Governing board roles
Role description for academy trust members
All academy trusts are charitable companies and so must have members. Use our role description and person specification to help clarify the distinct role that members have.
Guidance
26/11/2024
Members hold the trust board to account for the effective governance of the trust. They are responsible for:
- ensuring that the academy trust’s charitable objective – which for most trusts can be summarised as ‘advancing education for the public benefit’ – is being met
- assessing if the board of trustees is performing well and if not, taking suitable action
There needs to be clear separation between the trust board and members so that members can remain objective.
Our role description details the responsibilities that academy trust members have, covering:
- amending the memorandum and articles of association
- appointing members and trustees
- appointing and removing auditors
- receiving the annual report and accounts
- directing the trust board
- dissolving the trust
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