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Trust schools
Trust schools are maintained schools supported by a charitable trust. A trust is made up of the school and partners that can include universities, businesses and charities who work together for the benefit of the school.
Any maintained secondary, primary or special school can become a trust school.
How do schools benefit from a trust?
The formation of a trust helps to develop long-term sustainable relationships with partners.
The expertise of trust partners can help schools raise standards in a number of ways. These include:
- improved sharing of good practice
- development of the 14-19 curriculum
- better preparation of young people for advanced study
- enhanced CPD for teachers
- a collective responsibility for the five outcomes of Every Child Matters
- strengthened governance and the opportunity to take advantage of economies of scale.
Different models
Trust schools encourage collaboration which, in turn, helps the long-term development of a school. In addition, the collaborative approach means less reliance on individuals, therefore minimising the impact of key individuals leaving. The continuity that trusts bring can really help keep a school on track.
There is no single blueprint for a trust, but the main models are:
- single successful school with a trust - brings a distinct ethos and additional challenge
- single weak school with a trust - brings external expertise, support and challenge to foster school improvement
- local group of schools - can help to share resources, broaden curriculum choice and bridge gap between primary and secondary
- national group of schools - can help to spread best practice nationally, support innovative specialisms and create a national network of ‘branded’ schools offering the same successful ethos.
Who can be a partner of a trust school?
Trust schools provide an opportunity to work with a wide range of partners, including other schools, colleges, community groups, charities and local authorities. Many schools already do work closely with external partners, but trust status incorporates the partnership into the governance.
Office of the Schools Commissioner’s role in trusts
The Office of the Schools Commissioner (OSC) is responsible for maintaining a pool of potential trust partners. Schools interested in becoming a trust can tap into this resource.
Schools are usually very good at finding a partner, but if they are having difficulty or would like the OSC to approach a company in a specific sector of expertise, they can contact the Department for assistance.
For more information on trusts schools please visit the trust and foundation schools website at www.trustandfoundationschools.org.uk/
Related links
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Youth Sport Trust
Foundation and Aided Schools National Association
Every Child Matters
Trust school proposals
