Academy trusts: governance guide
Guidance on strategic leadership and the governance of academy trusts.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This non-statutory guidance is for those involved in trust governance. It provides essential information from a range of sources on the trust board’s roles and legal responsibilities.
The academy trust handbook and your funding agreement have more information on contractual requirements.
This is intended to be a digital guide. If you have created a PDF or printed copy, check you have got the most recent updates made on 25 June 2025.
In 6.3. ‘Accountability for financial performance’ – added sources of financial data and tools.
In 7.3 ‘Complaints’ – updated complaints to the department and Ofsted.
In 7.5 ‘Funding and finances’ – updated information on the teachers’ pay additional grant, teachers’ pension employer contribution grant, core schools budget grant, National Insurance contributions grant and the chair’s sign-off of the digital reporting form.
In 7.10.2 ‘Pupil mental health and wellbeing’ – added a nutrition section.
In 7.10.3 ‘Supporting pupils in school with medical conditions’ – added new guidance including information on the trust board’s responsibility.