FAQs

The School Forum should meet 5 times per academic year in accordance with the Agenda Overview Planner.

Meetings of the School Forum can be held remotely or in person or as a hybrid model to facilitate attendance -  provided that the representatives have access to the appropriate equipment.

The Trust has invested in AI functionality to support the recordings of meetings. This will ensure the accurate records are kept and action points noted, but there is no need for a formal clerk.

We want to make the School Forums accessible - but it is also important that they are focused and there is a good representation of people from the local community engaged. That is why Chairs and Heads will be responsible for appointments based the needs and skills required in their School Forum.

We also have to ensure that all safeguarding responsibilities are met. 

Yes it will! There are regular review points, particularly at the end of the first year to ensure that the intention for the School Forums and the reality of what they deliver align.

There will be a four year term for each School Forum member.

No. If you have already, as an example, served two years on an AGC, your term of office will still conclude in two years.

The Trust has initially created agendas for the firs academic year. There are flexibilities built in to these agendas and, as this model becomes more embedded, there will also be greater flexibility moving forward.

There are no policy responsibilities for School Forum representatives. There will be 2 x new Parent Directors / Trustees elected on to the Board (where the accountability lies to the DfE). The Board holds the Executive to account for how the organisation is run in a number of ways. Best value is part of that accountability.  

There is planned two way communication from the Board to School Forums and vice versa so that School Forums provide that bridge from the local context to the Board.