Governance across The Rivers C of E Academy Trust

At The Rivers CofE Academy Trust, we believe that strong governance helps every child receive the very best education and support.

Our governance structure ensures that important decisions are made at the right level. It combines the strategic leadership of the trust with the valuable local knowledge of each school community, helping us maintain high standards whilst keeping every school connected to the people it serves.

The Trust's governance structure has three levels:

• Members
• Trustees
• School-level Advocates (Local Voice)

School-level Advocates

Advocates are volunteers who help ensure that each school's unique community remains at the heart of trust decision-making.

They provide valuable feedback and insight about life in school from the perspective of pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.

Advocate roles include:

• Headteacher Advocate – supporting, encouraging and constructively challenging school leadership
• Pupil Experience Advocate – championing pupil wellbeing, safety and achievement
• Community Advocate – strengthening relationships between the school, families and the local community
• Christian Distinctiveness Advocate (Church Schools only) – supporting the school's Christian vision and values

Contact an advocate

If you wish to contact an advocate, please email the school office and mark it for the attention of the advocate's name.

Become an advocate

Make a real difference in the lives of children and your community. Contact the school office to register your interest.

Scheme of Delegation

The trust's Scheme of Delegation explains how decisions are made across the Trust and who is responsible for different areas of work.

It outlines:

• The responsibilities of members, trustees and executive leaders
• The role of school leaders and advocates
• How decisions are made
• Accountability for education, finance, safeguarding and compliance

View our Scheme of Delegation on the trust website.

Governance Information

To ensure transparency and compliance with statutory requirements, key governance information is published on the trust website, including:

• Trustee membership
• Trustee attendance records
• Committee structures and terms of reference
• Register of business interests
• Governance policies and key documents
• Annual reports and accounts
• Current governance arrangements across the trust

View governance documents on the trust website.