Foundation Appointments
(a) Maintained schools
Church of England maintained schools have a single Governing Body which will include a number of Foundation Governors. They may have their own Governing Body or they may share their Governing Body with other maintained schools under federated arrangements. The number of Foundation Governors on the Governing Body is linked to the particular status of the school(s) for which the Governing Body is responsible.
Guidance on the role of a Foundation Governor in the different types of Church of England maintained schools (Voluntary Aided, Voluntary Controlled and Foundation) can be found at https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/schools-and-youth/schools-education-homepage/governors/foundation-governors/ along with a summary of our process for appointment of Foundation Governors in maintained schools and our standard recommendation form for potential Foundation Governors.
(b) Multi-academy trusts
In multi-academy trusts which include Church of England academies, there are two types of Foundation appointments:
i. Foundation Director / Trustee appointments - Foundation Directors / Trustees sit on the Board of Directors / Trustees of the multi-academy trust. The Board of Directors / Trustees has responsibilities in respect of all the academies in the academy trust (including any which are not Church of England academies).
Guidance documents on the role of a Foundation Director / Trustee in multi-academy trusts can be found at https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/schools-and-youth/schools-education-homepage/governors/multiacademy-trusts-foundation-directors-trustees/ along with a summary of our processes for their appointment and our standard recommendation forms.
ii. Foundation Local Governor appointments - Foundation Local Governors sit on the Local Governing Body / Committee of a Church of England academy within a multi-academy trust. They have responsibilities in respect of their specific academy only, under powers delegated to the Local Governing Body / Committee by the Board of Directors / Trustees.
Guidance documents on the role of a Foundation Local Governor in multi-academy trusts can be found at https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/schools-and-youth/schools-education-homepage/governors/multiacademy-trusts/ along with a summary of our processes for their appointment and our standard recommendation forms.
(c) Resolving issues
Foundation Governors are incredibly important to the support and oversight of Church of England schools in the Diocese. The Board of Education is incredibly grateful for the time, energy and expertise Foundation Governors give to schools on a voluntary basis.
Occasionally problems arise regarding Foundation Governors. In such cases, unless the circumstances make this inappropriate, it would be anticipated that the issue would be resolved as set out in the guidance below.
If you have any questions about Foundation appointments, please contact Anita Smukulis - PA to Andrew Smith, Diocesan Director of Education & Administrator to the team; anita.smukulis@yorkdiocese.org