Frequently asked questions - benefits of trust status
What does trust status add to a business which already
has a close relationship with a school and school
governors?
Trust status is about offering more schools greater opportunity
to secure the support of external partners to raise standards,
strengthen their leadership and develop their own ethos. Trust
schools will be backed by an organisation which shares their
aspirations for their pupils, understands their community, can
support their continuing improvement and provides them with
governors.
A business could funnel its existing activity with a school or
group of schools through a trust. Trust schools are able to capture
the energy, enthusiasm and fresh-thinking of their external
partners for long-term benefit, not just short-term impact. The
formality of the trust creates a stable and enduring partnership
that will benefit the school and future generations of
learners.
Schools value the specific management and professional expertise
which governors from business can bring. Working through a trust
offers the opportunity for businesses to put in place a coordinated
and common approach to school governance.
The trust must appoint at least two governors to the governing
body. When setting up a trust the existing governing body will
decide whether overall the trust will appoint the majority or
minority of governors. Where a majority of governors are appointed
by the trust, the trust have a greater influence in any
decisions.
What are the benefits for business?
Being involved in a trust allows businesses to engage with young
people who are going to be the employees of the future. It becomes
easier to work with a group of schools through a shared and formal
framework and governance structure. It provides the opportunity to
help build a culture of creativity, innovation and expertise in
schools as well as helping to create a distinctive ethos for the
school.
For businesses working in a specialised area, a trust gives the
opportunity to build capacity in a specific subject or skills
area.
An added benefit for businesses being involved in a trust is the
development of their own staff. Involvement has seen improvements
in both staff morale and retention.
Why do we need a trust for this?
The trust unites the business and schools in a sustainable
partnership and signifies a longer term commitment to work together
– regardless of changes in personnel.
The trust also creates the opportunity for a range of
organisations to come together as partners to support the school in
a specific way. This collective approach creates new innovation and
energy and has a much greater impact than schools working with
partners individually.
What businesses are involved?
Microsoft, Unilever, RM, Laing O’Rourke, HSBC and Capita are
just some of the businesses involved with trust schools. In
addition many trusts include universities, colleges, charities and
public sector organisations.
Are we only allowed to work with one
school?
Trusts offer the opportunities to work with single schools or
groups of schools.
Many schools are opting to work in partnership with other
schools and adopt one trust. This means that businesses can work
with one trust whilst supporting a number of schools and so having
a greater impact for the same resource commitment.
Is involvement with trust schools just about being a
trustee?
By agreeing to work with trust schools, partners become a member
of a charitable trust. One of the roles of trust members is to
appoint trustees. The key aim of the trust is for the advancement
of education and for the school to utilise skills and expertise
particular to their trust members.
Businesses should work with the member schools to work out how
they use the partnership in the most beneficial way. For example, a
partner may be involved as a trustee and in a very practical way,
such as mentoring students or hosting master classes in subjects
relevant to their expertise.
What is the difference between trust schools and
academies?
Academies and trust schools are two strands in the diverse range
of options designed to deliver real improvements in school
attainment. Each is designed to work in different circumstances.
The academies programme targets those secondary schools with the
lowest levels of attainment and in the most deprived communities.
As such they represent a radical solution designed to provide a
step change in education in failing schools.
Acquiring a trust is a way for a range of schools (both primary
and secondary) in different circumstances to raise standards, from
those that are currently under-performing to those that are leading
the way in the education sector as a whole. There are no specific
criteria for which schools can become trust schools: the decision
is one for the governing body to make.
The level of involvement from business partners differs in
academies and trust schools:
- Academy sponsors appoint the majority of governors to the
governing bodies of their schools. In trust schools, the trust can
appoint either the minority or majority of governors: the decision
is made by the predecessor governing body
- Academy sponsors contribute up to £2 million towards the cost
of each academy. In the case of trust schools, the tru