NASAT governance
Introduction
The National Autistic Society (NAS) has been operating schools for children on the autism spectrum for more than 50 years. We have always recognised, however, that the demand for autism specific education outstripped our ability to supply it. When the Government introduced the Free Schools policy, we recognised that this was an opportunity to develop additional autism – specific provision.
While the National Autistic Society is acting as the sponsor, a separate Trust has been established – the National Autistic Society Academies Trust (NASAT) – and it is this body that manages the free schools. The National Autistic Society Academies Trust is operated by a Trust Board and is accountable to the Department for Education (‘the DfE’). The Directors on The Trust Board are appointed by the Members of the Trust.
There are currently three schools within the Trust, these are:
- Thames Valley School
- Church Lawton School
- The Vanguard school
Each School has its own Local Governing Body (LGB). The Governors who serve on the Local Governing Body are appointed by the Trust Board. They include both parent and staff representatives.
The way it works
The Trust Board has overall legal responsibility for the operation of the MAT and the schools within it. However, The Trust Board intends to work in partnership with its family of National Autistic Society independent and free schools.
This Scheme of Delegation provides for certain functions to be carried out by one or more of the following:
- the Trust Board (Non-executive); and/or
- the Accounting Officer (‘the AO’); and/or
- Managing Director/Education Directorate; and/or
- the Executive Principal/Principal of the school; and/or
- the Local Governing Body of the school (LGB).
All academies are required to operate in accordance with the Academies Financial Handbook and the Trust’s policies and procedures, as well as demonstrating principles of good financial management. Schools are subject to annual external and internal audit, as well as other assurance work as required by the Trust. If an academy is designated as “high-risk” (due to poor financial management or accumulated deficits etc.), then the academy shall be presented with a bespoke scheme of delegation that reduces the level of delegated responsibility in some or all areas. Academies know to escalate issues by consulting the scheme of delegation to determine when and where the MD and/or LGB chair needs to raise an issue at Board level.
The National Autistic SocietyAcademies Trust Board
All of The Trust Board responsibilities are dealt with at Trust Board level.
Where functions are to be carried out by an LGB, this is identified in the Scheme of Delegation. If no LGB is mentioned, the Trust Board, Accounting Officer or Managing Director will deal with the matter.
The Accounting Officer (AO)
The Accounting Officer has been the Principal Finance Officer for NASAT since it was first registered as ‘National Autistic Society Thames Valley Free School’ on 17 February 2012. The name was then changed to National Autistic Society Academies Trust on 11 April 2013. A significant number of responsibilities under the Scheme of Delegation lie with the Accounting Officer. It is recognised that the Accounting Officer may choose to delegate some of their duties to the other Directors or staff within The Trust.
The Managing Director (MD)
The Managing Director is also the Director of Education for the National Autistic Society. He is responsible for their Education Directorate, some of the functions of which are bought in by NASAAT, from the National Autistic Society. Principals’ and Executive Principals’ performance management is undertaken by the Chair of the LGB with the Managing Director.
Local Governing Body constitution
The ‘constitution’ of the Local Governing Body will include the (Executive) Principal/Principal/Head Teacher, a Trustee, at least two parents of current pupils, appointed either on a co-opted basis or through the process of an election. Other members of the LGB may include a representative of the local authority in which the free school is situated, and members of a local mainstream school and /or college may be invited to become governors.
The National Autistic Society Education Directorate
Some executive management and operational functions may be contracted by the Managing Director to staff within the National Autistic Society Education Directorate. This is on a commissioned basis from the National Autistic Society. This will include education quality assurance to monitor the performance of each school to inform support and challenge. This Directorate operate under the leadership and direction of the Managing Director. The National Autistic Society Education Directorate support the work of (Executive) Principals, their staff in each academy and the LGB, to ensure the vision of the Trust Board is achieved.
Funding
For all Academies, their budget will be determined each year as part of the process for agreeing the Business Plan and budget for each school. The specific sum will be agreed on a case by case basis by the Trust, LGB and Accounting Officer to enable funds to be stewarded effectively within the MAT.
Download the full NASAT Governance Plan and Scheme of delegation.