home   join NGA   contact       Search   

Foundation and Trust Schools

The NGA is not opposed to the principle of foundation status. We accept that many current foundation schools have a valuable base in, and work well with their local communities.

However:

We are not convinced by the need for many more foundation bodies as ‘Trust Schools’, which represent a retrograde step from democratic and community principles encompassed by the stakeholder model of governance; there are other more effective ways for a school to seek a partner or partners if they so wish.

We believe that new foundations/trusts should only be created after wide public consultation. The NGA opposes the present flimsy legal requirements and is concerned about improper pressure from government or local authorities to promote new Trusts. We do not believe that a Trust School foundation body should have the ability to appoint the majority of the governing body.

We believe that foundation school governing bodies/foundation bodies should not be able to dispose of significant assets without a process of local consultation.

We believe that new foundations should, as far as is practicable, have the same admissions arrangements as the school(s) they have replaced.

The NGA will continue to welcome membership from individual governors and governing bodies of trust schools, and seek to represent their interests.

• Academies
• Assessment
• Every Child Matters
• Federations
• Foundations and Trusts
• Funding
• Governance
• Health
• Ofsted
• Parents
• Staffing
• Special Needs