Governance in Church Schools and Academies

Governor responsibilities 

School governance is a rewarding role. Working as part of a team, it enables individuals to make a positive impact in the lives of young people and to make a real difference in their local community.

Governance roles look different in different contexts – you can read more about this under the relevant section below.

As well as their general governance responsibilities, all those involved in governance have responsibility to uphold the Church school foundation of any Church of England schools for which they are responsible. 

Governor training and resources

The YDBE provides governance training to all governors of Church of England schools as part of its annual training programme: this is free for schools that have signed up to the Diocese’s Service Level Agreement.

The focus of the training is Church school focussed: governors should also access general governance training provided through their local authority and/or Trust. 

We recommend that all governors of Church schools complete our introduction/refresher course of Church school governance – either by attending the YDBE’s annual zoom session as part of our annual training programme or by undertaking the YDBE’s self-led online training. Governors should also be aware of the additional information we include in relation to their school type in our dedicated pages for maintained schools and academies.

All those involved in governance also need to be aware that there are differences between Church schools and non-Church schools, and between different types of church schools. A summary of Church school differences can be found here. The YDBE also issues guidance and resources on our website, some of which is specifically aimed at those involved in governance. We encourage governors to spend some time exploring these resources.

Specific information and guidance is provided for those involved in foundation governance roles, those thinking about taking on a foundation governance role and those involved in appointment to these roles: further details can be found in the section below.

Foundation roles

What is the role?

Foundation appointments will be made on each maintained school governing body, and at each tier of governance in academy trusts. Foundation appointees are incredibly important to the support and oversight of Church of England schools in the Diocese. 

Foundation appointments are the representatives of the Church of England. They carry out the same strategic role as any other governor (or trustee/director or member), but they also have a special responsibility to support the Christian foundation of the school(s) for which they are responsible. They do this by, for example, understanding and articulating the role of the Church in the school(s) (and academy trust, where applicable) and the importance of the distinctively Christian character of Church of England the school(s) and by encouraging debate in key areas, including the school’s Christian vision, collective worship and religious education. In essence, they are there to help to secure that schools thrive as a Church of England schools.

Further information on Foundation roles role can be found the guidance section below and in the videos on this page. 

Those taking up foundation appointments are expected to be familiar with the DBE’s core guidance and to undertake training: this includes as a minimum the DBE’s introductory/refresher training. For further details, please see above.

Role guidance

Foundation appointments

Making local level foundation appointments

If you have any questions about Foundation appointments, please contact Anita Smukulis – PA to the Diocesan Director of Education & Administrator to the team; anita.smukulis@yorkdiocese.org

The number of appointments and the process for their appointment will depend on the context. 

Summary process guidance, as well as guidance for those involved in foundation governor recruitment are found below. Please click on the relevant section below for details relevant to your context.

In practice, foundation governors are almost invariably identified by the school and the vicar/Parochial Church Council (PCC)/other church body, working in partnership and drawing on their local knowledge. The YDBE provides guidance and resources aimed at helping schools and others involved in the appointment process to identify suitable individuals to take on foundation roles. Please see below.

Academy trust level foundation appointments – directors/trustees and members

The Diocese (and sometimes other Church bodies/individuals) have a role in the appointment members and directors/trustees of academy trusts. 

The number of foundation member and director/trustee appointments will depend on whether the trust is one with majority or minority Church governance. Details of the foundation appointments will be set out in the academy trust’s Articles of Association. Please see the YDBE’s academisation strategy for further details.

In each partner Trust, one member will be the Diocese of York Educational Trust (DYET), which embeds a permanent and consistent foundation presence within every trust and helps with overall oversight of Church of England academies. There will also be at least one director/trustee appointed by the Diocese of York Educational Trust on each partner trust board.

Guidance on the appointment of foundation directors/trustees and members is found below.

Resolving issues

Occasionally problems arise regarding foundation appointments. In such cases, unless the circumstances make this inappropriate, it would be anticipated that the issue would be resolved as set out in the YDBE’s guidance for raising issues about foundation governors.

Church school specific governance reporting

It is important the governors receive the information they need in order to oversee the school as a Church school. The school’s Diocesan adviser can support with this.

The YDBE also publishes high level reporting templates relating to key Church school areas – their completion is mandatory in the academy context and voluntary in the maintained school context. The reporting templates and accompanying guidance are included below.

Reporting templates and guidance