21 Governance and Accountability: Roles and Responsibilities

Purpose

This policy sets out how Growing Roots is governed and who is answerable for each part of the school's work, so that every policy has a named owner and every family knows who to go to.

It covers the school's governance structure, the responsibilities of each role, how decisions are recorded, and how the school keeps itself accountable to pupils and families.

Governance structure

• The Principal, Prof. Rushna Sulyman, is accountable for the education, safeguarding and daily operation of the school.
• The trustees, or academy board, provide oversight, approve policies, hold the final internal stage of the complaints process, and take decisions on matters of risk.
• The senior team, or named leads, hold specific duties set out in the school's register of roles: safeguarding, online safety, records and curriculum.
• Teaching and administrative staff carry out the duties of their posts within the boundaries set by the school's policies.

Roles and responsibilities

Delegation and cover

Where a named lead is absent, or has a personal interest in a matter, the Principal nominates a senior colleague to act in her place for that matter. The nomination is recorded, so the school can always say who decided what.

Recording decisions

Significant decisions are recorded with the date, the person or panel that made the decision, the reasons for it, and any actions that follow. Records are kept in line with the school's Records Management and Retention Policy.

Oversight and review

• At least once a term, the Principal reports to the trustees on safeguarding concerns and referrals, online safety incidents, complaints received and their outcomes, and attendance or child-missing-education escalations.
• The trustees review the policy set annually, and whenever guidance or the school's circumstances change.
• Any weakness found in one of these reviews is turned into an action with a named owner and a date.

Accountability to families

• The school publishes its policies, its fees and the route for making a complaint.
• Families are told who the Designated Safeguarding Lead is and how to reach the school office.
• Families are given notice of any material change to a policy that affects their child.

Conflicts of interest

Anyone involved in a decision declares any personal interest in it. The interest is recorded, and the person takes no part in the decision where it would be unfair for them to do so.

Review

This policy is reviewed at least once a year and whenever the school's structure or governance changes.