I’m beginning some new work with a school – a single-academy trust – to support them in an upcoming Strategy Day. Whilst the DfE’s Governance Handbook is a useful background document for such a day, I can’t help but feel it underplays the level of challenge borne by the Board of a standalone academy, which usually holds amongst one group of governors / trustees / directors all of the legal and statutory functions that might be in part delegated to LGBs in a MAT, or shared with the LA in a maintained school. Of course, this will often then translate into a significant burden on the Principal who could very easily feel isolated in the SAT structure.

Some might suggest that single-academy trusts must join with larger MATs. I acknowledge this provides an easy answer to the challenge of accessing support and collaboration, but it is important for these schools to make such a move only if there is a clear need that can be served through joining a larger family, and if that larger family provides the right home to nurture and develop the school.