articles published
To oversee the CLF website To oversee the Academy website
  To monitor all communications with parents at the Academy, including the Academy Councillors Annual Newsletter to Parents

 

f) Monitoring and Evaluation

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To receive and approve targets for the CLF and to monitor at meetings and sub groups the KPIs To approve targets for the Academy and to monitor the KPIs at full council meetings
To monitor the progress towards the core goals of the CLF To monitor the progress towards the core goals of the Academy
To monitor the quality of teaching and learning across the CLF To monitor the quality of teaching and learning across the Academy
To ensure that core data required by the DCSF that relates to the CLF is submitted in time and with accuracy To ensure that core data required by the DCSF is submitted on time and with accuracy
To monitor the CLF SEF and Development Plans To monitor the Academy SEF and Development Plans
To be aware of the core priorities in each Academy  

 

g) Students

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
  To implement the CLF and Academy Behaviour Policy
To receive and review the data relating to the performance and support of Looked After Children To ensure that all Looked After Children in the Academy are safe, secure and that their performance and attendance is monitored
To receive and review the data relating to Fixed Term Exclusions To approve fixed term exclusions
To receive and review the data relating to Permanent Exclusions To review and uphold or overturn a PEX
To form and take part in Exclusions Review Panels  
  To monitor the admission arrangements for students entering the Academy
To receive and review data relating to student attendance To monitor and set targets for student attendance across the Academy
To oversee with the Executive Principal managed moves & exchanges for students across the CLF To oversee managed moves and student exchanges with schools outside the CLF
To set up and operate the CLF Student Parliament To oversee the Student Voice work in the Academy and to be updated by the student advocate member of the Academy Council

 

h) Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To approve and update the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Policies of the CLF To approve the Academy Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Policies ensuring that there is a clear link to the CLF policies
  To approve and ensure that the ECM and Children’s Plan programmes are up to date and relevant
To ensure that the most effective practice across the CLF is shared as widely as possible  
To commission reviews of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning practices across the CLF  

 

i) Communities

 

Responsibilities of the Cabot Learning Federation Board Responsibilities of the Academy Council
To develop partnerships with Schools and Organisations Nationally and Internationally for the benefit of staff and students To develop school partnerships outside Bristol and across the World where learning in its widest sense can be shared
To liaise with National Bodies on the progress being made by the CLF (DCSF, NCSL, SSAT) To liaise with National Bodies on the progress being made by the CLF (DCSF, NCSL, SSAT)
  To work closely with Local Authorities to ensure good communication between the Academy and LA over SEN, Exclusions, Admissions, looked after children etc
To develop a strong relationship between the CLF and its sponsors To ensure that the sponsors are aware of the practice that exists in the Academy through regular dialogue and to develop strong relationships with both organisations and departments within them
To work with other educational organisations across the City of Bristol to promote partnership and to encourage engagement in CLF activities for the wider benefit of teachers and support staff in the city To maintain links with external agencies who support students and their learning and social needs and to share this knowledge with other Academy Councils and the CLF board
To monitor and be aware of the relationships between the Academies and the generic community groups that are linked to the Academies To ensure that there is a programme in place to monitor the effectiveness of the support and partnerships between the Academy and local community groups that serve the local area.
To develop the CLF Primary Partnership Hub Programme with schools in the EC2 Extended Schools Partnership To promote partnership links with local Primary schools who may have students likely to attend the Academy
To make parents of students who attend a CLF Academy aware of the work being undertaken within the schools To develop outstanding communication and relationships with the parents of students at the Academy