The governance of the Belong Multi Academy Trust is designed to ensure strong accountability, strategic oversight and the flourishing of every member of our community. Our structure is rooted in the Christian values of Hope, Love, Community, and Compassion, and is committed to valuing every individual as a unique creation of God.
Members are the guardians of the trust’s vision and ethos. They have a similar role to shareholders in a company, ensuring that the trust remains true to its founding principles and Christian values. Members appoint and remove directors, approve changes to the trust’s articles of association and hold the Board of Directors to account for the overall performance and direction of the trust. Their role is largely strategic and non-operational, providing a layer of accountability and stewardship.
The Board of Directors (in some organisations, also known as Trustees) is responsible for the strategic leadership and governance of the trust. The Board sets the trust’s vision, values, and strategic priorities, ensuring that all academies within the trust deliver exceptional education and uphold the inclusive ethos of the Church of England. Directors oversee financial management, compliance, safeguarding, and educational standards across all schools. They delegate certain responsibilities to local governing bodies but retain accountability for the trust’s performance and statutory obligations.
Each academy within the trust has a Local Governing Body. Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) within the Belong Multi Academy Trust provide strategic oversight at the academy level, championing the trust’s Christian ethos and inclusive values, monitoring educational outcomes, safeguarding, and wellbeing, engaging with the local community, and offering support and challenge to school leaders, all to ensure every pupil and staff member is known, valued, and enabled to flourish.
Purpose: Strategic oversight, vision alignment, and accountability across the Trust.
Meeting Frequency: Once per term (three times per academic year).
Chair: Appointed annually by the Board.
Membership: All Trust Directors.
Key Responsibilities:
Uphold the Trust’s Christian ethos and inclusive values.
Approve strategic plans, budgets, and policies.
Monitor performance across education, finance, and safeguarding.
Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements
once per term, alternating with Board meetings (i.e., Board meets in Term 1, Committees in Term 2, etc.).
A. Education, Standards & Governance / Ethos Committee
Purpose: Oversight of educational outcomes, curriculum, governance effectiveness, and Christian ethos.
Meeting Frequency: Once per term (alternating with Board).
Membership: Selected Directors with expertise in education, governance, and Church school leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Monitor pupil progress, attainment, and curriculum development.
Evaluate governance performance and training.
Promote the Trust’s Christian values and inclusive ethos.
Support spiritual development and collective worship across schools.
B. Audit, Risk, Finance & Staffing Committee
Purpose: Oversight of financial health, risk management, staffing, and internal controls.
Meeting Frequency: Once per term (alternating with Board).
Membership: Directors with financial, HR, and audit expertise.
Key Responsibilities:
Review financial reports, budgets, and forecasts.
Monitor staffing structures, wellbeing, and professional development.
Oversee risk registers and internal audit processes.
Ensure compliance with ESFA and statutory HR policies.
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