The department’s model articles of association for academy trusts provide several routes by which trustees (directors) can be removed from their post, in addition to the Companies Act 2006. There is no role for the Secretary of State in removing a director using the procedure set out in that Act.

When a director is removed from post, retires or resigns, the remaining directors must notify Companies House within 14 days, as required by the Act. There is no requirement to specify whether this was carried out using the procedure set out in the Act or using a different route. Separately, there is a requirement to notify the Secretary of State – via the Education Funding Agency – of the vacating or filling of the positions of chair of trustees, accounting officer and chief financial officer and all new appointments of trustees and members.

The information is available about each academy trust in the notes to their financial statements which are published online by the Department for Education and at Companies House.

The information is available about each academy trust in the notes to their financial statements which are published online by the Department for Education and at Companies House.

The model articles for academies set out the governance arrangements which we expect academy trusts to follow. They include the arrangements for appointing and electing members, directors and parent directors/governors. The Department for Education provides additional guidance on academies governance through the governors’ handbook and the academies financial handbook.

The model articles for academies set out the governance arrangements which we expect academy trusts to follow. They include the arrangements for appointing and electing members, directors and parent directors/governors. The Department for Education provides additional guidance on academies governance through the governors’ handbook and the academies financial handbook.

The model articles for academies set out the governance arrangements which we expect academy trusts to follow. They include the arrangements for appointing and electing members, directors and parent directors/governors. The Department for Education provides additional guidance on academies governance through the governors’ handbook and the academies financial handbook.

The model articles of association for academy trusts set out the expectations of how academy trusts should be governed, including those arising from company and charity law. The model articles do not include any specific requirement on the trust board to consider advice given by the principal but we would expect them to do so. We would expect there to be an effective working relationship between trustees and the principal, who will often serve as a trustee.

We expect all those who serve on academy trust boards to play a full and active role in supporting and driving high standards in schools.

Trust boards have flexibility to operate the size of board they feel is right for their academy trust. The Department for Education does not collect statistics related to the size of individual academy boards but the model articles state that there shall be no fewer than three directors.

The governance arrangements for each academy trust are set out in their articles of association. Multi-academy trusts have the freedom to establish the most effective governance structure to support and drive high performance in their schools. The trust board may choose to delegate responsibilities to local governing bodies, which may cover one or more schools within the trust, or may establish local bodies on an advisory basis. Arrangements below the level of the trust board are a matter for trusts to decide on. The Department for Education does not hold information on the numbers of multi-academy trusts adopting different approaches to governance at school level.

Parents have an important role in academy governance. The Department’s current model articles of association require that there should be a minimum of two parents either on the multi-academy trust board or on each local governing body.

We encourage academy trusts, including those established before September 2010, to review their governance arrangements regularly, and to consider moving onto the Department’s updated model articles.

The governance arrangements for each academy trust are set out in their articles of association. Multi-academy trusts have the freedom to establish the most effective governance structure to support and drive high performance in their schools. The trust board may choose to delegate responsibilities to local governing bodies, which may cover one or more schools within the trust, or may establish local bodies on an advisory basis. Arrangements below the level of the trust board are a matter for trusts to decide on. The Department for Education does not hold information on the numbers of multi-academy trusts adopting different approaches to governance at school level.

Parents have an important role in academy governance. The Department’s current model articles of association require that there should be a minimum of two parents either on the multi-academy trust board or on each local governing body.

We encourage academy trusts, including those established before September 2010, to review their governance arrangements regularly, and to consider moving onto the Department’s updated model articles.

The Department for Education is funding a number of voluntary and community organisations through grants and contracts to support reforms to the special educational needs (SEN) system.

The Department also funds the Dyslexia SpLD Trust to promote best practice and increase the number of local authorities, schools and others who access the Trust's resources.

The Trust, like other organisations funded to support the Government's SEN reforms, is highlighted within the draft SEN Code of Practice, which all schools and local authorities must have regard to. These organisations also feature in presentations and communications activity led by officials to support the implementation of the reforms.

All academy trusts are required to openly procure any externally sourced services, including those related to their trustees. When a business controlled by or belonging to a trustee bids for a contract the academy trust must consider if that service is the most appropriate for the academy and offers the best value for money. If the academy trust decides to award the contract to the trustee-related service, that business must deliver its services at cost, with no element of profit.