Haberdashers' Academies Trust South

Trust Board and its Committees

The Trust Board is the non-executive body accountable for all aspects of the conduct and performance of the schools across the Trust. It is responsible for the strategic priorities of the organisation, its growth plans, major capital investments, for approving the budget and managing the finances across the organisation.

The Trust Board retains close oversight of different aspects of the work of the Trust by appointing a range of committees to take responsibility for specific areas of its work:

• Finance Committee - Ensures oversight of all of the financial affairs of the Trust, including
  advising the Trust Board on setting the budget and the longer-term financial sustainability of the Trust,
  monitoring performance against budget, ensuring an appropriate set of policies and procedures are in place
  to provide assurance that public funds are being used correctly and good value for money is being achieved
  and maintaining oversight of the Trust’s central support services.

• Audit and Risk Committee - Commissions internal and external audits, and recommends adoption of the annual statutory accounts. Oversees the effectiveness of the Trust’s risk management, financial accounting and reporting systems and policies. The Committee provides scrutiny of and assurance about these areas that is independent of the Trust Board.

• People Committee - Advises and reports to the Board on certain matters relating to appointments, remuneration, terms and conditions, training, development, retention, diversity, inclusion and social mobility of the Trust staff and governors.

• Standards Committee -  Oversees delivery of the Trust School Improvement Strategy. It does this by monitoring overall academic standards across the Trust and the key drivers of academic standards, reviewing the School Improvement Plans, current school-level status and priorities, and reviewing progress in addressing priorities over time. The Standards Committee supports the Trust Board in holding the Local Governing Bodies to account, and to take strategic decisions about cross-Trust matters such as strategy, curriculum, and approach to assessment. 

The Chair of each committee is appointed by the Trust Board. Each committee’s members are drawn from the Trustees, and in the case of the Finance, Audit & Risk and People Committees, independent co-opted governors who do not have any other role in the Trust’s governance. All governors appointed to the Trust Board and its committees, excluding the CEO, are appointed on a four year term of office.

For more information on the role of each of the committees and their responsibilities please read the Scheme of Delegation for Governance and Leadership and the Trust's Terms of Reference.  These can be found at the bottom of the Governance page of this website. 

Membership

The membership of the Trust Board and its committees is as follows.

To contact the Chair of Trustees please email Catherine Frewing, Governance Professional and Senior Clerk: c.frewing@habstrustsouth.org.uk or write to us at :

The Governance  Professional, Haberdashers' Academies Trust, Jerningham Rd, London SE14 5NY

Accessing information

The agenda, approved minutes and documents considered at each meeting can be made available to members of the public upon request.  The following information relating to our governors can be found on this website:Governor biographiesRecord of attendance at meetingsRegisters of interest

 Local Governing Bodies and contact details

There is a Local Governing Body (Local Board) for each of the nine schools within the Trust, responsible for overseeing the school and supporting school leaders.  It focuses on monitoring the quality of educational provision and the outcomes that children achieve with a focus on safeguarding, special educational needs and supporting the most disadvantaged children.  It ensures that the school is following the Trust’s vision and strategy, agreeing policies and checking compliance with them.

You can view the membership and contact details for the Clerk of each school local board by clicking on one of the following links:

 For all complaints, please follow the information listed on this page: 

https://www.habstrustsouth.org.uk/Contact-Us/