External reviews of governance

Independent board assurance for your trust

School trusts are complex and agile organisations. Trust governance should be a live conversation and boards should monitor and improve their performance continually.

An external review of governance is an assessment of your trust's governance arrangements by an independent reviewer. Through a detailed process of observation and evidence-gathering, CST can provide assurance to your board where governance is compliant and impactful – and identify areas where governance practice needs to be improved.

Reviews typically use a combination of methods, including review of core governance documents, surveys of trustees and local committee chair opinions, one-to-one interviews, and observations of board meetings. The finished output is a confidential report that captures key observations and provides recommendations that can form the basis of an action plan.

The review will cover all key areas of governance, and can also be customised to focus on specific lines of enquiry such as effective decision-making, financial control, or oversight of safeguarding.

The Academy Trust Governance Code identifies a three-year cycle of board assurance as an essential part of strong, strategic governance, in which an external review of governance plays a significant role. CST's expert consultants are able to provide this robust and independent analysis of your trust's strengths and advise on areas for improvement, to ensure all levels of your trust's governance are acting effectively.

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When should my trust commission an external review of governance?

We recommend carrying out a review every three years. In years one and two you should undertake internal assurance by your governance professional or through peer review, for example using our Assurance Framework for Trust Governance. In year three, we recommend that your trust arranges an independent external review.

It can also be helpful to get independent advice before making any significant changes to your trust, such growth or merger, or where your internal assurance has found an area of significant concern.

How does CST approach external review of governances?

As the national organisation and sector body for school trusts, we are well positioned to provide you with expert insight into the effectiveness of your trust’s governance. We will take the time to get to know your trust, your reasons for commissioning a review, and any unique challenges that your trust is facing. This ensures that the process is tailored to your context and reflects your trust’s individual development journey.

CST’s experienced team of reviewers hold a range of specialist expertise within trust governance and leadership, including faith trusts and specialist provision. Our ERG process follows a clearly defined methodology that reflects the Trust Quality Descriptions, Academy Trust Governance Guide, Academy Trust Handbook and Academy Trust Governance Code. The structure of the reviews follows the four domains of board effectiveness set out in our guidance on Governing a school trust; board leadership; governance structures, accountability, and compliance.

To explore themes emerging from your documentation and survey findings, our reviewers will engage with stakeholders from across the organisation to build an in-depth understanding of the impact of your governance. Our developmental, action-orientated reports will then provide you with a clear route for sustained improvement.

Our reports are objective, honest and robust, and all are subject to quality assurance by a second experienced trust governance expert. This allows us to both check the rigour of our findings and draw upon good practice from across the sector in our recommendations. Furthermore, your reviewer is available to discuss the report with the board and can continue to support you on the implementation of its recommendations by separate arrangement if needed.

How long does an external review of governance take?

An external review of governance usually takes about three months to complete. The exact time that yours will take will depend upon your trust’s board meeting cycle and the availability of trustees and others to take part in interviews and surveys.

We recommend that you commission your trust’s review in the school term before you want it to take place, to help plan in everybody's time.

How much does an external reviews of governance cost?

Costs will vary according to the governance structure of your trust and the scope of the work. Our reviews are unlikely to be the cheapest, but the cost will reflect the depth and bespoke nature of the work undertaken, and create value for your trust by exploring the effectiveness and impact of your whole governance structure. CST members can access our services at a preferential rate.

How do I decide who should conduct my trust’s external review of governance?

There are several different providers in the trust sector to choose from in addition to CST. It is worth taking time to understand what they each offer and what will best suit your trust’s needs before making your decision.

We have collaborated with the Department for Education to provide guidance to help boards to choose the right review service.

Can CST help to implement the findings of our external review of goverance?

The recommendations in your review will be designed to inform your governance development plan. On completion of your ERG, we can work with you to identify how best to support your trust in implementation of changes. Some examples of areas of additional support include:

A post-review progress check on implementation, usually one year after the review
Support in revising your governance structure and/or scheme of delegation.
Providing an advisory role to a working group delegated to drive forward specific actions
Facilitated strategy days with the board and executive team to support the development of a strategic plan
Bespoke training for members, trustees, and local governance, aligned with your scheme of delegation and context

Other forms of board assurance

To augment a three-year review cycle, boards may wish to consider other activities that can supplement ERGs, self, and peer reviews. These include:

Review of people and individual roles
360-review of the chair
Individual trustee review
Review of the governance professional role
Audit of skills and competencies
Review of systems and policies
Compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook
Internal review of governance documents
Peer reviews

We were absolutely delighted with the external review of governance that was conducted for us through CST. Ahead of the review being formally commissioned, there was strong communication from initial contact through to planning the scope of work to ensure that it would meet our needs.

Jill Cameron, Trust Leader of Governance, Eko Trust